Customer Ratings & Reviews

My job involves me traveling all over the states so this thing is amazing for that! -Battery life is amazing on performance mode i can get aout 2-3 hours on more then enough for quick gaming. -Ergonomics is great feels just like a xbox controller. -Screen size is the same 7 inch display but i would rather have a light weight device like this then some bigger screen causing my arms to fatigue while gaming.

Escellent gaming hsndheld with the abolity to run Eindows 11. Games run well and the speakers are excellent . Given how rapidly this category is evolving, this is a great start to using the Xbox brand in the handheld soace The downsides .. It uses Windows 11 leading to numerous issues that could arise. As an IT pro with over 40 years of experience, this doesnt bother me, but sonebody eho is less yech saavy migh5 see thos as a negative. The price..at $999 its a significant investment. You can upgrade the storage and compared to the competition, especially the Legion Go 2, ehich will retail for over $1300, this is relatively reasonable. Of course, its a oersonal decision of this makes sense for you. The Steam Deck can be found for less and it has an OLRD display, ad opposed to this IPS one. It is vibrant qnd more than adequate to display the richness of gaming video. The positives..you can play Xbox Games upu have on your PC as well as anything on Game Pass. In addition, Stram is pre installed and you can download GOG or EA or Epic launchers as you see fit. Another plus ..the Xbox Full Screen experience allowing you to turn on the device and go straight to the Xbox launcher. I recomnend this even while taking into account the negatives listed above.

As somebody who has played on all handhelds except for steamdeck this handheld is the best yet so far. The new Z2E chip is a lot faster than its previous version and offers better graphics. This handheld comes with 24 gb of ram but it will only allow you to go up to 16 max which you will never need that much for any game. The new optimized Xbox full screen experience minimizes system processes to allow for a better game experience and you can easily swap between it and desktop with a quick swipe of the finger. The new Xbox experience also allows you view your games from other store fronts like Steam and Epic for quick access due to everything being all in 1 place. There are optimizations needed but it has definitely come a long way. I’m very optimistic about Microsoft’s dedication for this handheld as they are always updating the Xbox full screen experience and windows os for better gaming. There is also a quick access menu for ARMOURY Crate to adjust game settings on the fly. It’s still a little buggy though but I would definitely recommend to any consumer but I would recommend the higher end model if you’re willing to shell out the extra money. It’s totally worth it! My favorite handheld! Loving it!

This thing run Avowed at a comfortable 50-60 fps at all time, while being cool at the same time. Very comfortable to play for hours at a time, and I carry it for a short gaming session during my break at work everyday. Could not be any happier with this device!

I bought the ROG Ally X mainly for Steam, and it’s turned out to be way better than I expected. The hardware feels solid, performance is great for a handheld, and the ergonomics are surprisingly good -- though it does feel a little heavy, which is understandable given the power inside. The game library is impressive for a device that just launched, but keep in mind you can only download titles that are on Game Pass or part of the Play Anywhere program. That limitation is a bit of a bummer if you were hoping for full Xbox access. Windows can sometimes get in its own way, but overall, this is a fantastic device that I think will only improve over time. And for the record: I don’t want Copilot’s help with game tips. Seriously, go away.

