Customer Ratings & Reviews

I use this anytime I go out of town bc it’s a whole pc right there. Ofc it’s optimized for gaming but I guess you can do other stuff on it just fine. The power and performance are good too. Super comfortable to hold too

The ROG Xbox Ally Gaming Handheld is a powerful device that offers a great gaming experience. Unboxing and setup – The handheld is nicely packaged and well protected. The initial setup is fairly straightforward; although it is a little time consuming between the Windows setup/login and required updates. Remember to check for additional updates in Armory Crate (ie: bios updates). It maybe took 15-20 minutes from starting to being able to download my first game but this may depend on your internet speed. It boots into a full screen Xbox UI/experience and feels similar to the Xbox console. Software – The Xbox full screen UI/experience is well designed. Multiple apps are available to download to access your favorite games including Battle.net, Epic Games Store, GOG Galaxy, Steam, and Ubisoft Connect PC. Once games are downloaded, they all show up under the library tab with a symbol denoting which app they are from. Armory Crate can be accessed for additional performance/lighting settings by hitting the respective button in the top left corner. Holding down the Xbox button is similar to alt tab on a computer. It shows everything you have open and allows you to access the Windows desktop. One thing to keep in mind is by opening the Windows desktop mode additional processes are loaded into the memory. This can decrease gaming performance while in the full screen UI. The only way to fully unload the memory is to restart the device. Lastly, many of the preinstalled Windows programs such as LinkedIn, Word, Outlook, etc are totally unnecessary. Yes, this is a Windows based product, but the number of users who will actually utilize these programs has to be incredibly small. Gaming experience – I have played both Indian Jones and Arc Raiders. The gameplay was surprisingly smooth, averaging 40-50 fps. This device uses the AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor. It is best designed for 720p gaming. If you are looking for 1080p gaming, you should consider the ROG Xbox Ally X variant instead. Battery life is respectable. After about 45 minutes of intense Arc Raiders gameplay utilizing turbo mode I had about 50% left. The controller is fantastic and in my opinion the best when compared to the competition. It is well integrated into the device with examples including the initial passcode screen and system prompts being mapped to the buttons. Additionally, despite being a large device, it feels incredibly ergonomic. I am able to play for extended periods of time without any significant hand fatigue. Overall, I really like ROG Xbox Ally Gaming Handheld and I would recommend it to anyone getting into the handheld market. It is an incredibly powerful device.

The ROG Ally is a fantastic entry point into the world of PC handhelds. While it isn’t as powerful as the upgraded Ally X, it consistently delivers solid performance for the price—especially if you can catch it on sale for $500. Be prepared to spend some time on updates and system tweaks when you first set it up, which is standard for any Windows-based handheld. Once you get everything configured, it handles games quite well. I would certainly prefer the higher-end X model if budget weren't an issue, but for the sale price, this device does the job. The inclusion of three months of Xbox Game Pass Premium is a great value-add as well. The battery life is definitely a weak point and is not particularly impressive; however, I typically use the device in shorter sessions, so it hasn't been a dealbreaker for me. If you are looking for a capable handheld and find this on sale, I would definitely recommend grabbing it.

Great product and works as advertised. Some games may require some settings tinkering and it’s worth noting that not all Xbox games are installable with many even from your own library requiring the cloud. It’s also worth noting that it is a portable PC and can download other gaming storefronts as well. Great portable device and great for gaming!

