The Asus ROG Ally really stands out when you pit it against the Steam Deck and a bunch of other handheld gaming devices. With the introduction of the more advanced ROG Ally X in 2024, Asus has taken a significant leap forward, offering better performance, a crisper screen, and a more comfortable design. Plus, every model in the ROG Ally range includes a UHS-II microSD card slot. This means you can enjoy much quicker read and write speeds compared to the UHS-I slots you’d find in gadgets like the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch. So, if you pick the right card, expect your download speeds to improve dramatically.
Lexar points out that UHS-II microSD cards can hit speeds of up to 312 MB/s, which is three times faster than UHS-I’s 104 MB/s cap. But here’s the catch: despite the vast array of microSD cards available, finding UHS-II versions is quite rare. Big names in storage like Samsung and SanDisk haven’t jumped into making these UHS-II cards yet. And the few options that do exist come with a hefty price tag. What’s even more frustrating is that these cards don’t always run at the full speed that the UHS-II interface can handle.
If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty and are okay with cracking open your ROG Ally—it won’t void your warranty—consider investing in an M.2 SSD. This option usually offers better value for money regarding storage and gives you performance leaps ahead of microSD cards. But if you’d rather take the simpler route and don’t mind paying a bit extra for some added speed, we’ve tracked down a couple of readily available models you might want to check out.
For those just in the market for a high-capacity microSD card and not too fussed about having cutting-edge speed, there’s no shortage of choices. Brands like SanDisk, Samsung, and Lexar offer plenty of options, some boasting up to 1.5 TB of space to boost your handheld’s storage capacity.
