For most of my life, handheld gaming meant compromises. But now, devices capable of running demanding titles like Dark Souls 3, Cyberpunk 2077, or Skyrim on the go feel nothing short of magical. It’s truly incredible to have the power of my entire Steam, Xbox, and GOG library accessible right in the palm of my hand.
However, the portable PC gaming market is rapidly expanding, leading to fierce competition. The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X are the newest contenders, and they’re certainly making a significant impact.
A video deep dive into the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X highlights everything you need to know about these new devices.
These new ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X models are essentially updated versions of existing ASUS handhelds, now branded with Xbox. While they aim to leverage the Xbox ecosystem, the changes are minimal, and their execution is a mixed bag.
My experience with the Xbox Ally X confirms it’s a powerful device. I’ve enjoyed playing classic titles like Dark Souls 3 and newer Xbox releases from the comfort of my bed, performing just like a console or a decent gaming PC. It’s genuinely impressive. However, this same level of performance was largely achievable with the original Ally models from previous years.
Consequently, the Xbox Ally X felt remarkably unremarkable. While I acknowledge my unique position of having access to multiple handheld gaming PCs, suggesting this device to newcomers to the handheld PC world is difficult, despite its capabilities.
Let’s clarify what sets this device apart. It’s fundamentally the same ROG Ally X ASUS released last year, with the primary internal upgrade being the processor: an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme in the Xbox Ally X, compared to the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme in the ASUS Ally X. This upgrade offers a minor performance bump that most users won’t significantly notice.
Aside from the processor, the devices share identical default storage, battery life, and a vibrant 120Hz 1080p IPS screen. For the average player, the gaming experience on both versions will be almost indistinguishable.
The key distinctions lie in their design and operating software. The Xbox Ally X offers a more comfortable grip, mirroring traditional console controllers, a welcome change from the original’s rigid design. It also boasts a premium aesthetic with a subtle textured pattern inspired by the PlayStation 5, featuring tiny ROG and Xbox logos – a pleasant detail. Crucially, it incorporates the haptic Impulse Triggers found in Xbox Series X|S controllers. This provides superior tactile feedback, adapting to in-game actions like firing a weapon or driving a car, significantly enhancing immersion.
However, these design enhancements come with a trade-off: the Xbox Ally X is slightly heavier and bulkier (715 grams compared to 678 grams). This added weight can lead to hand fatigue during longer gaming sessions, impacting its overall portability. The redesigned grip also means existing cases are incompatible, and new case options tend to be cumbersome.
For those who prefer to simply toss their handheld into a bag, the Xbox Ally X’s shape is inconvenient. Carrying it in a crossbody sling felt awkward. Unlike the more compact ASUS versions, which easily fit into my travel bag with or without a case, the Xbox Ally X’s bulk makes it much less travel-friendly, reducing my desire to take it on the go.
The most significant change, however, lies in the software. The Xbox Ally devices run a streamlined version of Windows, featuring a new dedicated Xbox full-screen gaming interface that optimizes the OS for play. The familiar PC Game Bar is also integrated, accessible via a new Xbox button, offering quick access to launchers like Steam, Battle.net, Epic Game Store, and Ubisoft Connect, creating a unified game library.
While this sounds promising, in reality, it often feels like an underdeveloped wrapper, resulting in a confusing user experience. This chaos stems from the Xbox Ally’s native functionality clashing with the Xbox software layer, Steam, and ASUS’s Armory Crate, leading to unpredictable behavior.
My primary frustration with previous ROG devices was the Windows boot-up. Being greeted by a desktop login screen on a gaming handheld is disorienting. Adding to this, ASUS’s Armory Crate software is famously unintuitive. Combined, these elements constantly remind you that you’re playing on a miniature PC, struggling with software forced into an ill-fitting gaming mold.
Pressing the Xbox button often led to unpredictable outcomes. Sometimes the Game Bar appeared, other times a Steam window layered over it, vying for focus. Occasionally, nothing happened at all, or I’d have to repeatedly press the button for the desired window to appear. Most frustratingly, the Game Bar would open but its controls would be unresponsive, forcing me to use the touchscreen or endlessly press the Xbox button until it decided to cooperate.
This fragmented experience undermines the feeling of playing on a dedicated gaming device, despite its impressive performance within games. Whether it’s a Steam title or a Game Pass game with cloud saves, the gameplay itself is excellent. The real problem emerges when interacting with the operating system: I frequently found myself swiping up to access the Windows taskbar to troubleshoot — forcing games to the foreground, closing unresponsive applications, or dismissing the Xbox interface that randomly appeared over a running game.
While frustrating, these issues become manageable once you realize they’re primarily caused by conflicting software. You can usually resolve them by force-closing applications. However, this constant troubleshooting shouldn’t be necessary; it detracts from the gaming experience. For those who share this sentiment, a superior alternative exists. It’s challenging to discuss this without comparing it to the Steam Deck, and for good reason.
The Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED are admittedly less powerful than the Xbox Ally devices; some games clearly run smoother on the Ally, even without detailed frame rate analysis. Yet, the overall user experience – from powering on to playing a game – is so superior that I’d recommend them as the primary alternative. They boot directly into SteamOS, avoiding the jarring Windows login screen. SteamOS is purpose-built for handhelds, offering a fluid experience. While some games might require dual-booting Windows, technically proficient users will find this straightforward.
Valve’s software approach offers a Nintendo-esque simplicity. It’s intuitive, clean, and reliably performs as expected. Personally, I’m willing to trade some raw power for this seamless experience, rather than constantly troubleshooting a compact Windows PC.
Pricing is another crucial factor. At around $1000, the Xbox Ally X is a difficult recommendation for the average user seeking a hassle-free PC gaming experience. However, for tech-savvy individuals comfortable with tweaking settings at both the OS and game level, its raw power justifies the cost. Beyond a dedicated gaming laptop, it’s one of the most technically capable devices for running demanding games, offering a truly magical portable experience.
[An image showing the ROG Xbox Ally X handheld gaming device.]
However, this level of portability and power isn’t exclusive to the new Xbox Ally; existing ROG Ally and Steam Deck models offer similar benefits, often at a significant cost saving. The Steam Deck OLED, for instance, delivers stunning visuals even with slightly less raw power. Furthermore, Microsoft has indicated that its new software improvements will eventually be rolled out to all ROG devices.
Ultimately, the Steam Deck excels as a standalone, primary gaming platform, offering a smooth, console-like experience. In contrast, the Xbox Ally feels more like an extension of existing PC gaming ecosystems (Steam, Xbox, etc.). While this aligns with Xbox’s strategic vision and marketing, the ROG Xbox Ally X currently feels more like a device that *can be* an Xbox, rather than a fully integrated Xbox handheld. It has potential, but still has several hurdles to overcome for broad appeal.