I’ve been using the ROG Ally X since launch. It’s been my go-to for gaming on the go — powerful, reliable, and comfortable. So, when ASUS teamed up with Microsoft for the ROG Xbox Ally, I was curious. They called it a “console-like” experience, something built to blend Xbox simplicity with PC power. After a couple weeks with it, I can say this: it’s the closest we’ve ever gotten to a true Xbox handheld. It boots straight into the Xbox App, it’s smooth, and it feels familiar. But it still carries a few of the same growing pains as any Windows device.
Same Weight, But Lighter
At first glance, the Xbox Ally looks like the original ROG Ally from 2023. It weighs about the same — around 670 grams — but the newly added grips change everything. They’re thicker at the base, designed to feel as familiar as the Xbox controller, with just the right amount of curve and texture. The weight sits more naturally in your hands now. It feels lighter even though it isn’t. Face buttons and thumb sticks are positioned just as you’d expect — there’s now a dedicated Xbox button to go right back to the Xbox App to swap games, alongside a library button. When you press the Xbox button and Option, you can swap between Windows Desktop and App which further emboldens the thoughtful design. Of course, shortcuts are customizable to however you’d like it to be, but its default is more than sufficient.
The screen is similar to the previous Ally handheld at 7 inches, 1080p, 120 Hz, and still impresses with its LCD panel. It’s bright, smooth, and sharp. Colors pop. Motion feels fluid just as you would expect from an ROG Ally machine. However, even though this is a Windows handheld, ROG x Xbox worked hard to make it boot straight into the Xbox App without the need to see anything else but the thing you want to focus on. It looks and feels like an Xbox dashboard. You can scroll through Game Pass, jump into your library, and even check achievements without touching a mouse or keyboard—I’m actually impressed with how well you can navigate with the buttons. It’s still a bit clunky at times, and while you can navigate the keyboard with your buttons, if you’re like me that minimizes the size of the keyboard, you would still need to use your fingers.
The Xbox App now has a new feature called Compact Mode, which tightens the overall layout to feel much more user friendly and overall cleaner. There’s still one annoying flaw though — the Windows taskbar doesn’t hide on default, so you would need to navigate Windows settings to change that, and for console users who aren’t savvy at all, which I assume is the target audience, this could be a hidden pain point for the handheld.
The Power of Efficiency
This model runs on AMD’s new Ryzen Z2 A chip. The Ally X used the older Z1 Extreme, which had more raw power. The Z2 A isn’t built to flex numbers — it’s built to run smarter.
| Spec | ROG Xbox Ally (2025) | ROG Ally X (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen Z2 A (Zen 5) | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4) |
| Graphics | RDNA 3.5 GPU (~6.5 TFLOPS) | RDNA 3 GPU (~8.6 TFLOPS) |
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5X 6400 MHz | 24 GB LPDDR5X 8000 MHz |
| Battery | 60 Wh | 80 Wh |
| Storage | 512 GB M.2 SSD | 1 TB M.2 SSD |
| Weight | ~670 g | ~715 g |
At 15 watts, this chip feels perfect for handheld use. Forza Horizon 5 ran around 50 FPS on high with FSR on. Destiny 2 stayed near 50 FPS in most zones. Cyberpunk 2077 averaged about 40 FPS on balanced settings. Those numbers sound modest, but here’s the thing — it stays cool, quiet, and consistent. The fan never got loud, the back never got hot, and battery life stayed between 3.5 to 4 hours on average. That’s with brightness up and Wi-Fi on. The Z2 A doesn’t chase extreme power. It focuses on efficiency. You can game longer without worrying about heat or drain. It’s not about pushing limits — it’s about enjoying the ride.
If you play mostly indie or mid-tier games, this handheld shines. Titles like Hades II, Dead Cells, Hi-Fi Rush, and Sea of Stars run beautifully. They look sharp, load fast, and barely touch the battery. But when you jump to big AAA games like Starfield or Alan Wake 2, you’ll feel the limits. Those newer titles need lower settings or scaling. They’re playable, but not ideal for long sessions. It’s clear that ASUS tuned this model for on-the-go, pick-up-and-play gaming, not for ultra settings or 4K aspirations. And honestly, that’s fine.
The Smart Details
One of my favorite additions is the Game Verification Program. It’s basically Xbox’s version of Steam Deck’s Verified system. Each game now shows a badge that tells you if it’s “Handheld Optimized” or “Mostly Compatible.” That small touch saves so much time. No guessing, no testing, just clear information. For handheld gaming, that’s huge. The Compact Mode in the Xbox App also deserves credit. It makes everything fit nicely, removes unnecessary clutter, and gives the Ally a console-like rhythm. It’s fast, simple, and consistent.
As much as I like this handheld, there are things that break the magic.
First, the setup process is still painful. You have to go through Windows updates, Xbox App updates, AMD driver installs, and Armory Crate tweaks before you can even start gaming. It’s not beginner-friendly. It’s long and tedious. Once you’re in, Windows quirks never fully go away. And because this is the base model of the Xbox Ally, you would have to come to terms that this machine is designed for AA Indie games at best—I mean, you can run AAA games here, but it would vary greatly depending on the title and more than likely you will have to play this game while connected to a power source. What I typically say to folks when they’re on the fence is, imagine this as an extension of the Xbox Series S, where you will be able to play some games at similar performance, but at an even lower fidelity. If you want a more powerful machine, look at the much more expensive (and better equipped) Xbox Ally X which I will be covering soon. And to those that already have an ROG Ally, you can absolutely upgrade to this model as not only is it more efficient, but you’re still able to do all the Windows bells and whistle you’d come to expect.
REVIEW SCORE: 8.5/10
So yeah — the Xbox Ally feels closer to a console, but it’s not as effortless as one. The ROG Xbox Ally is a big step forward. It’s smarter, quieter, and far more comfortable to use. The collaboration with Microsoft finally makes sense — you feel the Xbox DNA right away. The new grips make it easier to hold, the Compact Mode feels clean, and the Z2 A chip balances power with endurance beautifully. But it’s not all smooth sailing. The setup is still a chore, Windows quirks break the illusion, and it’s not ideal for big-budget games. It’s a near perfect console experience, just not quite there yet.
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