ROG Xbox Ally X Overview: Efficiency Outpaces Imperfections

A brand new contender has entered the increasingly crowded field of handheld gaming PCs, and by advantage of its identify alone, it is positive to make waves this fall. The ROG Xbox Ally X is the high-end variant of the brand new co-branded machine, and I’ve spent the previous week placing it by its paces to see if it could actually justify its $999.99 price ticket.

Extra than simply the value, I needed to see if a revamped person expertise, a novel type issue centered on ergonomics, and one of the vital highly effective handheld processors at present out there would convert a happy Steam Deck proprietor resembling myself. On the identical time, I needed to see if this machine may dwell as much as the expectations of a hardcore gamer who desires to convey probably the most demanding PC video games with them wherever they go.

The reply is extra sophisticated than a easy sure or no. The ROG Xbox Ally X blew me away almost as typically because it ruffled my feathers. Fortunately, I’ve a complete evaluate forward to debate the professionals and the cons of this moveable gaming beast.

One of many many causes I have never strongly thought of replacing or complementing my Steam Deck with a Home windows handheld is due to SteamOS. Valve’s Linux-based working system for the Steam Deck is an ideal match for a controller-based machine, and the identical cannot be stated of Home windows 11. I am a Home windows 11 apologist – I even favor it to macOS – nevertheless it doesn’t translate properly to a small touchscreen. Xbox was properly conscious of that reality, which is why the corporate constructed a brand new full display screen expertise particularly for these gaming handhelds.

The Xbox full display screen expertise does an admirable job of bridging the hole between Home windows and the UI that Xbox Sequence X/S homeowners are aware of. Slightly than dumping customers on to a scaled-down Home windows desktop, the ROG Xbox Ally X boots on to a trendy, intuitive new interface that – not less than on the floor – offers SteamOS a run for its cash.

On the left facet of the display screen, you will discover a simplified menu with a sequence of icons that characterize the Dwelling display screen, Sport Cross, My Library, Cloud Gaming, and the Retailer. Should you personal an Xbox, there’s additionally a handy button on the backside of the menu to begin up Xbox Distant Play, so now Xbox has its personal (far dearer) PlayStation Portal competitor.

The Dwelling display screen is usually filled with advertisements for video games you do not already personal, however on the high of the display screen, you will discover a “Bounce again in” part the place you may simply launch any of the video games you’ve got performed most lately. In any other case, you are greatest off heading to My Library, the place you may rapidly launch any video games put in in your machine. That features video games from Steam, Epic Video games Retailer, Battle.internet, GOG Galaxy, and Ubisoft Join.

The opposite three tabs present various ranges of utility relying on how invested you might be within the Xbox ecosystem. The Sport Cross tab reveals you all of the video games you may obtain, relying in your subscription tier. The Cloud Gaming tab presents quick access to Xbox video games that may be streamed on the Xbox Ally X (which requires a Sport Cross subscription). Lastly, the Retailer tab allows you to purchase video games and downloadable content material you do not personal but. Theoretically, you may by no means work together with any of those tabs if your whole PC video games are in your Steam or Epic Games libraries, however the expertise is clearly catered towards Xbox followers. That stated, it is comparatively streamlined and simple to make use of if and if you do wade into the Xbox full display screen expertise.

The largest drawback with the Xbox full display screen expertise is that it is nonetheless only a pores and skin on high of Home windows 11. Having picked up the ROG Xbox Ally X greater than a dozen instances over the previous week, I am unable to keep in mind a single session that did not embody a handful of bugs and points. Inevitably, in some unspecified time in the future whereas navigating the menus, downloading software program, or booting up video games, I might encounter an impediment. The controls would randomly cease responding, apps would instantly shut down, faucets on the display screen would not register, and video games would hold.

In a single occasion, the machine didn’t energy on altogether. I figured I might need let the battery run down on accident, however after holding down the facility button for an prolonged interval, lights started to flash and the Xbox Ally X booted again up with a full battery.

