Microsoft has partnered with Asus to launch the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, its first official handheld devices bearing the Xbox brand. Priced at $600 and $1,000 respectively, these Windows-based portables aim to blend console simplicity with PC versatility but face criticism for a cluttered user interface. Reviews highlight strong hardware performance alongside software frustrations compared to competitors like the Steam Deck.
The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X mark Microsoft's entry into portable gaming through a collaboration with Asus, rebranding the latter's ROG Ally line with Xbox aesthetics. Announced this summer, the devices run Windows 11 and feature the Xbox Full-screen Experience (FSE), intended to streamline gaming by minimizing background tasks and aggregating libraries from platforms like Steam, Battle.net, and EA Play.
However, execution falls short. Ars Technica noted only marginal performance gains in FSE, with benchmarks showing 1-2 frames per second improvements over Desktop Mode, often unnoticeable. Library integration is incomplete; the FSE displays only Xbox-compatible games for direct installation, requiring separate apps for others, which can lead to authentication errors, such as with EA Play despite an active Game Pass subscription. Launching third-party games involves delays up to 30 seconds, pop-up interruptions, and inconsistent background multitasking, with the system sometimes freezing or swapping interfaces unexpectedly.
Hardware impresses, particularly on the Ally X. Both share a 7-inch 1080p 120Hz IPS touchscreen at 500 nits brightness, ergonomic grips, and customizable rear buttons. The base Ally uses an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, and 512GB SSD, weighing 670 grams with a 60Wh battery. The Ally X upgrades to a Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip, 24GB LPDDR5X RAM, 1TB SSD, and 80Wh battery, tipping the scales at 715 grams. WIRED tests showed the Ally handling indie titles like Hollow Knight: Silksong at 120 fps but struggling with AAA games like Forza Horizon 5 at 30-48 fps. The Ally X delivered smoother 60-90 fps on similar titles, even off battery.
Battery life averages six hours, extending with cloud gaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming, which runs at consistent 60 fps without dropouts. Asus' Armoury Crate SE adds power profiles and monitoring but contributes to UI clutter alongside Windows and Xbox interfaces. While versatile for mods and non-Steam games, including Xbox Game Pass's 500+ titles, reviewers prefer SteamOS devices for seamlessness. Microsoft promises refinements to the FSE.