It’s a very, very good to great performing handheld. Most games you throw at it form well, with some setting tweaks ect. Still is very much pc gaming at its core so don’t expect just a plug and play experience, like a switch or you’d get from a console. For me personally the initial updates weren’t as bad as some people online are stating. Approx 1-2 hours total for me not a deal breaker. Xbox full screen experience does streamline things some and makes switching launchers, games ect easy to do, However it’s very buggy at times. Sometimes control inputs just stop working, or switching apps/launchers causes the screen to crop weirdly, ect, or the most annoying is once in whole it won’t allow me to enter my pin and my fingerprint won’t work, but nothing a quick restart doesn’t fix but annoying non the less. I’m sure future updates will address this and the overall experience will get better, but If you’re expecting the flawless UI of consoles this isn’t quite yet there yet. My only 2 major complaints are the Buttons - they seem cheap and occasionally get pushed down and stuck under the actual chassis of the handheld and have to be finessed back up, not entirely a huge deal but on a $1k device this is kind of unfortunate, the buttons shouldn’t feel like a Amazon power A controller. Also no Hall effect sticks but they do feel good. No drift issues as of yet. The other is the screen size - didn’t really think much about it prior to ordering, but 7 inches is too small in my opinion - you won’t notice it to much if you don’t play on another handheld w/ 8in+ screen & go back and fourth but just going from switch2 or my PS portal then back to this you def feel how small it is. But its looks good and performs well enough for me. My other major complaint is/was with Best Buy return policy as of the day I purchased my unit. I preordered prior to 10/31 (the date Best Buy’s holiday gift return policy starts) thus I only had 15 days from delivery date to return this and for me that just wasn’t enough time with this device for someone who’s sitting on the fence with the device which was - I wouldn’t return it solely on any of the complaints I outlined, but with those small complaints +$1k I was def considering returning it and i just needed more time with the decide and feel really comfortable with my decision either way. (30 day return window doesn’t seem unreasonable to me) but here I am and I am now fully in on the device. I’ll close with this - if you’re a huge gaming enthusiast, subscribe to Gamepass ultimate (play anywhere is great), don’t mind tinkering a bit with tech, and want to play almost any game on the go and are familiar with PC launchers steam, epic, EA, this is a really good device. I’d recommend. But I wouldn’t recommend this as someone’s very 1st entry into the handheld market or for a gift from parents (who aren’t gamers) to a child ect that isn’t familiar with pc gaming. Get a switch 2 or steam deck oled, And again I say this not based on the performance or the couple of complaints I had - but you can get a similar not exact but similar performance experience on other devices for a much cheaper price point. Also, steam deck although dated tech at this point and you can’t play most multiplayer games on it, is much more user friendly for say a child or someone just wanting to dip their toes into pc gaming. Again it really comes down to the $1k that’s a hefty price tag for what you get here or the experience that ASUS and Xbox are trying to market this device as. Hope this helps someone make a decision. Great device, indie are amazing on it, triple AAA titles run smoothly, interface is slightly dumbed down for newbies, but buggy software, 7 inch screen, awful buttons, and that $1k price point make it hard must buy or 5 star review. Overall it’s a 4 and if you’re a gaming enthusiast and $1k won’t take food off your table it’s an easy recommendation.

The good: super comfortable, potential to really be great in 6-12 months. OMG the speaker's sound is amazing. They did a great job with directing sounds to the left and right for gaming. The bad: The multiple XBOX/Armoury Crate/Steam combo I was running while also dealing with Windows OS was frustratingly non-intuitive. XYBA Buttons are extremely loud. TLDR: To be 100% honest, this did not live up to all the hype online. Battlefield 6 ran great, which made me at first love this thing. Then the new relationship energy died as most of my games are on Steam. Operation of the device using the Steam app from Armoury Crate on top of the xbox interface was the most non-intuitive experience I have ever had. I'd rather just boot up into windows and launch Steam. There is no rhyme or reason to the buttons you have to press to change apps or close games. Ok, so now I'll try a partition with dual boot into Steam OS....guess not since there's a secure boot mode that I, in my very limited PC prowess, could disable but still couldn't partition. I cry uncle, returned after three days. Also, I ran the same games simultaneously on a Legion Go S with Z1 extreme running Steam OS and they were so much smoother with a lot less tweaking to all the video settings.