I purchased this as I thought I grew to prefer a gaming device that was very portable, still in the PC ecosystem and a little more powerful than my 7 y.o. 1050 laptop. *Visually it's a well built and marketed device, but functionally there are faults. The ergonomics are not great as championed. It maybe the best for a pc handheld but holding any weighty pc handheld device including this for 15 - 20 mins, you start to feel the strain on your wrists and fingers (considering screen, chip, ssd, motherboard, battery etc are in one compact assembly). A game controller is definitely more comfortable and lighter for 30-120 mins gaming. Even aiming and controlling your character feels a little janky sometimes and not as precise as a gamepad. I also thought I would be more comfortable playing this in my bed, sofa or in different positions but I still feel neck and back strain that I'm trying to avoid from a desk and chair set up, where at least I would have some back support. *The OS needs to be stripped of Windows completely. Despite Xbox app and steam mode, it still feels buggy, inconsistent and convoluted when you're navigating through or to and fro Windows. Sometimes button or touch screen presses do not register. It is difficult to keep track of pointer or selector between the different menus\UIs. I believe that when it comes to a simpler and more optimized software\OS the steam deck and nintendo switch would do a better job. *Checked performance. Yes we have to be realistic and expect that the less powerful xbox rog ally will have some restraints. I prefer online multiplayer games which can be more demanding. The most I play on it so far are Fortnite and Marvel Rivals. With the resolution and graphic effects turned down, higher wattage (15W) selected and FSR turned on you can get 50-60 fps. However 40-60 fps on my laptop feels smoother. Based on that I doubt I would have a smooth and competitive gameplay with COD, Apex Legends or BF6. Therefore if you need more power for more demanding titles get a more powerful handheld or in my case I would just get a newer gaming laptop or console. **Conclusion: I would only recommend this product for now, if you want an affordable and portable device for lower spec games, especially single player indie or older titles e.g. Hades, Dead Cells, Hollow Knight etc. If the steam deck price was not recently increased then that would be a better pick, just based on better UI controls and easier OS. If you don't care much about PC and Steam then even the Nintendo Switch maybe more optimized and performant. Also if you're doing short sessions of gaming, or have stronger and flexible hands, the ergonomics may not bother you. Do not get if you want to play graphically demanding games or if you want to do content consumption or productivity work....just get a the more powerful handhelds or better yet a laptop, which is easier to navigate, more performant and better designed for multi-tasking!

Excellent console! Elly is compact, fast, and perfect for gaming. The graphics look great, the loading times are very quick, and the setup was easy. The controller feels comfortable and responsive, with a solid build quality. Overall, it’s a great value for the price and works perfectly for both casual and serious gamers. Highly recommended!”

Super portable , long battery life , screen quality is beyond what it needed to be , plus customization means it’s beyond its competitors

The ROG Xbox Ally has completely changed the way I game. The performance is incredible for a handheld AAA games run smoothly, load times are fast, and the visuals on the screen are sharp and vibrant. It truly feels like having a high-end gaming PC in the palm of your hands. What really stands out is the versatility. Being able to access Xbox Game Pass, Steam, and other PC platforms makes this device incredibly powerful and flexible. The controls are responsive, the ergonomics are comfortable even during long sessions, and the cooling system does an excellent job keeping everything running efficiently. Setup was straightforward, and once customized, the Ally becomes a seamless part of your gaming lifestyle whether at home, traveling, or on a quick break. Xbox and ROG team absolutely delivered with this device. If you’re looking for premium portable gaming without compromises, the ROG xbox Ally is worth every penny.

I used to hate packing up my Xbox to bring on the road but now as long as there’s WIFi I can game. The graphics can get pretty good depending on connection speeds so far I haven’t had any issues with the console

I'm a big Xbox fan and being able to have this level of gameplay and accessibility on the go is great for me. Beautiful screen and a dedicated Xbox button are great. This system boasts big sound as well. I wish there were even more games available as I have collected a lot over the years but I appreciate the ones that are there and they look fantastic! You'll need additional memory for gaming on the go but you can stream a bunch over Wi-Fi from gamepass. They play flawlessly (even Fortnite) and you will save memory. I bought an extra 1tb micro SD card for when I won't have a connection and a case for travel. Love it!

As other reviews have mentioned, don’t buy this if you have a massive Xbox games library you hope to play on the go. Xbox Play Anywhere games work well, but its still hit and miss in terms of which games are available. Otherwise, Steam and GOG games work great. Xbox Ally has more than enough compute for indie and medium quality games, but I havent tried anything like Clair Obscura (let alone Cyberpunk), so buyer beware if you want to try running graphics intensive games on it.

