Customer Ratings & Reviews
- Model:
- RC73XA-XB_ALLYX.Z2E.24
- SKU:
- 6642253
Rating by feature
- Performance
Rating 4.7 out of 5 stars
- Storage Capacity
Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars
- Controller
Rating 4.8 out of 5 stars
Customers are saying
Customers recognize the ROG Xbox Ally X as a high-performing and portable gaming handheld, with users praising its smooth gameplay, compact size, and comfortable design. The battery life and storage capacity are also appreciated by users. However, some customers feel the screen size is too small, and a few have reported issues with game compatibility.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
- Pros mentioned:Battery life, Screen qualityCons mentioned:Weight
The best most powerful handheld on the market.
|Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.It’s here, probably the most anticipated piece of gaming hardware of 2025, The ROG Xbox Ally X. There’s a lot to like here and thats from someone who has owned the previous Ally’s as well as last year’s Ally X, i’m able to talk about this handheld system with good details and I’m going to share my experiences with this bad boy. Is this an Xbox Console handheld device? The short answer to this question is no, this is a full-fledged windows 11 PC handheld device, from here you can download games from a number of places, Steam being one of those places. I personally use the Xbox Gamepass, it’s affordable and there’s a ton of games to choose from including new games that get added on pretty much every couple of weeks. Getting started is pretty standard for anybody that has a PC, you have to sign in, download a few updates, download games etc. but it’s all fun in the process. Screen: Even though it is still 1080p (and not 1440p or 2k, 4k etc) AND not OLED is in my opinion still perfectly fine. 7 inches is a nice size screen, its very bright, very clear and very colorful. I don’t know why the screen hasn’t been upgraded, but my bet is that this screen uses the least amount of power compared to the others and was probably chosen to keep the battery lasting for as long as possible. Battery: A very good high capacity battery. Will last maybe 2 hours playing AAA games or 5+ playing less demanding games, it might not seem like a lot, but literally having a portable PC last as long as it does is pretty impressive once you see it in action. RAM: 24GB, more than enough RAM for a handheld device. This bad boy has enough memory to run any game out right now and it’s pretty future proof as well. To give you an example, Battlefield 6, which is the newest AAA game out right now recommends 16GM of RAM. Processor: AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, a very powerful and very capable processor according to reports, it’s a slightly better processor than last generations Z1 Extreme. More than capable to run any game, or multiple open applications. Memory: 1TB of storage, enough to download a few AAA games, you will eventually run out, but 1TB it’s kind of standard right now, not great, but not bad either. There’s a memory card slot to add additional storage if needed. Again, pretty standard. Ergonomics: the obvious difference to this Ally compared to the previous ones is the ergonomics or more precisely the grips, very comfortable to hold, they have a nice texture to them, the whole device does have some weight to it but its not heavy. Misc: Comes with its charger, has rear trigger buttons, the speakers sound fine for their size. The two charging ports and the power button and all the vents seem to be exactly the same from the Ally X. I did some digging and found out that if anything needs to be replaced like worn out thumbsticks and buttons, they are user replaceable, which means if you take care of your device it will last you for a very long time. I know the price is a little steep, but you get the best PC handheld out right now.
I would recommend this to a friend Dead within a day
||Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.So as the review implies, it was dead, to the point it would not load or boot in any scenario, within a day. And I say this with the utmost confidence, what not with having 20 years experience in IT, as well as building many computers, diagnosing advanced problems regularly, etc. It worked fine through setup and downloading/playing a game from game pass. But I then attempted to power it on the next morning, nothing. I even tried just to get into BIOS, nothing, with and without the OEM power block, as well as then another known working PA with matching wattage/ VDC and Amperage. So I then took it apart and disconnected the battery, reconnected, still nothing. At that point, I wasn’t getting into anything more advanced for a product I just bought. Overall, it wasn’t as great as the price tag implied. It was essential a first gen ally with an updated controller module and chip. Meanwhile, the chip performance gains were maybe 15% on average. It was just not a great implementation and “upgrade”. It’s not worth it, especially with this issue I experienced, as well as now others reports coming in.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear AtomAnt,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you've encountered, especially with the device failing to boot within such a short time of use. We understand how disappointing this must be, particularly given your extensive background in IT and hardware diagnostics.