None of that is to say that SteamOS, Android, or every other working system is with out points and bugs of its personal, however on the finish of the day, Home windows 11 is solely ill-equipped to energy a handheld gaming machine. The Xbox full display screen expertise is a major enchancment, and even outclasses SteamOS in some regards, however there’s nonetheless loads of work to be finished earlier than I might really feel snug recommending a Home windows handheld to anybody with out the technical know-how to beat the recurrent hurdles the working system presents.

At a look, probably the most pronounced distinction between the ROG Ally X and its Xbox-branded successor is the silhouette –- altered considerably by the contoured grips on both facet of the brand new mannequin. In impact, Microsoft threw the Ally X in a blender with the Xbox Wi-fi Controller, and the ensuing contraption is certainly a bit extra snug to carry than a slab handheld.

That consolation is considerably hampered by the ROG Xbox Ally X’s 715g weight, which is heavier than the unique ROG Ally X (678g), the ROG Xbox Ally (670g), the Steam Deck OLED (640g), and the OG Steam Deck (669g). There are heavier handhelds on the market (the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is available in at a whopping 795g), however you’ll really feel the heft of the ROG Xbox Ally X.

Whether or not or not I must spend extra time on the gymnasium apart, I used to be capable of play video games on the Xbox Ally X for an hour or two at a time with minimal discomfort, although some periods had been kinder to my fingers, arms, and arms than others. Though the cumbersome machine matches comparatively naturally in my arms, the journey between a few of the buttons –- particularly the triggers -– did trigger some minor irritation over prolonged play periods. Any video games that required me to make use of the bumpers and triggers extensively –- like first-person shooters and 3D motion video games – weren’t particularly conducive to multi-hour gaming.

The button format is almost an identical to that of the unique Ally X, with satisfyingly clacky ABXY buttons, two perfectly-sized analog sticks (paying homage to these on an Xbox controller), giant bumpers and triggers that must be inside attain for many hand sizes, a stable D-pad, and two rear programmable buttons for many who make the most of them. Aside from that, you will discover 4 menu buttons flanking the display screen (Menu, View, Library, and Command Middle), in addition to a brand new Xbox button for fast entry to the Sport Bar.

All that stated, consolation is subjective relating to these hulking handhelds. I’ve little doubt that some customers will battle to seek out the proper place to recreation on the ROG Xbox Ally X for lengthy intervals, others will discover it to be probably the most snug handheld in the marketplace.

Placing apart the interface, person expertise, and comfortability, there is no query that that is an exceptionally highly effective piece of {hardware}. That includes 24GB of LPDDR5X-8000 RAM, a 1TB M.2 2280 SSD, and AMD’s Ryzen AI Z2 Excessive processor, the ROG Xbox Ally X was a step up from any handheld gaming PC I’ve ever used.

That made a distinction whereas taking part in demanding titles like “Cyberpunk 2077,” “Gears of Battle: Reloaded,” and “Starfield.” Even after bumping up the graphics settings, these triple-A video games had been persistently playable at 30 frames per second with minimal hitches or slow-downs. For many who care in regards to the arduous numbers, this is what Geekbench needed to say in regards to the CPU and GPU efficiency of the Xbox Ally X at its max TDP of 25W:

• Single-Core Rating: 2715

• Multi-Core Rating: 11661

• OpenCL Rating: 38872

These numbers translated to comparatively clean crusing for me no matter what I threw at it, particularly once I turned up the working mode in Asus’s Armoury Crate software program from 17W (Efficiency Mode) to 25W (Turbo Mode). There are limits, in fact – the Extremely graphics preset in “Cyberpunk 2077” was a breeze whereas ray-tracing dragged the FPS beneath 25 – however even two unreleased 2025 triple-A video games I examined on the Xbox Ally X carried out admirably, sticking round 30 FPS in giant open-world environments and with over a dozen enemies on display screen.

