Introduction: A bold leap in handheld gaming
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X pushes the boundaries of Windows-powered handhelds by adopting a bold, Xbox-inspired design and an ambitious Xbox full-screen experience. Priced at $999, it aims to outpace rivals like the Lenovo Legion Go 2 with a refined grip, strong performance, and a future-proof roadmap. While some promised features arrive in future updates, the Ally X already stands out as a flagship for Windows-based handheld gaming.
Design and comfort: A reimagined handheld
Right away, the Xbox-aligned grips and impulse triggers give the Ally X a distinctly gamepad-like feel. Contoured, controller-style handles distribute weight toward the grips, making it surprisingly easy to handle during fast-action sessions. At 1.9 x 11.4 x 4.7 inches and about 1.5 pounds, it sits between the compact Steam Deck OLED and larger rival Go variations, with a balance that minimizes hand fatigue during extended play.
Visually, the device blends Asus and Xbox cues—there’s an understated but clear collaboration signified by branding and a modern interface. The 7-inch, 1080p IPS touch screen runs at 120Hz with AMD FreeSync Premium for smooth visuals. While it isn’t OLED and lacks HDR, brightness tops out at 500 nits, keeping titles legible in most lighting conditions. The display’s color and clarity are solid for a handheld of this class, and the form factor makes it feel like a natural evolution of the ROG Ally line rather than a simple re-skin.
Performance and hardware: Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme
The Ally X uses a variant of AMD’s Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, pairing Zen 5 cores with 16 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores and a dedicated AI processing unit (NPU) rated up to 50 TOPS. This enables features like Gaming Copilot and an experimental Auto Super Resolution, which are slated to roll out with updates. In practice, the system handles demanding titles and multi-tasking moderately well, delivering a comparable experience to other high-end handhelds in its class.
Memory and storage are 24GB of DDR5 and 1TB of NVMe SSD, with two USB-C ports including USB4/Thunderbolt-compatible output for DisplayPort 2.1. A 3.5mm jack and microSD slot round out the essential I/O. There’s also a forthcoming budget variant with a lower-power CPU, aimed at 720p play but at a much friendlier price.
Xbox full-screen experience: Windows 11, reimagined
The core feature—Xbox full-screen experience—pulls Windows 11 into a console-like overlay optimized for handhelds. Pressing the Xbox button opens an Xbox-driven overlay for quick access to game libraries, Game Pass, remote play, and cloud streaming. It’s a compelling attempt to unify PC, console, and cloud play in a portable form factor. In practice, it’s mostly smooth, though early software builds show occasional glitches that require resets or workaround tweaks. The goal is clear: minimize Windows desktop clutter while maximizing game performance in a familiar interface.
Games, compatibility, and performance
Microsoft’s Handheld Compatibility Program helps users gauge how titles run on the Ally X, with badges like Handheld Optimized and Mostly Compatible. A Windows Performance Fit indicator sets expectations for frame rates, guiding players toward titles that can hit 60fps or better or settle for 30fps+. Advanced shader delivery promises faster launches and improved efficiency, though some features are initially unavailable and scheduled for future updates.
In benchmarks and real-world tests, the Ally X holds its own against the Legion Go 2 and other contemporaries. It excels in fast-paced titles and games that benefit from its CPU/GPU configuration and the efficiency gains from the Xbox full-screen mode. Battery life is respectable: an 80Wh pack offers solid endurance for both gaming and media playback, especially when tuned for efficiency.
The verdict: A premium, ambitious handheld with a bright future
The ROG Xbox Ally X is not perfect—some early software quirks and feature rollouts temper the initial experience. However, its design comfort, robust performance, and thoughtful integration of an Xbox-centric Windows experience place it at the top of the current handheld gaming PC class. For early adopters, this device signals a strong direction for Windows-based handhelds, with a promising roadmap that should refine the user experience in 2026 and beyond. If you want the closest thing to a mobile Xbox ecosystem right now, the Ally X is the best option available.
