ROG Xbox Ally Is Good Hardware Let Down By Annoying Software

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Having grown up playing handheld consoles with basic graphics, it still feels amazing to be able to take a device with me that can run demanding games like Dark Souls 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Skyrim—and make them look good! Handheld gaming PCs are still relatively new to me, so I really appreciate being able to carry my entire Steam, Xbox, and GOG game collections in something so portable. It feels like having incredible power in my hands, just like Doctor Octopus once said – except my ‘power source’ is all my games.

Now that there are many handheld gaming PCs available, competition is getting fierce. The new ROG Ally and ROG Ally X are particularly strong contenders, and they’re already making a significant impact on the market.

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The ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are updated versions of Asus’ existing handheld devices, now branded with Xbox. However, they aren’t drastically different – they mostly feature the same hardware with the new branding, and the few changes made haven’t all been implemented perfectly.

I’ve been testing the Xbox Ally X, and it’s a really powerful handheld. It lets me play both old and new games comfortably, with performance similar to a console or good PC. I’ve been replaying Dark Souls 3 and trying out upcoming Xbox games, and it handles them all well. However, I’ve had similar experiences with the original Ally from 2023, and the Ally X doesn’t feel drastically different.

The Xbox Ally X ended up being a pretty standard and unremarkable device for me. I’ve used a lot of portable gaming PCs, so it doesn’t really cater to someone like me. It’s more for people new to handheld gaming who are looking to get started. However, even for newcomers, I’m not convinced the Ally or Ally X is the best choice to begin with.

Let me start by explaining what this device is and what makes it special. Essentially, this is very similar to the ROG Ally X that Asus released last year. The key difference lies in the processor: the Asus Ally X uses an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, while this new version, the Xbox Ally X, features an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme. This upgrade provides a slight performance boost, but it’s generally not a major improvement.

Honestly, when it comes down to it, this model has the same amount of storage as the last one, the battery life is about the same, and it still has that beautiful 120hz 1080p IPS screen. As a gamer, I’m happy to say that playing the same games on this one and the previous version feels almost exactly the same – you probably won’t notice a difference!

The biggest differences between this new version and the older ones really come down to how it feels in your hands and the software it uses. Honestly, the Xbox Ally X is way more comfortable to hold for long gaming sessions. They’ve shaped it to feel more like a regular controller, unlike the older, boxier designs. It also just *looks* nicer – the faceplate has this cool pattern inspired by the PS5, with tiny ROG and Xbox lettering all over, giving it a textured feel. It’s a subtle thing, but it adds a lot. But the biggest improvement for me is the Impulse Triggers – the same ones you get with the Xbox Series X and S controllers. The haptic feedback is amazing, and it’s not just about feeling a rumble. It actually changes depending on what’s happening in the game! So, pulling the trigger feels different whether you’re using a pistol or a shotgun in an FPS, or driving a different type of car in a racing game. I’ve really noticed a difference, and it makes the experience so much more immersive.

Because of these changes, the Xbox Ally X is slightly heavier and larger (678 grams compared to 715 grams). Whether this matters depends on how long you can comfortably hold a somewhat heavy device without your hands getting tired. I’ve found the extra weight makes it a little less convenient to carry around. Also, the new design means my old cases don’t fit, and the new cases available are all quite bulky.

If you’re planning to carry this device without any protection, its shape makes it quite bulky and difficult to manage. I tried using a shoulder strap, but it wasn’t very comfortable. I usually carry my gaming devices in my personal bag – Asus models fit easily with or without a case, leaving room for other items. However, this device is a bit too large and awkward to carry around as easily.

One of the coolest things about the Xbox Ally is the software. It runs a special, streamlined version of Windows, which helps it run super smoothly. But the really awesome part is a brand-new, full-screen Xbox experience that loads up automatically and tweaks Windows specifically for gaming. They’ve also built in the Game Bar that PC gamers already know and love, and there’s a dedicated Xbox button to open it. Pressing that button instantly brings up a launcher where I can open all my game libraries – Steam, Battle.net, Epic, Ubisoft, and more – and see everything in one place. It’s a total game changer!

