The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is a fascinating new device. While it’s being marketed as a handheld Xbox, it truly shines as a significant successor to last year’s impressive Asus ROG Ally. Its integration of the new Xbox Full Screen Experience is a game-changer, allowing the device to boot directly into the Xbox App within Windows. This bypasses the typical Windows 11 desktop and its non-gaming background processes. This strategic partnership with Microsoft feels like a direct response to the success of SteamOS, potentially offering an equally user-friendly experience for the first time since the original Steam Deck launched.
Regardless of Microsoft’s marketing, calling the Xbox Ally X simply an ‘Xbox’ might be a stretch. However, it unequivocally represents a clear evolution in handheld gaming PCs. It foreshadows what’s to come when the Full Screen Experience eventually rolls out to all PCs in 2026. For now, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X undeniably sets the new standard for handheld gaming PCs.
Design
Since the advent of the Steam Deck, most handheld gaming PCs have adopted a similar form factor: a large screen flanked by controller buttons. The Xbox Ally X follows this trend but adds its own unique touch with two pronounced plastic grips, thoughtfully designed to mimic an Xbox controller.
The initial impression might be that it looks somewhat unusual, like a stretched-out Xbox controller with a display inserted in the middle. However, after a week of use, its ergonomic brilliance becomes clear. Despite being slightly heavier than the original Ally X, this new model is even more comfortable in hand. The unique controller shape fits more naturally, preventing the discomfort that can arise with other handhelds during extended play. Even after a lengthy session with Cyberpunk 2077 for battery testing, I never felt the urge to set it down.
The Xbox Ally X is marginally larger than its predecessor, measuring 11.42 inches long, 4.76 inches tall, and 2 inches thick at its widest point. It also carries a bit more heft at 1.58 lbs, compared to the 2024 Ally X’s 1.49 lbs. While seemingly a small difference, the added weight is noticeable when holding both devices side-by-side, giving the Xbox Ally X a distinctly more substantial feel.
Despite the increased size, the button layout remains almost identical to the original, with a few notable modifications. The Armoury Crate button has moved to the left side of the display, now activating the Asus Control Center within the Xbox Game Bar. On the right, the former Armoury Crate focus button is now a dedicated library button, directing users to the Xbox app’s library section.
The repositioning of the Armoury Crate button on the left is a curious choice. Since a larger Xbox button to its left already summons the Game Bar, from which the Control Center can be accessed with a simple D-Pad tap, it feels like an extra button could have been omitted without consequence. This also means there’s no longer a direct button to launch Armoury Crate itself, requiring an additional step to access driver updates and system settings. However, this change does prevent accidental openings of Asus’s settings app during gameplay.
The remaining buttons deliver the excellent tactile feedback one would expect from a quality controller. The triggers, in particular, are exceptional. Beyond being Hall Effect triggers, they incorporate the Impulse Trigger technology found in official Xbox controllers. In supported games like Forza Horizon 5, this provides haptic feedback during actions like acceleration and braking, simulating realistic friction. While a fantastic feature, it’s worth noting that few PC games currently support this specific haptic feedback.
During testing, I encountered a minor manufacturing issue where the left trigger on my initial unit would shift and scrape against the chassis when pressed. Asus promptly replaced the unit, and the new one functions perfectly, suggesting it was an isolated incident, but it’s something to be aware of.
All essential ports are located on the top of the device. This includes two USB-C ports on the left, one of which supports USB 4.0. On the right, you’ll find a MicroSD card reader, the power button (which also functions as a Windows Hello fingerprint sensor), and a headphone jack. This setup mirrors the original Ally X, and while a USB-C port at the bottom would enhance flexibility, the Xbox Ally X remains highly versatile.
Cooling performance is on par with other modern handhelds. Intake fans draw cool air through uniquely shaped vents on the back, expelling hot air through top vents. This system effectively dissipates heat. When plugged in and in ‘Turbo’ performance mode (the default setting), the processor can reach temperatures of up to 80°C in demanding games. While I mostly only noticed this through the performance overlay, extended gaming sessions did make the display noticeably warm to the touch, though never uncomfortably hot.