The ROG Xbox Ally X is the top-tier variant of the newly launched Windows-based handheld gaming system. Microsoft and ASUS have officially partnered to bring an “Xbox Full-Screen Experience” handheld that combines PC gaming (Steam, Epic, Game Pass, etc) with Xbox’s interface Key specs for the Ally X include: a 7-inch 1080p (FHD) display with up to 120 Hz refresh, an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 24 GB LPDDR5X RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and an 80 Wh battery.  The standard ROG Xbox Ally (non-X) sits at a lower tier (Ryzen Z2 A, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD).  This device is aimed at gamers who want portable AAA gaming with console-friendly controls but PC-like flexibility. What Works (Pros) Ergonomics & controls Many reviewers highlight the build and grips of the Ally X as a major win: comfortable controller-style grips, excellent button layout, impressively quiet fans in many cases, which all combine to a handheld feel that is more polished than many earlier PC‐handheld attempts.  Performance and graphics headroom Thanks to the Z2 Extreme chip and the higher-end specs, the Ally X delivers substantially better performance relative to many competitors (e.g., the base model or earlier handhelds) in real-world tests. For example, in one benchmark the Ally X managed ~62 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p medium while plugged in.  Windows + Xbox integration flexibility The device is not just locked to one ecosystem: you get full Windows 11 (with the “Xbox Full-Screen Experience” overlay) which means access to Game Pass, Steam, Epic, and more. This gives it versatility that pure console handhelds often lack.  Display refresh & visuals Having a 120 Hz screen (albeit at 1080p) is a nice perk in a handheld, enabling smoother visuals when the hardware allows it. Reviewers mention that the fast refresh rate makes the experience feel more “console-like” in smoothness.  Where It Falls Short (Cons) Price is steep At around US $999 (or equivalent) for the Ally X, the cost is a major barrier. As one review bluntly puts it: “It’s just a shame that it costs a grand.”  Battery life remains limited for AAA gaming Despite improvements in battery size and efficiency, real-world gaming battery life for demanding titles is still modest. TechRadar’s battery benchmark for gaming shows around 3 hours of actual gameplay under heavy load.  Screen and display trade-offs Though the device boasts 120Hz, the screen is still 1080p (not 1440p or 4K) and is not OLED (which many premium handhelds now offer). Some reviewers highlight this as a missed opportunity.  Windows / software complexity Because it’s a full Windows device layered under an Xbox-friendly UI, there can be more setup/maintenance (drivers, Windows updates, game installation) than a dedicated console handheld. Some users note friction with the “Full Screen Experience” mode versus classic Windows.  Not a pure console experience One key caveat: even though it feels like a portable console, it is a PC gaming handheld. That means games may require tweaking, settings adjustment, and depending on the title, may not hit native 60fps/120fps without compromise. 

I love this handheld , by far the best one out there even at the price range . I started gaming “PC “ with my steam deck OLED and loved it , great introduction to the PC world for beginners but with my Rog Xbox ally x I can do more things, my games run smoother, I don’t have to fix things unless I want o Dave Battery etc I would change a few thing s but aside from That I love this thing, I cant stop gaming on it . Even though the battery is bigger it doesn’t not feel heavy at all. The screen is NOT an issue if you are going to compare the screens to a OLED steam deck. Wehrrr this is beta for Xbox or not it’s a great way to get into gaming and or Xbox gaming

Very nice upgrade over the ROG Ally Z1E with better performance, ergonomics, and battery life with more headroom for future titles but the 7-inch screen with a large bezel is a huge turn-off for me and I hope a future Xbox handheld can improve the size of the screen to either be more like the Steam Deck OLED or the Switch 2 which is my personal sweet spot. A big upgrade over the Z1E for me is that I can use an SD card properly now so I have a 2TB SSD plus a 1TB Samsung SD card for lighter titles.

This thing is awesome! I bought a gaming pc for when I travel. This is all I use now is perfect and portable. Not only an Xbox but a compact computer. This is perfect for gamers in all forms to play who are mobile more often than not. The handheld itself is very quiet too oddly. Doesn’t overheat and the fans are quiet. As far as game play it’s buttery smooth which is crazy and the Xbox button for convenience only adds to the perks of having this! It’s rather quick in all actions too even switching interfaces and games.

This device is awesome. Runs games at decent performance at 17w which yeilds great battery life. Grips are very comfortable and screen looks great.

