Gaming News | Is the ROG Xbox Ally X worth your attention?

Introducing a new handheld gaming console.

Asus and Microsoft have joined forces to produce the first Xbox-branded handheld device, but what exactly is the ROG Xbox Ally X and is it worth the investment?

Author | Liam C

Xbox executives have long expressed admiration for PC handhelds, which has always seemed a little curious given that even the most successful of these devices (Valve’s Steam Deck) has sold only a few million units, a fraction of the numbers achieved by the Nintendo Switch and other established consoles.

The second most successful range has been Asus’ ROG Ally devices. All of them follow the same basic concept: a Switch-inspired design that is essentially a portable PC rather than a dedicated console. This is sometimes very apparent when navigating the system interface or adjusting settings to make games run, yet in terms of high-end performance and running the latest games, the ROG Xbox Ally X is highly impressive.

What is the ROG Xbox Ally?

If you have used a PC gaming handheld before, the ROG Xbox Ally X will feel familiar. For those who have not, it is a simple concept: imagine a Nintendo Switch with the internal components of a gaming PC.

The device runs Windows 11, requiring a Microsoft account on start-up. You will see the familiar desktop and taskbar, as if using a laptop, but most of the time will be spent in Steam, which is pre-installed, or using a recreation of the Xbox console dashboard. The device also supports Epic Games, EA Play, Ubisoft, GOG and Battle.net.

READ MORE | From Gameboy to iOS: History of handheld gaming

It is important to note that the ROG Xbox Ally X cannot play Xbox console games directly, only via streaming. It is essentially a PC, though it integrates with your Microsoft account, making it straightforward to download games you already own on Steam or Xbox and start playing immediately.

Compatibility for recent games is rated as either fully compatible or mostly compatible, similar to the Steam Deck. In some cases, limitations are obvious, such as games that rely heavily on a mouse, while in other cases the reasons may be less clear.

Models and pricing

The ROG Xbox Ally X is the more expensive option, retailing at £799. A cheaper alternative, the ROG Xbox Ally without the ‘X’, is priced at £499, which is £104 more than a Nintendo Switch 2.

Both devices are physically identical, with the same screen and controls. The Ally X, however, offers double the storage at 1TB, 24GB of RAM instead of 512GB, a larger battery capable of up to 10 hours of charge, and a more powerful processor.