If you are still within the return or exchange window, we recommend contacting the original place of purchase to arrange a replacement or return.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. If you require any further assistance, please email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510021587-0008" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us, and it enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
Still needs work
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Great for those just entering the handheld market but too expensive for what it is. The screen for my eyes is too small. It would have been better with an 8 inch screen. Also, it took a long time to set up, get the upgrades and still kind of quirky with the use of windows.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear DreBrown,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X. We regret that the device did not fully meet your expectations, particularly regarding screen size, setup process, and overall performance. We understand how important usability and value are when selecting a handheld gaming device. Your feedback is important and will be forwarded to our product team for review.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. If you require any further assistance, please email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510034406-0007" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us, and it enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
Xbix ally
||Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Well... i loved it while it worked. It crashed within 36 hours. Best buy is sending a new one so thats nice
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear Phillip R,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the device while it was working, but we sincerely apologize that it crashed within such a short time. That’s certainly not the experience we want our customers to have.
We’re pleased to hear that Best Buy is providing a replacement, and we hope the new unit performs to your expectations. Your feedback regarding early stability is important and will be forwarded to our internal teams for further evaluation
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. If you require any further assistance, please email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510031066-0019" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us, and it enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
Nice form factor little else
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I’ll start with the good. This device form factor is pleasant to hold and really tries to make the process of playing a game on it comfortable. The bad? Well this is a pretty unintuitive mess for those who aren’t clued in to the world of pc gaming. This is one powerful handheld but I just couldn’t get into its OS. Ill stick with the steam os.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear Fordmoo,
Thank you so much for the feedback. We are glad that you are happy with this product. We do stand behind our product, and we continuously strive to improve our approach and processes in order to achieve customer service excellence. Feel free to reach out to me at customerloyalty@asus.com and provide this link for reference. I'll do my best to provide a quick resolution to your case. Your feedback is important as it helps with improvements to ASUS support channels. Please refer to this case number (N2510034406-0005) for us to better assist you. Thank you for choosing ASUS!
Best Regards,
Schottky,
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
- Pros mentioned:Overall performance
Not worth the price
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.for the price, its not as easy to use and I had to purchase xbox PC streaming service vs. the current xbox streaming service that I have. Its a powerful handheld PC, however, its not worth the price point and there are other options that are better in the market that can do the same.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear Izzy,
Thank you for sharing your feedback on the ROG Xbox Ally X. We apologize that your experience did not meet expectations, particularly regarding ease of use and the need for an additional Xbox PC streaming subscription. We understand how important value and usability are when choosing a handheld gaming device. Your comments are appreciated and will be shared with our product team.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. If you require any further assistance, please email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510021587-0010" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us, and it enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
What to do about the Xbox Allie ROG.
||Posted . Owned for 4 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.As a consule player it is hard for me to understand PC gaming. I have new games that run at a low run rate and don't know what to do to make the game better or who to go to for help.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear RobertA,
Thank you for reaching out to us. We sincerely apologize for the difficulties you’re experiencing with your ROG Xbox Ally X. We recognize that transitioning from console gaming to PC gaming can take some adjustment, particularly when new titles do not perform as smoothly as anticipated.
To help improve performance, we recommend following the steps outlined in our FAQ guide linked below. If the issue continues, please contact our support team at https://www.asus.com/us/support/CallUs so we can assist you further.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. For more information, email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510034406-0023" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us and enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
[Windows 11/10] How to optimize your gaming experience - https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1046445/
Great console but fedex sucks
||Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Purchased and received damaged. waiting for replacement.
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear Brayton,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X. We sincerely apologize that the unit you purchased from Best Buy arrived damaged, especially given the excitement of receiving a new device. We hope that your replacement unit is processed smoothly and that you receive a fully functional device that meets your expectations.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. If you require any further assistance, please email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510031066-0024" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us, and it enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
Wanted to love it!
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I really wanted to love this handheld but just couldn’t get behind it. The look and feel was incredible but the performance was subpar. Also for $1k I expect at least a slightly larger oled screen.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear Brentjames,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X. We are glad to hear that you appreciated the look and feel of the device, and we are sorry to hear about your concerns regarding performance and display expectations. We understand your point about the value at the $1,000 price range and your expectation for a larger OLED screen, and we apologize for the inconvenience caused.
