Introduction
I’ve had my Asus ROG Ally for quite a while now, and while it has been a solid handheld gaming device, one issue has always bothered me—the battery life. To fix this, I decided to replace the original battery using a kit I purchased from Amazon. The kit came with all the necessary tools, including two screwdrivers, a pair of clippers, and a pry tool. Here is a link to the video on my Youtube Channelhttps://youtu.be/exGR11c-pFc
Comparing the Batteries
The original ROG Ally battery was 40Wh, which was comparable to the Steam Deck LCD’s 40Wh battery at launch. Fortunately, Asus improved on this with the Ally X, upgrading to an 80Wh battery, which, in my opinion, should be the minimum standard for Windows handhelds. The new battery I installed was 74Wh—not quite as good as the Ally X but still a significant upgrade over the original.
Upon inspecting the batteries side by side, I noticed that while their lengths were similar, the original battery was thinner at 9.23mm compared to the new one’s 9.68mm. The weight difference was also noticeable; the original battery weighed 147g, whereas the new one came in at 242g.
The Installation Process
The battery kit did not include instructions, but I managed to figure things out using images from the Amazon product page. Here’s a breakdown of the installation process:
- Removing the Back Cover
- I unscrewed the six screws on the back.
- Using the pry tool, I carefully separated the back cover.
- Removing the Original Battery
- I removed my 4TB SSD and the adapter holding it in place.
- I unplugged the old battery and removed a couple of screws securing it.
- To free the battery bracket from the old battery, I used a razor to remove parts of the tape holding it in place.
- Installing the New Battery
- I placed the new battery into the bracket, though it was not a perfect fit.
- Since the original battery had a space in the middle to allow the back cover to sit flush, I had to use the provided clippers to trim parts of the ROG Ally.
- Getting the new battery to fit inside required some maneuvering, but with patience, I got it into place along with the aluminum bracket.
- I reinstalled the two screws holding the battery in place, reconnected the battery, installed the SSD and adapter, and then put the back cover back on.
- Since I use a JX transparent backplate with an RGB kit, I had to remove the RGB kit to make everything fit.
- Finally, I reinstalled the six screws and powered on the device.
Initial Testing and Battery Health Check
Once everything was back together, I plugged in my ROG Ally and was relieved to see the power light come on. After waiting for the power light to switch from orange to white, I turned on the device. The initial power-up took longer than usual.
To verify the installation, I obtained a battery health report by opening the command window and running a system check. The report showed useful details such as recent usage, charge capacity history, and battery life estimates.
Performance Comparison: Old vs. New Battery
To compare performance, I ran the same gaming tests on both the original and upgraded batteries under identical settings:
- Turbo mode at 25W
- 1080p resolution
- 60Hz refresh rate
- AFMF turned on
Original Battery Performance
- Started playing Call of Duty Black Ops at 8:43 AM with a 100% charge.
- After 43 minutes of gameplay, the battery had drained to 3%.
New Battery Performance
- Started playing Call of Duty Black Ops at 4:40 PM with a 99% charge.
- After 43 minutes, the battery was still at 64%.
- Continued playing for a total of 88 minutes, at which point the battery was at 40%.
Summary of Results
- The original battery drained from 100% to 3% in 43 minutes.
- The new battery drained from 99% to 64% in 43 minutes.
- After 88 minutes, the upgraded battery still had 40% remaining.
This was a massive improvement, making my ROG Ally much more usable for extended gaming sessions.
Warranty Considerations
It’s important to note that replacing the battery may void the Asus warranty. According to Asus’s warranty page, they do not cover issues caused by non-original hardware. If you’re considering a battery upgrade, keep this in mind.
Tips for Extending Battery Life
For those who don’t want to replace their battery but still want better longevity, here are some ways to extend battery life:
- Lower the resolution to 720p: The image quality won’t be as sharp, but on the ROG Ally’s small screen, it’s hardly noticeable.
- Reduce brightness: I keep mine high for filming, but turning it down can significantly extend battery life.
- Disable RGB lighting: Go to settings, turn basic effects to static, and set brightness to zero.
- Turn off CPU boost: Navigate to Performance > Echo Assist and switch it off.
- Enable Battery Care Mode: This can be done in the MyAsus app and will limit charging to 80%, reducing wear over time.
- Use a power bank: A 100W battery bank allows you to play while charging, making it a great alternative to an internal upgrade.
Final Thoughts
I’ve only had this new battery installed for a week, so I can’t yet comment on its long-term performance. However, based on my initial tests, the difference in battery life has been substantial. I plan to post an update in about a month to report on how the battery is holding up.
For anyone frustrated with the ROG Ally’s battery life, upgrading is a viable solution—just be aware of the risks involved. If you’re comfortable with a bit of DIY, this upgrade could make a world of difference in your gaming experience.
References
- “How to Disable the RGB Lighting on the Asus ROG Ally,” The Outerhaven, https://www.theouterhaven.net/disable-the-rgb-lighting-on-the-asus-rog-ally/
- “How to Increase Battery Life on the Asus ROG Ally,” XDA Developers, https://www.xda-developers.com/increase-battery-life-asus-rog-ally/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- “How to Extend the Battery Life of Your ROG Ally,” ASUS ROG, https://rog.asus.com/articles/guides/how-to-extend-the-battery-life-of-your-rog-ally/
- “How to Check Battery Health on Windows 11,” Windows Central, https://www.windowscentral.com/how-check-battery-health-windows-11