Display
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X features a 7-inch, 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate and support for AMD’s FreeSync Premium variable refresh rate technology. This is the identical panel used in last year’s Ally X, and that’s a positive. While it may not rival the visual splendor of the Lenovo Legion Go 2’s 8.8-inch OLED display, its modest resolution perfectly complements the Z2 Extreme processor.
Colors are vibrant, especially with increased brightness. The display boasts up to 500 nits of brightness, and even when dimmed for battery tests, I had no difficulty using the handheld in various environments, including brightly lit rooms.
The 120Hz refresh rate, while slightly lower than the Legion Go 2’s 144Hz, is still excellent. Few games will consistently hit 120 frames per second, especially high-fidelity titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Crucially, the variable refresh rate ensures that even when frame rates fluctuate, gameplay remains as smooth as possible. In today’s market, it’s hard to recommend a handheld without this essential feature.
The Xbox Full Screen Experience
While the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is an outstanding handheld gaming PC on its own, its software experience truly elevates it. Asus’s collaboration with Microsoft introduces the groundbreaking Xbox Full Screen Experience, a feature that won’t be available to other Windows devices until early 2026.
The review unit I received initially ran an older version of Windows 11. However, after several updates, it reached the state Microsoft intends for the retail release. After performing all pre-launch updates, I reset the device to go through the designed setup process, and it was truly impressive. Previous Windows handhelds forced users through a standard Windows 11 setup, often without a keyboard and mouse, relying solely on the touchscreen. With Xbox FSE, the entire setup, from signing into a Microsoft account to configuring Wi-Fi, can be done entirely with the controller.
This setup process revealed my favorite aspect of this software change: the Windows touchscreen keyboard is now controller-operable by default, eliminating the need for touch input. Even if this were the only enhancement in this Windows version, I would consider it a significant improvement. Fortunately, there’s much more to it.
Once setup is complete, the handheld boots directly into the Xbox app. Game Pass takes center stage, which is excellent for subscribers. Navigating left on the D-Pad and scrolling down leads to the Library page, where you can access “My apps” and install third-party storefronts.
Steam comes pre-installed, and launching it opens in a new window without exiting the Full Screen Experience. Similarly, installing Battle.net, Epic Games Store, or GOG Galaxy allows you to complete their setup processes without ever needing to interact with the desktop. However, this convenience is currently limited to these specific applications. During my time with the ROG Xbox Ally X, I couldn’t find a way to add other apps to this library page, meaning you’ll still need to access the desktop to download any non-gaming software.
Accessing the desktop is straightforward: swipe up from the bottom of the display and tap “Windows Desktop.” After a brief warning pop-up, you’re on the desktop almost instantly. It’s convenient that desktop access is so easy, as it’s still necessary for Windows Updates and other non-gaming software like Discord.
Once your desktop tasks are complete, you can return to the Full Screen Experience by pressing the Xbox button, navigating to the cogwheel icon, and selecting “launch Xbox Experience.”
Microsoft still has a few minor issues to iron out with the Xbox Full Screen Experience. Occasionally, controller inputs require multiple presses to register, and sometimes closing apps via Task View (accessed by holding the Xbox button) doesn’t respond immediately. These are, however, minor bugs that can likely be resolved with future software updates.
I truly hope Microsoft can integrate critical functions like Windows Update directly into the Full Screen Experience. The Xbox Ally X truly shines when the desktop is entirely out of mind. It’s not just the easier game launching or slight performance boosts – though those are major advantages. It’s the subtle benefits: no unexpected pop-up notifications or unwanted programs launching at startup. In many ways, this Full Screen Experience embodies how PC gaming *should* feel, especially for users who prefer not to navigate a complex operating system. Microsoft is very close to offering an experience as seamless as SteamOS; a few more updates will help it cross the finish line.
Performance
Last year’s Asus ROG Ally X was remarkably powerful, pushing the Z1 Extreme chip further than other handhelds. The Xbox Ally X continues this trend, doing much the same with the Z2 Extreme.