I'm 38 and got into handheld gaming by just taking a walk in best buy as a wait for a friend. I started with the legion go s then jumped to the MSI claw. The latter was just too big ( pause lol). This one however is perfect able to play all the games I wanted because it's windows but it's almost feels like steam because of the new windows game experience. It's very portable and light. The sound coming out the speakers are great. Worth every penny and it's new so there will be driver updates and it would get even better

Used many handhelds, and I love the feel of this handheld and the performance it offers. Here is my Quick Summary: - Ergonomics GREAT - Performance GREAT @ 17 watts & 20 watts - Xbox Full Screen Experience COOL @ Beta - Screen Size COOL @ 8inch is the sweet spot - Speakers GREAT Make sure to optimize the device review @128kb Youtube recommendations and Full Screen is still half baked. If your using AFMF make sure Anti-Lag is on for better experience. For handheld VRR needs to be supported from 30+fps however ROGXAlly is 48+fps.

For a handheld console, this is best on the market. Even though the price tag is scary to look at, I believe you will get your money worth if you do travel a lot or not at home all the time. Im using the handheld as my main console and pc as of right now and I absolutely love it. I play a lot of newer titles and the storage does end up to be a problem so I will buy sd card but besides that I think the device is actually surprisingly better than I thought.

The ROG Ally X is a solid upgrade in performance and battery life, and overall it feels more refined than the original model. However, the screen being the exact same as the previous Ally was a letdown for me. I wasn’t expecting OLED or anything premium, but even a slightly larger IPS display would’ve made the device feel new and worth keeping. Because of that, I ended up returning it. If screen quality and experience matter to you, this upgrade might feel underwhelming.

This handheld is exactly what I was looking for - exceptional performance, easy to operate, comfortable to hold, and great battery life. It handles all my favorite games very well (Battlefield, Fallout 4, Outerworlds 2, Starfield, Cyberpunk) with amazing graphics output. As a long-time Xbox fan, the controller and home screen is familiar. I would highly recommend! I preordered and Bestbuy got it delivered to my door on launch day, which was a huge plus!

I didn’t want to wait until mid-December to get my hands on this system. So, I took a risk and went open Box Excellent. And it was excellent; it had all items and the original box. This device looked brand-new, no scratches, nothing wrong and I saved $50. The initial setup was like any PC setup; I get people who want to plug and play this as a console but it’s not a console. It’s a PC handheld and requires a PC setup. Once you get past all that this is a great buy and has great value. The Fulle screen experience is awesome, and this thing can push out a great gaming experience. I hear the noise of you can’t play console games or digital library, blah, blah, blah, blah. If the game has an Xbox play anywhere tag you can play it. If you are looking to play Xbox, 360, Xbox one times, or Series X/S titles those can also be played but you must stream them through the cloud and or remote into your Xbox. I have no problem doing it, either on the road traveling or sitting at my house. Yes, eventually Microsoft has said these items will be able to launch natively but right now that doesn’t matter because you still have access to them anyway. But most people complaining about retro games don’t even play them anyway. The real question is do you enjoy games and do you enjoy this experience of how to play them. I say yes, 100% I do. If you are on the fence, just wait it out. I enjoy having this as a handheld and I also enjoy docking it because docked it’s a beast in it of itself. If you are open to a PC handheld with a dedicated full screen experience and the freedom to leave it this is for you. Also, the grips are unmatched by any handheld out, they just feel right, and you have no hand cramps after hours of play. Xbox/ROG 100% nailed the ergo on this handheld and I haven’t put it down yet.

Solid handheld Great feel Great battery life And surprisingly plays a lot of high demanding games pretty well

Definitely the strongest PC gaming handheld, the performance is superb. The display is solid with crisp visuals, good color presentation, and smooth frame rates. The premium build and design of the handheld is impressive it feels good in my hands with everything where it should be. Also, you’re not locked into one store you can access games from Xbox, steam, epic games and more .