We truly value your detailed feedback and will ensure that your comments are passed along to our product team for review.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. If you require any further assistance, please email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510034406-0020" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us, and it enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
I hate Bestbuy
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Bestbuy has the absolute WORST website I've ever used. I've been trying to pay my credit card but am unable to because the page keeps reloading. I contacted them and they sent me a direct message I can't even read because the website KEEPS LOADING! If you have the choice to shop anywhere else, DO IT! SHOP WITH BESTBUY AT YOUR OWN RISK!
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear FernandoA,
We are sorry to hear about the difficulties you’ve experienced with Best Buy’s website while trying to manage your ROG Xbox Ally X purchase and credit card payments. We sincerely apologize for the frustration this has caused.
Since this issue relates to Best Buy’s online platform and account services, we kindly recommend contacting Best Buy Support directly at 1-888-237-8289 so they can further investigate and assist you with resolving the matter.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. If you require any further assistance, please email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510021587-0042" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us, and it enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
Not the best but it will do
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Really wish it was oled! U can play game it played
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear Angel,
We certainly understand your disappointment with the product. We certainly value your feedback on this matter, and I will be letting the related department know about the issues you are experiencing for continuous improvements to the product line. If you need any assistance, feel free to contact me at customerloyalty@asus.com. We'll be happy to provide a quick resolution to your case, and I will help you to the best of my abilities. I am here to assist our customers with our products and am dedicated to bringing resolution to all issues that they may come across. Your case for reference is [N2510034235-0008] for us to better assist you. Thank you for choosing ASUS!
Best Regards,
Schottky.S
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
Do not buy, wait for the 2nd generation.
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Item took 3 plus hours for initial setup. The controller would not register even though it was set to automatic. I had to reset the entire device to factory to get it to work. The controller grips are very vertical and does not feel like an actual Xbox controller. Not all Xbox games are playable on the device. I was not able to play the game I downloaded while at work due to no internet connection even though I was playing non internet required games. Overall terrible experience and device. Returned within 5 days. It is not worth the money or frustration.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear Menippiko,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X. We sincerely apologize for the setup delays, controller issues, and limitations you encountered with offline gameplay and game compatibility. It’s disappointing to hear that the device didn’t meet expectations and had to be returned within just five days.
Your feedback regarding hardware design, software performance, and overall usability is extremely valuable and we will be passing it along to our internal teams for further review.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. If you require any further assistance, please email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510021587-0019" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us, and it enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
The worst experience ever
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.It doesn’t deserve 1 star. This is the worst gaming experience and device experience out there. Xbox and ROG could have done way better, and is much more an embarrassment of a device. Loads of software issues, mechanical issues (vibration in controller broke after only a few gaming sessions). I have to reset often. It’s far from a product worth releasing. The Xbox experience is an epic fail in my books. If I could, I’d return this so quickly and go with a Legion. Turn away and you’ll have no regrets.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear GabrielW,
Thank you for your comment.
We certainly understand your disappointment with this ROG Xbox Ally X and the inconvenience this may have caused. ASUS is an ISO certified company, and as a result, all products go into a strict quality manufacturing standard. All ASUS products undergo intensive quality control testing and inspections that ensure each one is trouble-free. The ROG Xbox Ally X hardware receives high marks, the user experience is hampered by common Windows-related software annoyances and integration issues that require frequent updates and user configuration. If you have mechanical issues with this device, we recommend you send the product in for service to determine if this is a hardware issue so this may be resolved immediately. An RMA number is required to send it in for service. For RMA details, please go to: https://www.asus.com/us/support/article/818/.
If you need more information or further assistance with the warranty for the product, please email me at cl-rodel@asus.com and I would be more than happy to help. Or, you are most welcome to call Product Support Hotline at: 1(888) 678-3688. Also, you can chat with an ASUS live support agent from the link: https://www.asus.com/us/support/article/1135/.
Thank you for choosing an ASUS product.
Regards,
Rodel
ASUS Customer Loyalty
Not there yet
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.While this is an impressive handheld (PC) the performance still isn’t there for the price. You’re paying $1000 for the power of a series s in you hand. Plus we’re moving onto a new console generation and this thing will be outdated in a year. If you’re into AAA titles stay away. If you’re looking to play a couple year old campaign games go for it. Wait if you’re looking for future proof. This was not able to run battlefield 6 without crashes all the time. I tweaked all settings it just can not handle it and performed subpar for madden.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear Thatguywithapc,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X. We regret to hear that the device did not meet your expectations in terms of performance and long-term value. We understand that stability, future readiness, and reliable support for demanding titles are essential when investing in a premium handheld gaming PC. Your feedback has been documented in full and will be shared with our product and engineering teams for further evaluation.
