Portable consoles based on AMD hardware are going through one of their best moments. The Steam Deck tops the list, but interesting alternatives have appeared in recent months, and one of them is the Asus ROG Ally. Both users and specialized critics believe that its battery life is certainly a weak point, which leads us to a tutorial published by Shahram Mokhtari on the iFixit portal, where he explains how to install an alternative battery. It's not a simple mod, but doubling the capacity doesn't sound bad at all...
The Asus ROG Ally is available in two different models, but both share a 40Wh battery, the same capacity as the original Steam Deck. However, the combination of more powerful hardware and the use of Windows 11 (which isn't a great example of efficiency) causes the ROG Ally to run out of steam in under two hours. Of course, the console has “profiles” to reduce consumption in less demanding situations... but it's not enough. Shahram Mokhtari has recognized this problem and offers users an advanced solution, with a laptop battery and a special 3D printed back cover.
More battery life for the Asus ROG Ally with a battery mod
The guide was published on the iFixit portal and includes all the steps and requirements to reach a successful end. The mod is based on an Asus A42N1403 battery, which replaces the original cells and expands capacity to 88Wh (in practice it's a bit less). It's very important to follow the instructions closely, as there are special details like the captive screw on the back cover, but the most complex part of the mod is making the battery connector compatible with the console's motherboard.
The user has two options here: make a destructive modification of the original battery cable, or purchase a replacement from the Asus page (12 euros) and work on it. Personally I'd choose the second option, but the modification is not impossible. Shahram uses a hair dryer to soften the adhesive on the connectors, however, with patience and care it's possible to avoid that step.
The last phase is to take the 3D printed back cover, transfer the necessary elements from the original cover, install the battery, close everything, and do a first boot of the console with the charger connected (essential when replacing the battery). Obviously, the console is heavier with the mod and loses a bit of portability, but doubling the battery capacity is no small thing.
Access the tutorial: Click here
Source: Hackaday
