Do you really need a $110 power supply?

Asus recently launched the Asus ROG Ally X, and it's quickly becoming one of our favorite handheld PC gaming devices on the market. There's a lot to be excited about with this mid-cycle refresh, but the biggest improvements are in battery life and charging. The battery is about twice as big as the original Asus ROG Ally, and there's a second USB-C port for charging and connecting useful handheld accessories. It also has a higher maximum charging speed, although only a 65W power adapter is included in the box.

Clearly, Asus has the solution. The company sells a ROG 140W GaN charger that will give you the power you need to maximize the ROG Ally X's 100W fast charging. The problem is, it's a tough sell for $110. The charger works fine, charges devices quickly and simultaneously, and comes with an excellent 240W braided USB-C cable. But it's bigger, heavier, slower, and more expensive than some alternatives.

The target audience for this expensive power supply seems to be Asus ROG Ally X owners, and I'm not a huge fan of that. These buyers have already spent $800 on Asus' flagship PC gaming handheld and now have to spend $110 more to benefit from the fast charging speeds?

About this review: Asus provided a ROG 140W GaN charger for testing. The company had no influence on this article and did not see its contents before publication.

Fast charger

Asus ROG 140W GaN Charger

A first-hand Asus ROG Ally X charger

Asus offers a ROG 140W GaN charger to fit into its “Republic of Gamers” ecosystem, but who is this $110 power adapter really for? It might only be for Asus ROG Ally X owners who want to maximize their handheld's power draw, as it can draw 100W but only comes with a 65W charger. Everyone else might be won over by the solid build quality and four USB ports.

Per

• This will charge your Asus ROG Ally X at 100W speed
• There are four USB ports for charging multiple devices
• It comes with a high quality 240W USB-C cable

Disadvantages

• The large and heavy power adapter can be difficult to use with certain sockets
• Competing brands offer more performance in a smaller form factor
• It is expensive

Prices, specifications and availability

Asus’ ROG GaN charger supports a total output of up to 140W and a feature called Intelligent port balancing divides that wattage between the available ports. It has three USB-C ports and one USB-A port, and the full 140W of power can be delivered to the USB-C1 port when needed. It costs $110 and is available at Best Buy and on Asus' website. This versatile charger supports devices with the following standards: PD 3.1, QC 3.0, PD PPS, or a 20V 6.5A input.

• USB-C1/USB-C2: 140.0W; USB-C3: 100.0W; USB-A: 30.0W
• USB-C1+USB-C2/USB-C1+USB-C3/USB-C2+USB-C3: 65.0W+65.0W/100.0W+30.0W/30.0W+100 .0W
• USB-C2+USB-A: 100.0W+30.0W
• USB-C3 + USB-A: 15.0W + 15.0W
• USB-C1+USB-C2+USB-C3/USB-C1+USB-C2+USB-A: 45.0W+45.0W+30.0W/65.0W+30.0W+30 .0W/30.0W+65.0W+30.0W
• USB-C1+USB-C3+USB-A/USB-C2+USB-C3+USB-A: 100.0W+15.0W+15.0W
• USB-C1+USB-C2+USB-C3+USB-A: 45.0W+45.0W+15.0W+15.0W/65.0W+30.0W+15.0W +15.0W/30.0W+65.0W+15.0W+15.0W

The above list outlines the possible Intelligent port balancing Power configurations when multiple ports are used to power devices simultaneously. Remember that the 140W specification is the in total Using all four ports at the same time will reduce the available wattage of each port.

What I like

This is a first-party charger that charges your Asus ROG Ally X at top speed

I have some reservations about recommending a $110 solution from Asus for a problem that could have been avoided in the first place. That said, there's no denying that this is an excellent four-port power supply. It uses gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor technology and that has some advantages. In particular, this technology allows power supplies to deliver a lot of power in a small form factor with high efficiency and reasonable temperatures. For many, the ROG 140W GaN charger may be the smallest 140W power supply they've ever seen.

This translated into practice pretty quickly when I tested this charger in the field. In about 25 minutes, it charged my ROG Ally X review unit by about 26%. Considering the ROG Ally X has a massive 80Wh battery, a one percent charge increase per minute is impressive. The extra power really comes in handy when using the ROG Ally X for gaming—the ROG 140W GaN charger has more than enough power to run the handheld in 30W Turbo mode and charge it at the same time.

The build quality is solid and there are many connections

You should keep in mind that to use 100W or more power to charge a device, you are limited to one or two ports. Although the ROG 140W GaN charger has three USB-C ports and one USB-A port, only the main USB-C1 port can deliver the full 140W to a device. As you add more cables and devices, each will receive fewer watts. Scroll up to the Prices, specifications and availability For a full breakdown of how Smart Port Balancing shares power when charging across multiple ports, see the section.

Still, the build quality is solid. This charger isn't metal, but that doesn't have to be all. It has a sturdy and dense plastic construction and comes with an impressive 240W braided USB-C cable. While other power adapters try to undercut Asus' price, many of them skimp on the included charging cable. Kudos to Asus for including one of my favorite charging cables here.

What I don't like

It is probably too big and too expensive

Although the company claims that the ROG 140W GaN charger is “10% smaller than comparable chargers in its class,” I'm not sure that's the case. I happen to have a Ugreen 160W Nexode Pro charger, which seems to match the ROG 140W GaN power adapter quite well. Both have three USB-C ports and one USB-A port and a similar form factor. However, Ugreen's charger is smaller, offers 20W of extra power, and has an aluminum casing.

In practice, does size really matter that much? For me, it does. If you've ever used a public outlet, you'll know that many of them get pretty loose over time. This makes it difficult for heavy and large power adapters to stay secure and charge your devices. In the last week alone, I've been in a few Starbucks cafes and public spaces whose outlets were too loose or oddly positioned to work with the ROG 140W GaN charger. This power adapter might be great for charging at home, but in public while traveling, it won't cut it – literally.

The price makes this ROG 140W GaN charger a tough sell. All 140W chargers with GaN technology are expensive, but at $100, Asus' offering is one of the most expensive on the market.

Should you buy the Asus ROG 140W GaN charger?

You should buy the Asus ROG 140W GaN charger if:

• You have an Asus ROG Ally X and want to run it at 100W speed
• You need a first-party power supply
• You are willing to pay more for a reliable charger with a fantastic 240W braided cable

You should NOT buy the Asus ROG 140W GaN charger if:

• You value portability
• You want the cheapest charger on the market
• You don't own an Asus ROG Ally X

I think the Asus ROG 140W GaN charger is a great accessory for the Asus ROG Ally X and certainly one of the best chargers out there. However, it would have been better to include the power adapter in the box with the ROG Ally X rather than selling it as a standalone accessory. If you buy the ROG Ally X and the ROG 140W GaN charger, you're spending almost $1,000 right away. Still, I can imagine people willing to pay more for a first-party accessory enjoying this charger. Just keep in mind that you can save money and in some cases have a better experience with a third-party charger.

Fast charger

Asus ROG 140W GaN Charger

A first-hand Asus ROG Ally X charger

Asus ROG Ally X owners looking for a first-party solution to charge their PC gaming handheld at 100W will have only the choice of the ROG 140W GaN charger. For everyone else, there is probably a better and cheaper power supply out there.