To help improve system responsiveness and game performance, we recommend the following steps in the FAQ guide linked below. If the issue continues, please contact our support team at https://www.asus.com/us/support/CallUs so we can assist you further.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. For more information, email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510021587-0016" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us and enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
[Windows 11/10] How to optimize your gaming experience - https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1046445/
High hopes, even bigger let down
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I preordered this with a lot of hopes. Upon getting it day 1 I couldn’t have been more disappointed. It took me 2 hours to update every driver, and everything to even start using it. I downloaded a couple game, BF6, dead by day light and call of duty warzone. Every single game had massive input lag on the lowest possible settings. It’s like I was playing on a 85” tv and had input lag on a 7” screen. It was unplayable for any MP game. Single player should be a bit better to deal with but my god $1000 for you to shoot and it to not actually do it for quarter of a second is horrible for the tech that’s inside of it. I returned this after a week of use.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear MichaelV,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X. We’re sorry to hear that the device did not meet your expectations and that you encountered setup delays and performance issues, particularly with input responsiveness in multiplayer titles. We understand how disappointing this must have been, especially after preordering with high expectations.
As the device has already been returned, we appreciate you providing this detailed feedback. It will be shared in full with our product and engineering teams for further evaluation.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. If you require any further assistance, please email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510021587-0017" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us, and it enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
wont turn on anymore ..
||Posted . Owned for 4 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Got the dreaded black screen of death .. wont turn on anymore... apparently a common problem .. sad thing is used it maybe 5 times .. didn't get that much play .. sat in that cradle you can by separately ,, wonder if the cradle ruined it .. bummer... held power button down 60 seconds got a white light then nothing .. hopefully i can return it ,,,,
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear Valued Customer,
We are sorry to hear that your ROG Xbox Ally X will not power on, even after you have attempted troubleshooting, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. This is not the quality of product performance we aim to provide, and we regret that your experience did not reflect our standards.
To ensure this matter is properly investigated and resolved, we kindly ask that you contact our support team directly at https://www.asus.com/us/support/callus/. Our specialists will assist you with the next steps and provide guidance on available service options.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. For more information, email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510021587-0040" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us and enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
Lots of corners cut for the price
||Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Same 7” display as previous gens is disappointing, it was clearly done to increase margins. Uses a slow SSD, no halo effect joysticks, add them all up and it’s difficult to suggest it
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear AGJG,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X. We apologize that the display size, SSD performance, and joystick features did not meet your expectations. Your feedback regarding the 7” display, storage speed, and controller design is valuable, and we will ensure it is passed along to our product and quality assurance teams for review.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. If you require any further assistance, please email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510034406-0011" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us, and it enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
My last buy, badbuy
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Very bad customer service, it supposed to include 3 months of Xbox pass, but after I get back to the store to claim it, they said is a Asus offer and there were nothing they could do about it. In other words, fake advertisement and far to deliver
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear FelipeH,
Thank you for your feedback.
We do understand your dissatisfaction with the quality your recent customer service experience and the inconvenience this may have caused if you experienced issues claiming for the Xbox games pass that was bundled with the ROX Xbox Ally X. To redeem the offer, Open the Microsoft Store app, go to your Library, and look under the "Included with device" tab, sign in and look for a banner to claim the promotion. Additionally, ensure all windows updates, Armoury Crate, and Microsoft Store app updates are installed, as these can block the offer from appearing. If the device was purchased "open box" or used, the original owner might have already redeemed the code. If it still does not appear, you should contact Microsoft/Xbox Support directly with your proof of purchase (receipt) and serial number. They can often verify the promotion and manually apply it to your account.
If you need further assistance with the product, please email me at cl-rodel@asus.com and I would be more than happy to help. Or you are most welcome to call Product Support Hotline at: 1(888) 678-3688. Also, you can chat with an ASUS live support agent from the link: https://www.asus.com/us/support/article/1135/.
Thank you for choosing an ASUS product.
