Asus ROG Xbox Ally X Review: A New Handheld Gaming Standard

The first thing we did upon firing up the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X – the new handheld gaming PC released today – was download Ghost Of Tsushima. Not because we were itching to replay 2020's outstanding open-world samurai action-adventure, but because we wanted to experience the satisfaction of running a first-party Sony Studios title on the new Xbox-branded hardware.

With the game's Director's Cut arriving on PC storefronts last year, we knew we could play it on the Windows-based machine, but Microsoft and Asus' impressive collaboration still managed to surprise us. As expected, the former PlayStation-exclusive can be accessed via Steam and the Epic Games Store. What we hadn't anticipated, however, was that Ghost Of Tsushima would sit right alongside our Xbox games within the device's new and improved Xbox app.

But we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves.

Is the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X a portable Xbox?

You can't properly evaluate the ROG Xbox Ally X without knowing exactly what it is… and what it isn't. While some murky messaging and marketing might have you believing it's an Xbox you can play in the palm of your hand, it's not that at all. It is, in fact, much more like last year's Asus ROG Ally X than a Nintendo Switch 2 or – for gamers of a certain age – a PlayStation Vita.

All of this is to say, you won't be shoving any physical discs or cartridges into the gadget, nor will you be natively playing games that aren't part of Xbox's "Play Anywhere" ecosystem. That program does allow you to seamlessly enjoy over 1500 titles across PC and Xbox consoles. But if you're looking to play, say, your old copy of The Evil Within, the best you'll be able to do is stream it from the cloud.

Is the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X any good?

While the inability to play even some newer entries, like NBA 2K26, natively might be a disappointment to anyone gearing up to enjoy their entire Xbox library on-the-go, it doesn't diminish the fact the ROG Xbox Ally X sets a new benchmark for portable PC gaming. It also doesn't mean the Xbox branding is merely a pretty paintjob. In many ways, this Asus/Xbox mash-up delivers the best of both worlds — a next-gen handheld gaming PC to rival the Steam Deck and an Xbox you can play on the Tube.

The former comes courtesy of what's essentially a beefed-up version of last year's Asus ROG Ally X, still widely considered one of the best handheld gaming rigs money can buy. Powered by the latest and greatest portable gaming processor — AMD's Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme — as well as 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB SSD, the ROG Xbox Ally X's specs are nothing to sneeze at. And while the system doesn't include the OLED display we'd hoped for, its 7-inch 1080p touchscreen — souped up with a 120Hz refresh rate — more than gets the job done.

Tech jargon aside, this device harnesses all those horses beneath its hood to deliver a spot-on balance of peppy performance and pretty graphics, all in a portable package. But while its Asus side sets a new standard within the market, it's the system's Xbox-flavored features that truly make it the new Windows-based gaming handheld to beat. And it does that, in large part, by actually kicking Microsoft's ubiquitous operating system to the curb.

Windows who?

Unlike similar platforms that have come before it, the ROG Xbox Ally X downplays its purpose as a fully-functional Windows PC in both its marketing and its user experience. The OS has been significantly scaled back and streamlined, so it's not only in your face far less, but it isn't siphoning as many resources that could otherwise, say, make your spells look slick in Hogwarts Legacy.

So, while the machine's already equipped to hold its own in terms of delivering polygon-pushing performance and eye-popping visuals, its games run a bit smoother and look slightly better because there's less Windows-based busyness happening in the background. While those improvements are mostly nominal, this gaming-first approach is far more noticeable when navigating the handheld's Xbox-forward user interface.

Following your initial set up of the system, you simply sign-in — an incredibly quick step once you've sorted the fingerprint reader — and boot directly into a fresh, enhanced take on the Xbox app. Rather than being greeted with the Windows desktop — and the tedious interfaces, pop-ups, and other boring computer-y stuff that often comes with it — you're launched right into a gamer-friendly user experience that'll be familiar to anyone who's enjoyed their favorite pastime on an Xbox console.

When you're in this immersive full-screen Xbox interface, you have access to all the expected features, from your gaming library and friends' list to your user profile, Game Pass subscription, and much more. The device's dedicated Xbox button works in tandem with the Xbox app, opening the Game Bar to take you deeper into system settings, social functions, screen capturing, and even other digital storefronts.

That latter inclusion is key, as you needn't leave the full-screen Xbox UI to access other accounts, like Steam. And, as mentioned at the start of our ROG Xbox Ally X review, any titles you've recently played from other PC storefronts will appear in the Xbox app's prominently featured "Jump back in" section — even if that means sitting Kratos right next to Master Chief.

The game-prioritizing platform also favours inputs via the familiar Xbox button layout, so you'll generally spend far less time fumbling with finicky digital keyboards. Speaking of those unmistakable X, Y, A, and B buttons, you may have noticed the system looks a lot like an elongated black Xbox controller with a big screen wedged between its palm grips.

The design is undoubtedly bulkier than other handheld gaming PCs, but it also hits an unexpected sweet spot between weight, size, and comfort. While similar gadgets lean toward lighter, rectangular designs, the ROG Xbox Ally X is a bit heavier, but better balanced overall. And those controller-like grips are the secret sauce, providing exceptional comfort even over marathon gaming sessions.

Of course, those palm-pleasing grips also house Microsoft's proprietary Impulse Triggers, upping the immersion in games that support the nuanced vibration tech. While not Xbox-specific, the system's shell also impresses with a number of ports, including an audio jack and microSD card reader. Most welcome is the inclusion of two USB Type-C connections, which allow for simultaneous charging and accessory-use.

Putting the ROG Xbox Ally X through its paces, playing everything from power-hungry games like Cyberpunk 2077 to less-demanding indies, such as Tunic, we were continually blown away by the buttery smooth performance and crisp presentation. And that was without altering any system settings. PC gaming enthusiasts can, of course, tweak and tinker to find their preferred balance between speedy frame rates and pretty graphics, but this little beast still gets the job done in default modes.

In terms of battery life, the device's 80Wh of juice isn't bad — and, in fact, is better than much of the competition. Still, you're looking at just a handful of hours max before you'll need to plug in. This isn't a problem specific to the Ally, but is rather par-for-the course for portable gaming PCs.

Is the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X worth buying?

What's harder to swallow than only being able to play Cyberpunk in Starbucks for a few hours untethered, is the ROG Xbox Ally X's bank-spanking price tag. At £799, it's double what you'll shell out for a Nintendo Switch 2, and £230 more than the highest-end Steam Deck OLED. That's not to say it's too expensive — you're getting what you pay for — and there is, of course, a cheaper option in the less powerful ROG Xbox Ally, which will save you £300 but at a significant hit to performance. The standout here is definitely the ‘X’, but it's also possibly out of many casual gamers' budgets.

That said, if you were raised clutching an Xbox controller — and you possess a brimming library of PC titles across various digital storefronts — Asus and Microsoft's brilliant marriage of hardware and software is a no-brainer. Arguably the best, most powerful handheld now available, the ROG Xbox Ally X is an easy recommendation for anyone thinking seriously about taking the portable PC gaming plunge.

The Xbox Rog Ally X was provided to us for review prior to release and was tested over the course of a week. You can find more information on how we test here.

Matt Cabral is A full-time freelance writer who has been covering film, television, video games, and theme parks for 20 years. When not contributing to Empire, or the likes of IGN, Entertainment Weekly, StarWars.com, CNN, Matt can can be found in the basement of a haunted asylum hoarding all the med-kits, ammo crates, and canned goods. Matt also works as a consultant in the video game industry.