While the concept sounds good, the actual experience can be frustrating. It often feels overly complicated to use, largely because the device’s core functions clash with the Xbox features, Steam, and Asus’ Armory Crate software all running at the same time. This results in unpredictable and inconsistent performance.

What bothered me most about the first ROG devices was the startup process. It boots directly into Windows, which just feels wrong for a gaming device – you’re immediately faced with a standard computer login screen. On top of that, the Armory Crate software is complicated and difficult to use. Together, these things constantly remind you that you’re playing on a small PC running software that feels forced and clunky, rather than a streamlined gaming system.

I often found the Xbox button to be unreliable. Sometimes it would bring up the Game Bar, other times a Steam window would appear over it, creating a confusing mess. Occasionally, nothing would happen at all. I’d frequently have to press the button multiple times just to get the window I wanted, or deal with the Game Bar opening but none of the buttons responding. In those cases, I had to use the touchscreen or keep pressing the Xbox button until the buttons started working again.

It’s strange – this feels less like a dedicated gaming machine, even though it *can* play games impressively. When I’m actually gaming – whether through Steam, Game Pass, or cloud saves – it’s a good experience. But the Windows operating system constantly interrupts things. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to pull up the taskbar to force a game to focus or close it when it freezes. Sometimes a game will launch, and then the Xbox interface just pops up on top of it for no apparent reason.

Okay, so it can be really annoying when things don’t work right, but I’ve figured out that most of the time it’s just different programs on my Steam Deck clashing with each other. Once I realized that, it’s pretty easy to just close apps one by one until things smooth out. Still, I shouldn’t *have* to do that constantly! It’s not the experience I’m hoping for, and if you feel the same, I want you to know there *are* better options out there. I usually try to focus on what something *is* good at, not what it isn’t, but honestly, it’s hard to talk about this without bringing up the Steam Deck itself.

While the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED aren’t as powerful as the Xbox Ally – you can often tell because some games run noticeably better on the Ally – they offer a much smoother and more enjoyable overall experience. I’d recommend them to most people as a great alternative. The Steam Deck starts up directly into SteamOS, which is a big plus compared to the Windows login screen. SteamOS is designed specifically for handheld gaming and runs very well. Plus, you can easily add other game launchers or import games from different platforms into your Steam library. Some games still need Windows to run, but players who want those games should be able to set up dual-booting without much trouble.

Valve’s software is remarkably user-friendly, similar to Nintendo’s. It’s simple, well-designed, and generally works perfectly. I’d happily trade a little bit of processing power for that kind of reliability, rather than constantly having to fix problems with a small Windows computer.

Price is a significant consideration. At around $1000, the Xbox Ally X is a tough sell for most people simply looking for an easy way to play PC games. However, if you’re comfortable adjusting settings and tweaking things yourself, the Ally X delivers impressive power. Aside from a gaming laptop, it’s one of the most technically capable handheld devices for playing video games, offering a truly magical experience when you want to game on the go.

This benefit isn’t just for new devices; owners of existing ROG Ally and Steam Deck consoles can also take advantage of it, potentially saving a significant amount of money. Even without additional processing power, games look great on the Steam Deck OLED. Microsoft also confirms this software update will eventually be available for all ROG Ally devices.

The Steam Deck aims to be a complete, self-contained gaming system, offering a smooth, console-like experience. The Xbox Ally, however, works best as a companion to your existing PC gaming setup—whether you use Steam, Xbox, or other platforms. This aligns with Xbox’s vision for the device, and they’ve built their marketing around it. But the Ally feels more like a device that *can* act like an Xbox, rather than a true Xbox handheld. While the Ally and Ally X will appeal to some, handheld gaming devices generally need to offer a lot to win over most players.

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2025-10-15 22:41