Published 3 hours ago

John is a writer at Pocket-lint. He is passionate about all things technology, and is always keeping up with the latest smartphone and PC releases. John has previously written at MobileSyrup. When he’s not reading and writing about tech, he enjoys listening to history podcasts and watching documentaries.

There’s no two ways about it: the handheld gaming PC market is hot right now. Valve’s Steam Deck has proven to be a fan-favorite with its clean, Linux-based SteamOS software, and Lenovo, MSI, and other industry juggernauts are rapidly iterating on their own takes on the form factor with Microsoft’s Windows 11 OS at the helm.

Then, there’s Asus. The Taipei, Taiwan-based tech company has been building Windows 11 gaming handhelds for some time now, with the original ROG Ally model releasing in mid-2023. A refreshed Ally X model arrived shortly thereafter, boasting both spec improvements and ergonomic adaptations.

Fast-forward to today, and we have two all-new Asus handheld PCs to contend with, but with a twist – these devices, the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X, are built in collaboration with Microsoft and its Xbox division, and they serve as halo devices for the latter company’s vision of an upgraded Windows 11-based portable gaming future.

...while admittedly unrefined in some respects, Asus’ standard Xbox Ally variant is a diamond in the rough.

Pocket-lint’s former Editor-in-Chief, Patrick O’Rourke, has comprehensively reviewed the higher-end ROG Xbox Ally X, describing the $1,000 console as being "fantastic, but incomplete." Based on my brief hands-on time with the device, I echo this same sentiment. While the hardware is top-notch and game performance is predictably competent, Windows 11 still sometimes trips over itself in its attempts at providing a console-like end-user experience.

In my own case, I’ve spent the past several weeks testing out the Xbox Ally X’s sister product, the standard $600 ROG Xbox Ally. It’s become clear to me that, while admittedly unrefined in some respects, Asus’ standard Xbox Ally variant is a diamond in the rough. Here are three reasons why, despite some very real growing pains, the Xbox ROG Ally is worth more than the sum of its parts.

ROG Xbox Ally

Dimensions 11.45 x 4.78 x 1.99-inches (290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm)

Brand Asus

Weight 23oz (670g)

Chipset AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor

RAM 16GB LPDDR5X-6400

Storage 512GB M.2 2280 SSD

The ROG Xbox Ally is a handheld gaming PC from Asus that runs the Windows 11 operating system, designed in collaboration with Microsoft and Xbox.

It’s incredibly ergonomic

The ROG Xbox Ally is contoured in all the right ways

When compared with the original Asus ROG Ally or even its Ally X counterpart, both new ROG Xbox Ally handhelds are marked improvements in the comfort department. When I picked up the standard Xbox Ally for the first time in particular, I was taken aback by how light the unit felt in my hands, with its 1.47 lbs (670g) weight feeling well distributed. The handheld’s 60Wh internal battery likely plays a role here, which is smaller and therefore lighter than the 80Wh unit found within the (slightly heavier at 1.58lbs (715g)) Xbox Ally X.

In terms of in-hand feel, the Xbox Ally is pretty excellent. The device is curved and sculpted in such a way that my hands rest naturally on its chassis, with easy access to all buttons and without the rear paddles getting in the way when unneeded. From what I understand, Asus worked closely with Microsoft to bring some of the Xbox Series controller ergonomics to the ROG Xbox handheld, and the end result feels natural.

I’m particularly fond of the white colorway that the unit ships in.

Of course, as is the case with most other modern gaming handhelds, the Xbox Ally is externally quite large and domineering. At 11.45 x 4.78 x 1.99-inches (290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm), this isn’t a pocketable device in the slightest, but it’s light build and ergonomics make up for this in my eyes.

I also want to shout out the product’s design language, which, while being an evolution of the original ROG handheld, takes inspiration from Xbox with its colored face buttons and other subtleties. I’m particularly fond of the white colorway that the unit ships in, which I find to look visually striking when compared to the duller black hue of the more expensive Xbox Ally X.

It’s multifaceted

Windows 11 and the upgraded Xbox app make for a flexible gaming experience

For better or worse, Microsoft’s Windows operating system has been the de facto PC platform for computer games going all the way back to the eighties and nineties. Over the decades, the OS has amassed a staggering back catalog of video games, most of which remain playable on the latest builds of Windows 11 due to Microsoft’s prioritization of program compatibility.

Primarily for this reason, Windows 11 is a compelling software choice in the modern handheld gaming space – it’s a versatile platform that can play classic PC titles, emulate retro consoles, tap into Steam and other third-party game storefronts, and stream games from Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForece NOW, and other providers.

At the end of the day, the ROG Xbox Ally is a full-fledged PC...

Owing to its desktop roots, Windows 11’s dockability serves as a cherry on top, making for a flexible experience that can be supplemented with external peripherals like a monitor, mouse, keyboard, and controller. At the end of the day, the ROG Xbox Ally is a full-fledged PC, capable of being used for productivity and creativity with its desktop computing environment evocable as needed, which only adds to its appeal.

Then, there’s the Xbox app for Windows, which has been updated to surface game titles from across all areas of the OS. For example, your library of games from across Steam, the Epic Games Store, the EA App, Ubisoft Connect, Good Old Games (GOG), and Battle.net are freely able to sit alongside your Xbox-sourced content, streamlining the gaming experience without removing the element of flexibility Windows is known for.

It ushers in the Xbox Full Screen Experience era

Finally, the consolization of the Windows platform

The ROG Xbox Ally’s biggest draw is that it’s the first Windows 11 handheld PC to ship with the new Xbox Full Screen Experience (XFSE) from Microsoft. This new software feature essentially aims to strip back the legacy elements of Windows to provide a more console-like and streamlined experience tailored for gamers. When enabled, the aforementioned Xbox app assumes the role of a full-screen launcher, with native gamepad control input, a dedicated game multitasking carousel, and more.

Critically, the XFSE also eliminates the standard Windows Shell by default, while also slashing away background tasks from various non-game-related startup apps. The end result is more memory and CPU resources allocated for gaming itself, which helps boost in-game performance, refresh rates, load times, and more. At any point in time, you can also boot back into the classic Windows desktop for a more traditional setup as well.

...the ROG Xbox Ally remains the best-integrated device of its kind, with its dedicated Xbox menu button and its Xbox controller-inspired ergonomics.

Most recently, we’ve gotten confirmation that the XFSE is set to roll out to other Windows 11 handhelds, with other PC form factors, including tablets and laptops, now previewing a variant of the experience in the Windows Insider Program as well. With that in mind, the ROG Xbox Ally’s main superpower is about to be unleashed across the entire PC gaming ecosystem, which does slightly dull the product’s flame, though it’s a net positive for the industry at large.

It’s unclear whether Microsoft will be able to stave off the lean and mean competition from Valve’s SteamOS in the long term, but, after spending some quality time with the ROG Xbox Ally, I find the XFSE to do a solid job at consolizing the Windows platform. Even once every computer can fully tap into the XFSE, the ROG Xbox Ally remains the best-integrated device of its kind, with its dedicated Xbox menu button and its Xbox controller-inspired ergonomics.

This device was provided to Pocket-lint by Asus.