Then there’s the 80Wh battery, which gave me a stable 2 hours and quarter-hour in Turbo Mode whereas taking part in one of the vital demanding video games I may throw at it. Those that plan on taking part in indie and older PC video games will simply have the ability to squeeze 8 hours or extra out of a single cost. Plus, should you reap the benefits of cloud gaming companies, you may stream video games with out ever having to bump as much as the next TDP.

Transferring previous the uncooked energy, it is value noting that the Xbox Ally X would not stray removed from its roots (these roots being the ROG Ally X) relating to the design. That is not a knock, as a result of the identical 7-inch 1080p LCD show with a 120Hz refresh price that shipped with the 2024 mannequin remains to be fairly a looker on this 12 months’s mannequin. OLED may be the trendy pick, however every thing I performed got here by vibrant and clean on this display screen.

The Xbox Ally X additionally options two USB-C ports (certainly one of which is appropriate with Thunderbolt 4), a microSD card reader for added storage, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. I discovered the machine to cost relatively rapidly utilizing these USB-C ports, regardless of the dimensions of its battery.

I do know that lots of you might be simply right here for the efficiency, however chips apart, I discovered the Xbox Ally X to be a compelling bundle from a {hardware} perspective. There is a purpose the non-Xbox Ally gadgets had been so standard on this product class, and whereas the Xbox branding got here with a couple of useful tweaks, there was no want to repair what wasn’t damaged.

As famous above, one the second tab on the primary menu of the Xbox full display screen expertise is labeled “Sport Cross,” highlighting the significance of the subscription service. Admittedly, I let my Sport Cross subscription expire earlier this 12 months, however the Xbox Ally X (like different handheld gaming PCs) comes with three months of Xbox Sport Cross Premium. As famous above, the Xbox full display screen expertise all however expects you to have a subscription, and should you do, you are merely going to get extra out of proudly owning this machine.

Complicating this potential profit is the truth that Xbox just increased the price of Game Pass Ultimate by 50% in america. You’ve got already spent over $1,000 after taxes on a brand new gaming handheld, and now it’s essential tack on a $30 month-to-month payment to unlock its full potential. Your finances will clearly inform this resolution, however given how a lot of the UI revolves round Sport Cross, you are inevitably going to really feel such as you’re lacking out with out it.

That stated, should you worth what Sport Cross has to supply, it is undoubtedly the puzzle piece that completes the Xbox Ally X. It is simply lower than very best that skipping out on Sport Cross subtracts from an in any other case admirable person expertise.

Regardless of its Xbox branding and extra approachable design, the ROG Xbox Ally X would not fairly do sufficient to draw a wider viewers than any handheld gaming PC earlier than it. That is to not say that was even an achievable purpose for Asus and Xbox, however for as thrilling as this machine could be in very best circumstances, its software program continues to carry it again. The Xbox full display screen expertise is a major step in the appropriate path, however Home windows 11 simply would not run easily on a transportable touchscreen machine. Definitely not this one – not but, anyway.

In fact, anybody keen to disregard or circumvent these inherent issues shall be rewarded with an awfully highly effective gaming rig. There’s not going to be a lot you may throw on the Xbox Ally X that it could actually’t deal with, supplied you are keen to tone down the graphics settings each occasionally. The {hardware} itself is thoughtfully designed, comparatively snug to carry for hours at a time, and appears about as slick as a foot-long, all-in-one gaming PC may look.

For anybody hoping that the ROG Xbox Ally X would become a game-changing crossover hit, combining the most effective of all worlds and turning the hand held gaming PC market on its head, I believe they need to hold their expectations in examine. Then again, those that merely need an “endgame” machine that may play a overwhelming majority of their PC recreation library with out immediately operating out of battery or sacrificing visible constancy, the ROG Xbox Ally X is a transparent winner.

The ROG Xbox Ally X launches on October 16 and can retail for $999.99. On the identical day, Asus and Xbox are additionally launching the ROG Xbox Ally — a extra reasonably priced, much less performant handheld that may value $599.99.