So far it's pretty great! Definitely going to take some time for all the updates, but very useful for portable gaming. I've played palworld so far mostly (on steam and on Xbox). Runs well. You will probably want to buy one of the power/dock stations if you plan on playing on a TV or monitor or if you want to plug in mouse/keyboard. Got it on sale for 500, definitely worth it, I think the full price would be a little much though.

Definitely worth buying! I play casual games but the battery last pretty much 4/5 hrs. It definitely worth it in my opinion. The customization for the gaming is awesome too. Not a fan of Windows but still would buy again

My husband bought this handheld Xbox thing (I don’t even know what it’s officially called, probably “The Best Purchase Ever,” according to him). All I know is that ever since it arrived, he’s been completely entertained, and I’ve been able to actually get things done around the house. Battery life? Long enough for me to fold laundry, clean the kitchen, and maybe even sneak in a nap. Graphics? He says they’re “amazing,” but the real beauty is the sound of silence while he’s playing. 10/10 would recommend, especially for anyone who needs a break from being their partner’s main source of entertainment.

Got this for my wife so she doesn't doom scroll all day. With a new born, she had no time to do anything hut stay in bed or sleep. This gave her some fun back and keeps her happy. She doesn't play triple AAA games just skyrim so the 74w battery plus the excellent sleep mode means she can play, put it to sleep for the newborn, then play again when she's ready. I have the z1extreme so I can play with her but its perfect for pve games and adventure games, let alone game pass cloud gaming at 10w? For $10 a month you finally get time to play games you can't play natively due to the z2a chip this comes with. 10/10 for any new parents out there, pick one to before the price shoots up like the legion go.

This thing is a BEAST! I play everything at 720p and let me tell you that this thing plays it all. I’m able to play madden 26 low settings at 30 fps. I can play all my games natively on the device and when I’m home, I use moonlight to stream my custom built desktop pc to this thing. It’s funny, because I had a steam deck in the past and wanted to play madden and Fortnite on it… So, I installed windows 11 on the steam deck, thinking that I could play madden 26 and Fortnite on it. let me tell you, the steam deck played those games horribly! Fortnite and madden 26 were unplayable. However, the Xbox Ally Z2a can play those game without a single problem. TLDR: This thing is def more powerful than the steam deck and I don’t think it’s close.

This is what happens when they make a budget version of something that shouldn’t have a budget version. To be able to really play any type AAA games and I say multiple games with an s then this thing will not cut it. Windows takes up too much space and steam deck is dope, but I hate my Lennox. Sent this back and got the one that was twice the money but ended up just barely being up to bar which was a bit disappointing considering it was $850 used. This white one was 500 new and it could not handle more than four or five games on the hard drive without struggling and overheating constantly. Not worth it.

I got this on a whim because I was in a market for one and the Xbox Ally has just released that week. I decided to get one and honestly it’s nice. Realistically while I’m on the go I get a good 3 to 4 hours after tweaking the settings to max performance on it. The games I mainly play are DBD, the Digimon story games, Kingdom Hearts, and a few others but most of them have all been able to run at 60 fps and that is all I need. I’ve had it for awhile now before I had wrote this.

The ROG Ally shines as a handheld gaming device, delivering smooth performance and crisp visuals in a portable form factor. It’s perfect for single-player adventures, indie titles, and retro gaming, where comfort and convenience matter more than ultra-demanding online shooters. The ergonomic design and bright display make long sessions enjoyable, while its versatility ensures you can dive into your favorite games anywhere. For handheld-focused players, it strikes a great balance between power and portability without overcomplicating the experience.

The handheld runs good for top down, rogue-like catalogs. Even better when console is fully customized and optimized for each of the games you’re trying to play. Still only a few months with the device but I have tested the limits with games such as Windrose, Persona 5 and Soulframe which runs surprisingly decent with optimized setup. So I would recommend the device if you’re heavily into indie games and rogue-like games and want to enjoy them on the go, go for it. Ps. Currently thinking of trading in for the other higher spec version.