Even outside the Full Screen Experience, the Xbox Ally X is a potent handheld. It delivered 42 frames per second in Cyberpunk 2077 and 76 frames per second in Forza Horizon 5, both at high settings, without ray tracing, and with upscaling set to ‘Quality.’ These are already strong numbers, but testing these games within the Full Screen Experience yielded even better results: 44 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 and 77 fps in Forza Horizon 5. While not a massive increase, a 5% performance boost in Cyberpunk 2077 simply by launching through the Xbox app is significant.
However, this performance advantage appeared to be limited to actual games. In 3DMark benchmarks, I observed virtually no difference whether running in FSE or Desktop Mode. For instance, the Steel Nomad test showed 606 points in FSE and 603 points outside it, a difference well within the margin of error.
Even more impressive is its comparison to the Lenovo Legion Go 2, which uses essentially the same processor. In 3DMark, the Xbox Ally X consistently outpaced it by 3-6%, with the largest gap in the Night Raid test where Asus’s handheld scored 33,793 points against Lenovo’s 31,685. Even in the most demanding test, Steel Nomad, the Ally X still beat the Legion Go 2 by a respectable 3%. This is a substantial victory, especially considering the Legion Go 2 with the Z2 Extreme costs an additional $350.
When it came to actual gameplay, the Asus device naturally had an advantage due to its slightly lower resolution display (1080p on the Xbox Ally X versus 1200p on the Legion Go 2). In Forza Horizon 5, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 managed only 65 fps compared to Asus’s 77 fps, an 18% improvement for the Ally X. For Cyberpunk 2077, the Ally X achieved 44 fps against the Legion Go 2’s 37 fps, another 19% lead.
Even when unplugged, which automatically defaults to a 17W performance mode, the Xbox Ally X maintained a solid 30 fps at high settings in Cyberpunk 2077 throughout my battery rundown test, only showing noticeable drops in the intensely demanding Dogtown area. While the Xbox Ally X isn’t meant to replace a plugged-in gaming console connected to a TV, its ability to smoothly handle demanding games like Cyberpunk without visual compromise establishes it as the current top contender in handheld gaming.
Battery Life
All handheld gaming devices face challenges with battery life. Fitting a powerful chip and a large battery into a compact chassis inevitably leads to trade-offs. Despite these inherent limitations, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X proves to be remarkably resilient.
In the PCMark10 battery test, which simulates a range of office tasks, the Xbox Ally X lasted approximately 9 hours and 48 minutes. While not bad, it is slightly less than the Legion Go 2, which achieved 10 hours and 52 minutes in the same test. However, this test requires Desktop Mode and doesn’t truly reflect how most users will experience the Ally X.
When I tested the battery life by continuously playing Cyberpunk 2077, the results were more compelling. The battery endured for 2 hours and 34 minutes, outperforming the Legion Go 2 and even matching the Steam Deck OLED, which runs on a significantly less powerful chip. While handhelds still offer only a few hours of gameplay for demanding titles, a two-and-a-half-hour session on a high-fidelity game is certainly commendable.
Price
The price of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is an undeniable point of discussion. At $999, it’s not only more expensive than the $799 ROG Ally X but also double the cost of devices like the Nintendo Switch 2 or the Steam Deck. Everything seems to be getting pricier these days, and while the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X contributes to this trend, it’s actually quite competitively priced when compared to other similar devices released over the past year.
For example, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 starts at $1,099 with a weaker processor, with its Z2 Extreme model costing up to $1,479. The MSI Claw A8, not yet available in the US, is currently selling in the UK for around £850, which translates to approximately $1,135, likely increasing with tariffs. Handhelds are indeed becoming more expensive, but among devices featuring the Z2 Extreme, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X stands out as one of the most affordable options. Furthermore, these other devices lack the Xbox Full Screen Experience, a feature that elevates the Xbox Ally X to another level until Microsoft makes it available for other Windows gaming PCs next year.
The Xbox Full Screen Experience alone would probably be enough for me to recommend the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X to anyone looking for a new handheld gaming PC. But the fact that it’s so comfortable to use and performs so well is just icing on the cake. All it really needs now is a couple of software updates to really refine the Full Screen Experience and it will be a device for the history books.