Regards,
Rodel
ASUS Customer Loyalty
- Pros mentioned:Battery life, Comfort, Portability
Is this an Xbox? The answer depends.
|Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.What is an Xbox? That's the question I found myself asking as I unboxed and setup the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X (that's a mouthful). As I broke in the machine, I found myself impressed with the performance and the overall design of the unit, but I'm still left wanting more. Design Let me first say that ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X is the most comfortable handheld I have had the opportunity to use. And it's coming from a person that has the Switch, Switch 2, and Steam Deck OLED that I've used over the years. The Ally X simply is a joy to hold and with the deep grips, it feels like I am using an Xbox controller with a screen built in. Great design and easy to hold for extended sessions. Performance Overall I would say that I am impressed with the Ally X and it's Z2 Extreme processor. Is it markedly better than my Steeam Deck OLED? I'd say it definitely performs better, but the types of games I will mostly play on the Ally X (retro games, brawlers, schmups. etc) run similarly as they don't require the full power potential of the Z2 extreme to get a good experience. When it comes to AAA games, the experience I got playing Forza Horizon 5 at 60FPS felt great overall, with some caveats I'll touch on momentarily. OS This is the biggest weakness of the Ally X at the moment and my biggest disappointment. This is not an Xbox experience. It's a Windows experience, and it doesn't even try to hide it. Upon boot, it literally tells me it's setting up my PC, just like my Windows PC... The first experience was a bit painful... it took me almost an hour to turn on the unit, go through the Windows setup (even had to name my PC like you do in Windows), download Windows updates, download Xbox updates, get into Armory Crate, and download Bios and driver updates. An hour later I was ready to play games, or so I thought. First up was Forza Horizon 5... and what I was not prepared for was waiting another 15 minutes for the shaders to compile on first launch. Microsoft promised advanced shader delivery for first party titles and my FH5 was purchased through the Microsoft Store since I have an Xbox Series X. I thought shaders would be pre-compiled, but for whatever reason, they were not. And I sat for another 15 minutes waiting to get into the game as they compiled. That's not what I want the Xbox experience to become. I don't know why this happened, but my guess is it was because of the AMD graphics driver I updated via Armory crate was new. On my Windows PC, a driver update will often cause shader recompiles, but my PC is much faster and does it quicker. Here the wait was noticeable. I hope this can be improved over time. I then installed some Steam games and they launched and worked with no issues. Only complaint here, was that when I exited Steam games, they took me back to the Steam store page, even when I launched them from the Xbox full screen experience, and the Steam screen was the store / main page, and not even big picture mode, so it was a bit jarring. I feel like the Xbox Fullscreen Experience is just not ready for primetime and I'm essentially beta testing the product. I think it likely will get better over time, but my experience is that this is more of a PC than it is an Xbox. Battery I was pretty impressed with the battery. I got about 3 hours of gameplay on a charge and your mileage will vary a bit by how demanding the games are that you play. If you are playing AAA games expect less than if you are playing indie, retro, or 2D games. But overall, I was satisfied. As I own an Xbox Series X and a Windows gaming PC, having a handheld enables me to take my games on the go, and the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is the one handheld I have that allows me to enjoy my Xbox games that I purchased on the Xbox store (and that are part of Play Anywhere) to work on both my PC and handheld. So for games like Forza Horizon 4, 5, Motorsport, Starfield, etc... I can play these on all my devices. But it's still not an Xbox... as not all of my Xbox games are available on the Ally X. Games I own on physical disc are not playable, console exclusives like College Football 26 are not available, but I feel this is more of a marketing problem that Microsoft needs to clean up. In the end, I'm excited to see where Microsoft and Asus take the Xbox Ally X and how it improves. I think this is a great device to consider, especially if you don't have another handheld. Just understand that as an early adopter, there are likely to be some growing pains, and it's much more of a Windows experience today than it is an Xbox console experience.
I would recommend this to a friend Be careful buy open box
||Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Purchased this as an excellent open box online, only to find out the right handle was broken, and it looked like someone had opened the device. be careful buying open box online
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .Dear DanielP,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X. We sincerely apologize for the condition in which you received your device, including the broken right handle and signs that it had been previously opened. This does not reflect the standard of service we expect our customers to receive when purchasing through authorized resellers.
Since the purchase was made through Best Buy, we kindly advise contacting their support team directly at 1-888-237-8289 to arrange an exchange or return. They will be able to assist you further with resolving this issue.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. If you require any further assistance, please email us at customerloyalty@asus.com and include the case number "N2510021587-0043" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us, and it enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards,
Chantae
ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support