iFixit Gives ROG Ally X a 7/10 Repairability Score
The repair specialists at iFixit have completed their teardown of and repairability assessment for the ROG Ally X portable gaming console. The device scored a respectable 7 out of 10, on account of the simple internal design, but serious challenges caused by screen repair and an utter absence of support from ASUS were cited as negative factors.
The Easy Fixes What Makes the Ally X Repairable
The access to the guts of the console can be done easily, requiring just a screwdriver and a pry tool (spudger). When the rear cover is off, it is all possible to get into the important internal parts immediately. The teardown confirms several arguments for the repair:
- Easy Battery Removal: Easily taken out without great complications.
- SSD Replacement: The solid-state drive is easily replaceable but needs the software setup process to be initiated after the first boot with a new drive.
- Easily Replaceable Joysticks: Joysticks, which the experts noted as quite prone to drift, are also easy to replace.
The Big Issues Screen Repair and Lack of Parts
The display is the main issue that negatively impacted the score. Repairing the screen was most difficult: So much so that in their video teardown, iFixit reported that they "didn't even bother trying to remove it."
Also, missing manufacturer support makes this situation even worse. ASUS does not have any public disassembly instructions available, and official spare parts for the ROG Ally X are yet to be commercially available.
Final Opinion About Repairability
The score of 7 out of 10 for the ROG Ally X denotes an interior well planned so that it could be easy to replace commonly failing units such as batteries, SSD, and joysticks. On the opposite end of the spectrum, extreme difficulty in screen repair and the absence of parts and guides from ASUS places a hard limit on its future repairability ranking notwithstanding.
