When the ROG Ally first debuted two years ago, it was a promising PC gaming handheld console. The idea of playing PC games anywhere and anytime is great, but it was met with two major flaws: The battery life and an unoptimised Windows 11 user interface for handheld (also not forgetting the microSD card issue). Over time, ASUS ROG improved the battery life with the Ally X, but the UI is still very Windows-ish.
The newest successor, called the ROG Xbox Ally series (instead of the ROG Ally 2), has finally arrived. Although I only had a week of playing the Xbox Ally X, I can safely say that ASUS ROG has finally brought its 'A' game. In fact, the Xbox Ally X is probably the best PC gaming handheld console we can now get in Malaysia.
Before we get to the improved battery life and UI, let's talk about the design first, because this is going to be short. Design-wise, there aren't many changes, but the Xbox Ally X (along with the standard Xbox Ally) now has a pair of hand grips, which improves the handheld experience significantly. It may seem like a minuscule change, but trust me, when you're on the couch holding the console, your fingers and wrists will feel much comfortable for the long hours.
Minimal design changes, except for the new hand grips
Comparing the ROG Ally X (top) and ROG Xbox Ally X (bottom)
A closer look at the hand grip and the shoulder trigger designs
An extra dedicated Xbox button on the left side
When compared to the Ally X, there isn't a lot of difference in design apart from the new hand grips. The Xbox Ally X is also notably thicker, but not by a lot. Its LB and RB buttons on the top are also more curved, aligning the shape connecting the hand grips. The speakers are also unbelievably loud, but in a good way since they are clear and not the buzzy type. Oh, there's also a new dedicated Xbox button on the right side of the console.
ROG partnering with Xbox makes a lot of sense, as Microsoft's gaming division is primarily PC-based. However, I think the Xbox brand is not that popular in Malaysia, especially when compared to Sony's PlayStation and Nintendo's Switch. After all, the presence of the Xbox console here is not as dominating. The PC Game Pass only came to Malaysia in 2022 after many years of Xbox's absence.
Never thought I would be part of the Xbox ecosystem lol
The PC Game Pass may not hold a candle to PlayStation+, Switch Online and even Steam in terms of popularity, but that's a topic for another day. When booting the Xbox Ally X up, that's the first thing you will be greeted by after setting up your Microsoft account, and they did a good job of running the Xbox app so smoothly.
If you have never used the PC Game Pass, you can set up a trial run for RM5 for 14 days, or simply grab the free three-month access from the Microsoft Store, just like any new laptop you get. After that, you will have to pay RM25 per month. And yes, it has increased from RM20, but it is still relatively cheap since you get to access games from ZeniMax (Bethesda, id Software, MachineGames), Activision Blizzard, EA and Ubisoft.
Another UI improvement that ASUS did is simply letting you see all the gaming platforms at once on the Armoury Crate app. Steam is already pre-installed, so that's already sorted out for you, but you will have to install the other apps yourself. From my experience, installing the Epic Games, GOG Galaxy, and EA apps is kind of a hassle. But Ubisoft Connect and Battle.net can be downloaded directly from the Microsoft Store.
Much simpler to install these gaming platforms
Some settings for games from other platforms are on the Xbox app
In my previous ROG Ally review, I really disliked the UI because of how clunky and cumbersome it was. On the Xbox Ally X, the experience is less troublesome. As long as you don't shut down the device, you won't need to re-log in again with your usernames and passwords. This installation process will still behave like you're on your PC, so be prepared. Once you've passed that, it's pretty much good to go.
In terms of gaming performance, the Xbox Ally X is powered by an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme and AMD Radeon 890 graphics. Moreover, it also has a humongous 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, more than enough for what gamers need. This and the Ally X also have the same 7-inch 120Hz display, but overall, the Xbox Ally X has an edge with a newer processor and better memory power.
System information about the ROG Xbox Ally X
Don't expect a high 3Dmark score on this device
PCMark 10 score - not bad, I guess
Granted, it may not be in the same league as modern gaming laptops with the RTX 50 series nowadays. But don't let its smaller size fool you, the Xbox Ally X is fully capable of running AAA games smoothly. During my one week of playing and testing, I did not encounter any problems while playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Doom: The Dark Ages on Xbox, Stellar Blade (demo) on Steam, The Callisto Protocol (Epic Games), Skate (EA), Avatar: Frontier of Pandora (Ubisoft Connect) and Diablo Immortal (Battle.net).
