ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X review: An extra life for Xbox 🎮✨

Discover if the ASUS ROG Ally X is the “extra life” Xbox needs. Our review explores how this powerful handheld could redefine Microsoft’s hardware strategy.

#ASUS ROG Xbox

Xbox currently stands at a precarious crossroads 🛣️. While the PlayStation 5 and Switch 2 continue to surge in popularity, momentum for Microsoft’s hardware has stalled following multiple price hikes for the Series S and X 📉. With major retailers like Costco even removing the consoles from their shelves, the current generation appears to be drifting without a paddle 🛶. This begs the question: what is the company’s next move? ❓

Microsoft’s most obvious play would be to simply ride out the storm ⛈️, regrouping to launch a fresh console generation in a year or two. Alternatively, the company could mirror Sega’s post-Dreamcast strategy, pivoting entirely to become a cross-platform publisher leveraging its massive stable of first-party studios 🏗️. However, there is a third path that bridges the gap to the next generation while tapping into a fresh market: entering the handheld gaming arena 🕹️.

#ASUS ROG Xbox

Developing a portable gaming device from scratch is neither cheap nor fast 🛠️. Rather than going it alone, Microsoft partnered with ASUS to produce the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X—a pair of Windows 11-based handhelds infused with Microsoft’s DNA 🧬. It is too early to determine if these devices can revitalize the Xbox brand, but as standalone hardware, they are solid entries that could significantly shape the future of portable gaming 🌟.

Editor’s note: This review focuses on the flagship ROG Xbox Ally X, as that is the unit currently available to us 📝. However, it is worth noting that the base Xbox Ally and the Ally X share core DNA, including the chassis design, display, button layout, and software (distinguished only by color). The entry-level Xbox Ally is less robust, featuring a slower AMD Ryzen Z2 chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a smaller 60WHr battery 🔋. It is slightly lighter at 1.48 pounds compared to the X’s 1.58 pounds, and carries a more approachable $600 price tag compared to the X’s $1,000 🏷️.

At first glance, the ROG Xbox Ally X looks as if ASUS simply bolted larger grips onto the existing Ally X chassis 🎨. However, the company insists the device was redesigned from the ground up to cater to the Xbox faithful. The influence is clear in features like the classic ABXY button layout, Impulse triggers with deep travel, and the requisite Xbox home button, all centered around a 7-inch IPS LCD screen 📺.

Regarding that display, ASUS opted for a FHD IPS panel with a 120Hz refresh rate—ostensibly the same screen found on the standard Ally X ⚡. While it lacks the inky blacks of an OLED panel, the contrast is surprisingly rich. Our review unit hit a peak brightness of 510 nits (rated for 500), proving that you don’t necessarily need the massive 8.8-inch OLED of the Lenovo Legion Go 2 to get a satisfying visual experience 🔆.

#ASUS ROG Xbox

The rear of the device features two customizable paddles, while the top edge houses a fingerprint reader and the connectivity suite: two USB-C ports, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack 🔌. Crucially, the leftmost USB-C port is Thunderbolt 4 compliant, providing enough bandwidth to support external GPUs, such as ASUS’ recently updated XG Mobile graphics dock ⚡🖥️.

Ultimately, while the ROG Xbox Ally shares a visual lineage with previous ASUS handhelds, the tactile experience—from the buttons and triggers to the substantial grips—genuinely feels like a portable Xbox 🎮. Even without Hall Effect sensors, the joysticks are tight and responsive, and the triggers offer excellent travel. The only missed opportunity lies in the haptics; while serviceable, they lack the nuanced expression found in the DualSense controller or the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons 📳.

The ergonomic improvements will make longtime Xbox fans feel right at home 🏠, but the internal upgrades are the real star. Thanks to the new chip and optimized management of background processes and services, the device delivers class-leading performance and battery life during gaming sessions 🔋🚀.

Beyond the middling haptics, the primary barrier to entry for the ROG Xbox Ally X is its price 🚧. While there is a growing market of gamers demanding peak performance from portable PCs, the $1,000 cost is steep 💰. It wasn’t long ago that premium handhelds sat closer to the $500 mark, a price point that made them easier to justify as secondary devices rather than primary gaming rigs ⚖️.

The decision to purchase the ROG Xbox Ally X largely depends on your investment in the Microsoft ecosystem 🌐. If you aren’t an Xbox Game Pass subscriber or lack a social circle on the platform, the deep software integration loses its appeal. Gamers devoted to Valve’s ecosystem or Linux-based operating systems who don’t require bleeding-edge specs would likely be better served by the more affordable Steam Deck or the Legion Go S 🤝.

Alternatively, for those seeking a versatile portable with a massive OLED screen and detachable controllers, the Legion Go 2 is a strong contender, though the Z2 Extreme model commands an even higher price of $1,300 🔄. Despite some caveats, Microsoft and ASUS have successfully stamped the Xbox identity onto a PC handheld, delivering welcome upgrades that solidify the ROG Xbox Ally X as a top-tier device 🏆✅.