When ASUS first announced the ROG Xbox Ally X, it immediately sparked curiosity. Was this the long-awaited Xbox handheld fans have been dreaming of? A portable Game Pass machine built from the ground up? Not quite. Despite the bold branding and Xbox-centric marketing, this is still very much a Windows handheld PC — one that leans heavily on Microsoft’s ecosystem, but doesn’t fundamentally change what the original ROG Ally was already trying to be.

A Refined Handheld PC Experience

To ASUS’s credit, they’ve addressed a lot of the shortcomings from the first generation. The Ally X feels far more premium in the hands, with noticeably improved ergonomics. The grips are chunkier and more comfortable, button placement feels more natural, and the overall build quality is rock solid. You can tell this wasn’t slapped together in a hurry — ASUS has clearly listened to user feedback.

Performance-wise, the handheld is powered by AMD’s latest chip for this class of device, and it does deliver — to an extent. Most indie titles and mid-tier games run like butter, and with some tweaking, you can push AAA titles to decent framerates. The 7-inch 1080p display is sharp, vibrant enough, and the 120Hz refresh rate gives everything a nice fluidity. It’s not OLED, and that’s a bit of a letdown considering how common that tech is becoming in competing devices, but the screen still holds its own.

The improved 80Wh battery is another highlight. Unlike the original Ally, which often struggled to keep the lights on during longer sessions, the Xbox Ally X can push out a few solid hours of actual gaming — not just YouTube watching. And while the fan is still present, the noise level is kept impressively low. It stays cool, stays quiet, and that’s not something you can say about all handheld gaming PCs.

Still Just Windows in a Hoodie

But here’s the thing — beneath all that sleek Xbox-flavored UI and updated hardware lies the same core issue: this is still a Windows PC pretending to be a console. Yes, the new Xbox Full Screen Experience does make things smoother, and it’s definitely a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t fully hide the rough edges of Windows 11. Random pop-ups, janky sleep behavior, occasional crashes — all the usual suspects are still here. If you’ve ever used a Windows handheld before, you’ll feel right at home… for better or worse.

There’s also the naming to unpack. Calling it the “Xbox Ally X” suggests something it isn’t. You’re not getting native Xbox console titles here — this is a PC. You’re relying on the Windows versions of Game Pass games or cloud streaming. It’s powerful, sure, and flexible in a way only Windows can be, but it’s not the grab-and-play, console-like experience many might expect from that big green “Xbox” branding.

A Premium Price Tag, Minor Gains

Perhaps the hardest pill to swallow is the price. At around $999 (10 990 SEK in Sweden), this is a premium device — and for that money, you’d expect a leap in capability. But truthfully, if you already own a ROG Ally (especially the Z1 Extreme version), you’re looking at marginal improvements at best. A bit more battery, a nicer grip, a slightly tweaked UI — that’s the bulk of it. Performance gains are real, but small. This isn’t a generational leap; it’s a refinement.

The launch timing makes it feel even more iterative. With devices like the Steam Deck OLED showing what meaningful upgrades can look like — better screens, smarter design choices, improved efficiency — ASUS’s offering here feels a bit cautious. It doesn’t stumble, but it doesn’t really push forward either.

Verdict: Great for First-Time Buyers, Skip for Existing Owners

At the end of the day, the ROG Xbox Ally X is a solid, well-built handheld PC that does a lot of things right. It’s comfortable, powerful enough, and does a decent job of feeling like a console — as long as you don’t scratch the surface too much. If this is your first foray into high-end handheld PC gaming, it’s a strong contender, and you’ll likely be happy with what it offers.

But for those already rocking a ROG Ally or something similar, there’s little here to justify the upgrade. ASUS has delivered a better version of its own product, not a new experience. It’s not the revolution the Xbox name might imply — it’s a premium repackaging of a concept we’ve already seen. And for nearly $1000, that just might not be enough.

✅ Pros

  • Excellent ergonomics and build quality
  • Strong performance for a handheld
  • Solid battery life compared to competitors
  • Quiet and cool under load
  • Xbox-focused UI is a nice step toward console-like usability
  • Full Windows flexibility (Steam, Game Pass, emulators, etc.)

❌ Cons

  • Still just Windows 11 underneath — with all its quirks
  • Display is good, but OLED is missed at this price
  • Misleading “Xbox” branding may confuse buyers
  • Performance gains are minimal compared to the original Ally
  • Very high price for what is essentially a refinement
  • Not a true console experience

Score: 7.5 / 10

A great first buy, but not the evolution it wants to be.