The graphics may have some pixel patches in the background, but I think it doesn't really matter much if the device can run these games well. This may be due to the Xbox Ally X's Z2 Extreme processor's better AI and image-upscaling capabilities. According to ASUS ROG, users who tested the device before its pre-release reported about 30% higher framerates in the latest Indiana Jones and Doom games.
Stellar Blade demo on 1080P@60FPS
Doom: The Dark Ages ran surprisingly smoothly on this device
You may notice a tiny bit of staggering movement while walking in the jungle, but the overall gameplay is still smooth
Furthermore, the chip delivers roughly 10 to 20% higher CPU and GPU performance. Combined with the integrated NPU, this makes it future-proof for AI enhancements, which also extends battery life on AI-supported tasks. Since I didn't experience Ally X before, I have to take ASUS's word for it.
Speaking of battery life, what I can assure you is that it is really great. From the past few daily nights of couch gaming, the Xbox Ally X can easily last over three hours of graphics-intensive games (on 25W). I can only imagine how long it can last if you were just focusing on indie games like Hollow Knight Silksong. Recharging is fast as well, as I was able to get back to over 90% in an hour from 31%.
Time to recharge is quick (left), and playtime goes over 3 hours on 25W (Turbo) consistently (right)
The dynamic range from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Xbox, top) and The Callisto Protocol (Epic Games, bottom) is most impressive
Although you have read me praising the Xbox Ally X, it isn't a perfect handheld gaming device. I do have some things to nitpick:
- It requires a restart if I want to access the Xbox in full-screen mode (it is entirely optional, though), saying it will optimise the performance better, but I honestly can't feel a difference.
- If you have Steam logged in, pressing the Xbox button will sometimes trigger it to go Big Picture mode. Hope ASUS will fix that.
- And there was one time it unexpectedly went full Windows mode, making everything small and unable to revert to the Xbox full-screen option. Even after a week, I still do not know what happened, but it could have something to do with a Windows update. Nevertheless, doing a factory reset fixed it, so there's that.
In terms of pricing, the Xbox Ally X is RM4299 in Malaysia, which may seem expensive to budget-conscious gamers. If that's the case, you can opt for the standard Xbox Ally variant at RM2699, albeit with lesser hardware power and a 60Wh battery capacity. That said, how does it compare to other competitors?
Overall, very satisfied with the product
For what it is worth, I think the RM4299 price tag is a reasonable offer. It's exactly the same price tag as the ROG Ally X but with better tech specs, and it's also cheaper than the Lenovo Legion Go 2, which is a staggering RM5399. On the other hand, MSI's Claw A8 is slightly cheaper at RM4199 with similar specs. Still, I believe the Xbox Ally X is a better choice, simply due to the improved Windows 11 handheld experience, thanks to Xbox's collaboration.
Listen, even if you don't want to be a part of the Xbox ecosystem, you can ignore that entirely and just use Steam all the way. It may not have SteamOS, but having a device that can support multiple gaming platforms offers an advantage in flexibility. But what do you think of the ROG Xbox Ally X? To find out more about it, you can visit the official web portal right here. And as always, stay tuned for the latest tech gadget reviews at TechNave.com.
ROG Xbox Ally X Tech Specs and Features
- AMD RyzenAI Z2 Extreme Processor
- 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 RAM
- 1TB M.2 2280 SSD
- Measures 290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm, weighs 715g
- 7-inch FHD (1080p) IPS panel, 500 nits, 16:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium (Variable Refresh Rate), Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection
- Features Contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers deliver all-day comfort, complete with impulse triggers for enhanced control.
- Buttons - ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R impulse triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-Axis IMU
- I/O Ports - 1x USB4 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0, Thunderbolt 4 compatible, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0, 1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC; UHS-I with DDR200 mode), 1x3.5mmCombo Audio Jack
- Connection - Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4
- 80Wh Battery
Pros - Better hand grip design, improved UI gaming experience with Xbox and longer battery life thanks to the new processor. Plus, it can run AAA games with ease despite not having perfect graphics presentation.
Cons - Going into Xbox full-screen mode requires an optional restart (don't really see the point), pressing the Xbox button will sometimes trigger Steam into Big Picture mode, and gamers may encounter random bugs from future Windows 11 updates (but that remains to be seen).
Conclusion - With many improvements and some imperfections, the ROG Xbox Ally X is arguably the best PC gaming handheld device in Malaysia now.
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