Asus has refreshed its ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming PC with the X20 model, addressing major complaints from the original version. The new device swaps the 7-inch LCD for a larger 7.4" OLED display with improved brightness reaching 1,400 nits and better variable refresh rate support. More importantly, Asus redesigned the analog sticks using TMR sensors to combat stick drift issues that plagued the previous model.

However, there's a catch: Asus only plans to sell the X20 as part of a bundle with its ROG Xreal R1 Edition 20 glasses. These glasses alone cost $850 and create a virtual 171-inch display, but forcing customers to buy them makes the handheld significantly more expensive. The bundle strategy seems counterintuitive given the upgraded screen is meant to be used directly.

Under the hood, performance remains unchanged with the same AMD Z2 Extreme APU, 24GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. The X20 is physically larger too, measuring 300 x 121 x 27.5-51.3mm and weighing 756g versus 715g for the original. Additional improvements include reworked ABXY buttons and a rotatable D-pad for 4-way or 8-way modes.

While the hardware upgrades are welcome, the bundle-only approach limits accessibility for gamers who just want the handheld. Asus hasn't announced pricing yet, but combining the original $1,000 Ally price with $850 glasses puts this firmly in premium territory.