Asus ROG Ally Upgrade: 90Wh Battery Mod Risks Explained

Key Takeaways

1. A Reddit user improved battery life on the ROG Ally by installing an 80Wh battery, while Miner TechTips enhanced it further with a 90Wh battery from an Asus laptop.
2. The 90Wh battery was modified to fit into the ROG Ally by reshaping cells and using Kapton tape for insulation.
3. The original SSD was replaced with a 2TB Kingston KC3000, utilizing a custom 90° M.2 adapter.
4. The modifications resulted in 3.5-4 hours of gameplay for AAA games and 7-8 hours for indie games, but added about 200 g in weight.
5. Caution is advised against attempting similar modifications due to potential hazards, particularly regarding battery folding.

It’s not surprising that people using the ROG Ally are keen on making their handheld gaming PCs last longer on battery. A user on Reddit shared that they had installed an 80Wh battery in their Asus ROG Ally running SteamOS and experienced better backup times. Now, an Indian YouTube channel called Miner TechTips has pushed things further by putting a 90Wh battery into the device.

Sourcing and Modifications

To begin with, they got a 90Wh C41N2013 battery from an Asus ROG Strix G15 laptop and took it apart to rearrange the cells. In order to make the bigger battery fit into the ROG Ally’s casing, they reshaped the cells into a smaller stack and wrapped them up with Kapton tape to avoid heat issues and short circuits.

Upgraded Storage and Design

They also swapped out the original SSD for a 2TB Kingston KC3000, using a modified 90° M.2 adapter which was insulated with Kapton tape. To accommodate the larger battery, they designed a custom backplate and tray using a 3D printer, a process that took them about 19 hours. They mentioned that this modification made the device a bit thicker but also more comfortable to hold.

Performance and Warnings

After setting up the SSD, the 90Wh battery, and custom backplate, they replaced Windows with SteamOS. As per their findings, the modified Ally now operates at 15–20 W for AAA games, providing between 3.5 to 4 hours of gameplay, and at 7–10 W for indie games, which gives around 7 to 8 hours. It takes around 2 hours and 10 minutes to fully charge, and even though the device is about 200 g heavier, they find it much more user-friendly.

While these improvements may seem appealing, the individual who initially made this change advises against attempting it. Recently, a Reddit user, known as u/Talaxin, shared an update after a month using the same 90Wh mod on the ROG Ally. Under that post, u/Kira980, the original mod creator, cautioned against folding the battery, mentioning it could be more hazardous than other battery modifications.

If you’re curious about this ROG Ally modification, be sure to check out the Miner TechTips video below. They thoroughly explain every step, although it’s in Hindi, so you might want to turn on subtitles or use auto-translate features for better comprehension.

Source:
Link