8 Things That Make the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X Stand Out
While the full-on console wars might have transitioned to skirmishes and a border that seems less and less well-defined, the handheld gaming battles are gathering momentum. It isn’t enough to sit in front of a monitor or chill on the couch, people want to take their favorite AAA games everywhere. Devices like the Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go, and Asus ROG Ally are catering to a large and growing audience. Enter the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, a Windows 11-based handheld with an Xbox controller in its form factor and focus on the Xbox ecosystem.
The ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are powerful machines. But in a crowded handheld battlefield, it’s good to enter fully kitted out with the facts in order to make a good buying decision. We’re here to help.
1. The ROG Xbox Ally X is NOT a Portable Xbox Console, However…
It comes pretty close. Thanks to its Xbox controller form factor, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are Windows PCs that are optimized for gaming. The Xbox PC App Dashboard and Game Bar are front and center and always one dedicated button away. Just like it does on your laptop or desktop computer, the app aggregates all your PC games from various storefronts. The ROG Xbox Ally X doesn’t play legacy Xbox games. But if you have Game Pass Ultimate, you CAN stream older games.
2. You Don’t NEED Game Pass
Technically, you don’t need a Game Pass subscription to use the ROG Xbox Ally or Ally X. You can still access and download purchased games from your Xbox library, Steam games, etc. And of course, you’re still benefitting from the handheld’s comfortable design and processing power. However, you’ll need a subscription — obviously — to access Game Pass titles, legacy games via streaming, and multiplayer or online-required games.
3. Armoury Crate is Usually Your Best Buddy
If you’ve played the ROG Ally handhelds, you know about Armoury Crate. It’s a software layer that allows you to monitor your device’s performance and make critical adjustments for an optimal experience. From Armoury Crate’s Command Center, you can set frame rate limits to increase battery life. You can tweak the RGB lighting and adjust fan speed profiles. Pro tip: if something isn’t working the way it should, check the Armoury Crate settings. Thanks to the small display, it’s easy to make an unintended change that renders inputs unresponsive. Trust me.
4. Budget for Extras
Both the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are outstanding handhelds, but the box doesn’t include a lot of extras. Actually, none. You’ll definitely want to buy a protective case, which can range from $30 for a generic padded bag to $70 for Asus’ branded version. The included “stand” is one step up from packing material, so you’ll probably want to upgrade. If you have cash to burn, you could add the ASUS ROG XG Mobile (2023) External Graphics Card Docking Station. In addition to providing a 330W power adapter, it boosts your Ally’s graphics with a GeForce RTX 4090. It’ll set you back almost $2K.
5. Is the ROG Xbox Ally X Worth the Extra $400?
The ROG Xbox Ally is an excellent handheld with most of the functionality of its more expensive sibling. The ROG Xbox Ally X has the same form factor, but it’s slightly heavier thanks to its larger battery and motorized impulse triggers. The biggest differences are the size of the SSD (512G for the ROG Xbox Ally vs 1TB for the ROG Xbox Ally X) and the processors (AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor for the ROG Xbox Ally vs AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme ROG Xbox Ally X). Worth is subjective, but the ROG Xbox Ally X is definitely more future proof. After all, video games are not becoming LESS technically demanding.
6. Steam Deck Ergonomics vs ROG Xbox Ally X
Full disclosure: I’ve never held or used the Lenovo Legion Go 2, so I can’t comment on that device’s comfort or ergonomics. I’ve always liked the Steam Deck’s even weight distribution and generally comfortable controls. Overall, the ROG Xbox Ally X is extremely comfortable to hold, especially if you’re a long-time user of an Xbox controller. It kind of feels like an Xbox controller with a screen in the middle. On the slightly negative side, it’s a little top heavy, and I noticed a bit of drop the longer I held it. Overall, the ROG Xbox Ally X has the edge, but as with mice and keyboards, there’s a bit of subjectivity and personal preference at play.
7. Boot into the Xbox Full Screen Experience
You have a choice. When you power the ROG Xbox Ally X on, you can either go right to the Xbox Full Screen Experience or a Windows desktop. Setting up the device — in Windows settings, you can find it under the Gaming tab — to open the Xbox app first helps the device feel like a handheld Xbox. You can go one step further and turn off Windows’ requirement to sign in with a PIN or password. Of course, that might be risky, especially if you’re taking the ROG Xbox Ally on the road.
8. Much More to Come
Asus and Microsoft promise that the launch versions of the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are just the beginning, with a long list of features and enhancements being rolled out after October 16th. Some of these coming attractions include better game management on MicroSD cards, improved save reliability in low power mode, AI captured highlight reels, and Automatic Super Resolution (Xbox Ally X), which adds Neural Processing Unit upscaling to a wide range of games. The ROG Xbox Ally X is already a fantastic handheld and the future looks bright for continued support.