The world of portable gaming has never been more exciting, with powerful handheld devices pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the go. ASUS, a titan in the gaming hardware space, jumped into this arena with the original ROG Ally, quickly followed by the enhanced ROG Ally X. Both devices promised a premium, high-performance experience, essentially putting a gaming PC in the palm of your hand.
For Xbox enthusiasts and PC gamers craving portability, these handhelds represent a fascinating proposition. They offer the power to tackle demanding AAA titles away from your desk, blending the convenience of a console with the open ecosystem of Windows. Yet, as with any cutting-edge technology, the journey isn’t without its bumps.
This review dives deep into the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and its successor, the Ally X, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and whether their high-performance pedigree justifies their equally high price tag. We’ll explore everything from their stunning displays and raw processing power to the intricacies of their software experience and battery life, helping you decide if these Xbox portables are the right investment for your mobile gaming needs.
Unpacking the Power: Design, Display, and Performance
At the heart of both the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X lies serious hardware designed to deliver a desktop-like gaming experience. The original Ally made waves with its AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, a custom chip offering formidable performance for its size. The Ally X takes this a step further, refining the internal components and external design.
Both models boast a vibrant 7-inch FHD (1920×1080) display with a blazing 120Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium support. This combination ensures incredibly smooth gameplay and sharp visuals, making your favorite titles pop with clarity. Whether you’re navigating sprawling open worlds or engaging in fast-paced combat, the display is a consistent highlight, offering rich colors and excellent brightness for indoor and outdoor play.
Ergonomically, ASUS has crafted devices that feel comfortable for extended gaming sessions. The original Ally impressed with its relatively light build and thoughtful button placement. The Ally X builds on this with subtle, yet impactful, design tweaks. It features improved grips, more robust joysticks, and an enhanced D-pad, providing a more premium and responsive feel in the hand.
Under the hood, the Ally X significantly boosts RAM, moving from 16GB to a generous 24GB of LPDDR5X, which is crucial for modern games that demand more memory. Storage also sees a major upgrade, with a 1TB SSD becoming standard, addressing one of the common critiques of the original Ally. These enhancements mean smoother multitasking, quicker load times, and more headroom for demanding applications.
Performance-wise, both ROG Xbox Ally models excel at running a vast array of PC games. From graphically intensive AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake 2 to popular esports titles and indie gems, these handhelds can handle them all. Users will, of course, need to adjust graphics settings to strike the right balance between visual fidelity and frame rate, but the potential is undeniably there for a premium portable gaming experience.
The Gaming Ecosystem: UI, Software, and the Xbox Experience
While raw power and a stunning display are crucial, the software experience can make or break a portable gaming device. The ROG Xbox Ally series runs on Windows 11, which is both its greatest strength and its most significant hurdle. On one hand, Windows 11 offers unparalleled game compatibility, allowing access to virtually any PC game launcher – Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and of course, Xbox Game Pass.
This open ecosystem means a vast library of games is at your fingertips, a stark contrast to more closed console environments. For Xbox fans, the integration with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is a major draw. Having direct access to hundreds of titles, including Xbox first-party games on day one, seamlessly transitioning from your console or PC to the ROG Ally, truly enhances the value proposition.
However, navigating Windows 11 on a 7-inch touchscreen, primarily designed for mouse and keyboard input, can be a less-than-stellar experience. ASUS attempts to mitigate this with their custom software, Armoury Crate SE. This overlay is designed to be a central hub for launching games, adjusting performance profiles, and customizing controls, aiming to provide a more console-like interface.
While Armoury Crate SE has seen improvements over time, it still struggles to completely abstract away the underlying Windows desktop. Users often find themselves dipping in and out of the traditional Windows environment, which can feel clunky and unintuitive on a handheld. This is where the core challenge of these devices lies.
Indeed, these are high-power, high-performance handhelds—but steep pricing and a cluttered UI hold Xbox’s first portables back from greatness. The promise of a seamless portable Xbox experience is tantalizing, but the reality of managing Windows updates, game launcher quirks, and occasional driver issues means the ROG Ally journey requires a certain level of technical patience from its users. It’s a gaming PC in every sense, including its operational complexities.
The Cost of Convenience: Pricing, Battery, and the Competitive Landscape
The ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are premium devices, and their pricing reflects this. The original ROG Ally, depending on the configuration, launched at a competitive price for its power. The Ally X, with its significant upgrades in RAM, storage, battery, and design refinements, naturally comes with a higher price tag. This positions both models at the upper end of the handheld gaming PC market.
For many, battery life is the Achilles’ heel of powerful portable devices. The original ROG Ally, while impressive in performance, often fell short in sustained gaming, offering around 1-2 hours for demanding AAA titles. This necessitated carrying a charger or power bank for any serious on-the-go sessions. Recognizing this, ASUS made battery life a key focus for the Ally X.
The ROG Ally X features an impressive 80Wh battery, a substantial upgrade from the original’s 40Wh unit. This improvement translates directly into significantly longer playtimes, often doubling the endurance for the same games. While still not offering all-day gaming for graphically intense titles, the Ally X’s battery life is a game-changer for practicality, making it a much more viable travel companion.
In the competitive landscape, the ROG Ally series faces strong contenders like Valve’s Steam Deck and Lenovo’s Legion Go. The Steam Deck often wins on price and a highly optimized, Linux-based gaming OS, though with less raw power. The Legion Go, with its larger screen and detachable controllers, offers a different take on versatility. The ROG Allys carve out their niche with a focus on Windows 11 compatibility and raw performance, particularly with the Z1 Extreme chip, offering a true “desktop-in-your-hand” experience.
Ultimately, the value proposition of these devices hinges on what a gamer prioritizes. If maximum performance, a stunning 120Hz display, and full Windows compatibility for your entire PC game library are paramount, and you’re willing to pay a premium and navigate some software complexities, the ROG Ally line delivers. However, those on a tighter budget or seeking a more plug-and-play console-like experience might find alternatives more appealing.
Conclusion
The ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X represent ASUS’s ambitious entry into the high-performance portable gaming market. They are engineering marvels, packing desktop-grade power into a handheld form factor, complete with brilliant displays and commendable ergonomic designs. For gamers who crave the ability to play their PC library and Xbox Game Pass titles anywhere, these devices unlock a world of possibilities.
Yet, their journey to portable gaming greatness is tempered by the inherent challenges of running Windows on a small screen and their premium pricing. The Ally X addresses many of the original’s shortcomings, particularly in battery life and storage, making it a far more compelling and practical device for serious gamers.
If you’re an enthusiast looking for a powerful, versatile gaming handheld that doesn’t compromise on visual fidelity and has the patience for Windows’ quirks, either ROG Xbox Ally model could be a fantastic choice. The Ally X, in particular, refines the experience to a point where its high price begins to feel more justified by its comprehensive upgrades.
Consider your budget, your desire for raw power, and your tolerance for a slightly less streamlined user experience. If those align, embracing the ROG Xbox Ally or Ally X could redefine your portable gaming adventures. Dive in and experience the future of gaming on the go.
