Introduction: A New Benchmark in Handheld Gaming
Backed by a deep collaboration between Asus and Microsoft, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X reimagines the handheld PC space. Following the Lenovo Legion Go 2, the Xbox Ally X introduces a design that mirrors an Xbox gamepad, aiming to fuse comfort with serious power. Priced at $999, it positions itself as a flagship Windows-based handheld that aspires to deliver the closest thing yet to a portable Xbox experience.
The big story isn’t only the hardware but the software halo around it. Microsoft’s Xbox full-screen experience sits atop Windows 11, letting players access Game Pass, Cloud Gaming, and Remote Play with surprisingly little friction on a handheld display. It’s a move that signals Microsoft’s intent to standardize the mobile Xbox experience across devices, and Asus is the first to mass-market that vision in a gaming handheld.
Design and Comfort: Xbox-Style Grips Meet Premium Finish
From the moment you pick it up, the Ally X stands out. Its contouring grips echo an Xbox controller, delivering a balance between the weight of a premium handheld and the tactile familiarity of a familiar gamepad. At 1.9 by 11.4 by 4.7 inches and around 1.5 pounds, it is similar in footprint to the Steam Deck OLED but feels notably more comfortable, thanks to weight distribution that reduces wrist fatigue during long sessions.
The external aesthetics celebrate collaboration: an Asus ROG badge on the back, subtle Xbox branding on the face, and a refreshed Xbox button that summons the Xbox Game Bar. Inside, you’ll find a 7-inch 1080p IPS touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and variable refresh via FreeSync Premium. While not OLED and lacking HDR, the screen remains bright (up to 500 nits) and punchy for most color-rich titles, though darker scenes can suffer unless you crank brightness.
Hardware Core and Performance: Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme
The heart of the Xbox Ally X is a Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, a variant of AMD’s Zen 5-based Z2 line with 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores. What sets this chip apart is a dedicated neural processor (NPU) delivering up to 50 TOPS for AI tasks. That enables features like Gaming Copilot in the Xbox Game Bar and, in theory, Auto Super Resolution to upscale gameplay without starving the GPU.
With 24GB DDR5 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD, the Ally X offers a generous memory and storage package. Two USB-C ports on top (USB-C 3.2 and USB4 with DisplayPort 2.1) provide Power Delivery and display output, while a 3.5mm jack and microSD reader round out the connectivity. The Plus model also inherits a larger 80Whr battery, contributing to longer play sessions compared with some rivals.
Software Experience: Xbox Full-Screen on Windows 11
The Xbox full-screen experience is the headline feature. It aims to bring the Xbox ecosystem—Game Pass, Cloud Gaming, and your library—into a streamlined console-like interface on a handheld. In practice, it’s mostly successful: it reduces Windows clutter and focuses on gaming, but early builds still carry bugs. Navigating between the desktop and full-screen mode can require resets, and on occasion the system would lock up, needing a hard reset or battery drain to recover.
Microsoft’s Handheld Compatibility Program adds two badges—Handheld Optimized and Mostly Compatible—so users can gauge which titles run best on the Ally X. A Windows Performance Fit indicator helps set expectations, with “Should play great” aiming for 60fps or higher and “Should play well” targeting 30fps+. Advanced shader delivery promises up to 10x faster first launches and better power efficiency, though some features (like Auto SR) are slated for a 2026 update.
Benchmarks and Real-World Play: Where It Shines
Performance testing shows the Ally X matching the Legion Go 2 in many areas, with the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme offering strong single-device parity against similar architectures. In graphically demanding games such as Forza Horizon 5 and Gears of War: Reloaded, the 1080p handheld experience remains compelling, especially when the Xbox full-screen mode minimizes Windows overhead. Battery life runs on the robust side: an 80Whr pack supports video playback and mixed gaming sessions better than many peers.
However, it’s not all flawless. The pre-release software carries occasional glitches—Steam launching via the Xbox Guide button, PIN unlock hiccups, and occasional hangs when transitioning between modes. Asus and Microsoft have signaled further refinements through 2026 updates, with the goal of a smoother, more reliable ecosystem across Windows-based handhelds.
Conclusion: The Best Handheld Windows Experience (So Far)
In its current form, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is a strong argument that Windows handhelds have matured beyond novelty. Plush ergonomics, strong performance, and the promise of a richer software future make it the Editors’ Choice among handheld gaming PCs. Early adopters should brace for software quirks, but the payoff—a portable, near-console-like Xbox experience—feels worth it. The Ally X sets a high bar for 2025’s mobile gaming and hints at exciting developments once the 2026 feature updates land.
