The Steam Deck has made its mark on handheld gaming history for the most part, despite how slim the pickings may be. Its compact yet dependable form factor and powerhouse ability to play most any game on Steam has cemented it amongst other market offerings. Despite other (punchy in their own right) systems like the GPD WIN, MSI Claw 8, or Lenovo Legion Go, it’s hard to beat Valve customer service and SteamOS, the Deck’s built-in operating system tailored for on-the-go gaming.

 

However, we’d like to take a moment to showcase something that’s been catching our attention lately: of all people, Microsoft has come out with a series of handheld gaming PCs, which they’ve dubbed the “ROG Xbox Ally” collection. Gone are the days of seemingly “second”- or “third”-party offerings like those mentioned above; Microsoft says they’d like to step in. 

 

Without further ado, we’ll take a look at the console and see what separates it from the other offerings on the market and tell you if it’s worth it or not.

 

Overview

 

 

In partnership with ASUS and Republic Of Gamers (ROG), Xbox recently announced their venture into the handheld gaming scene with the ROG Xbox Ally. To keep it short, there are two versions: The ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X. 

 

“Developed in partnership with the incredible team at Xbox, the new ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X offer best-in-class ergonomics and a full-screen Xbox experience that marries the best of Xbox and PC gaming in one cohesive package.”

 

From what we can gather, the biggest difference between the two is that the ROG Xbox Ally has a less potent processor (but by our standards, still pretty fast). While the ROG Xbox Ally sports an AMD Ryzen™ Z2 A Processor, the Ally X will be sporting the new AMD Ryzen™ AI Z2 Extreme Processor for what ASUS calls “next-level gaming performance”.

 

Additionally, we’re given a good look at what constitutes the software that the Ally series will be running. What’s exciting is that Microsoft seems to be supporting the ability to mod Ally series devices, which is mentioned a little in the text:

 

“Powered by Windows 11 underneath, this software has been optimized for the ROG Xbox Ally, reducing system overhead and offering easy joystick and button navigation. Quick access to settings and customizable widgets are available via Game Bar with a single press of the Xbox button. But with the full freedom of Windows 11 running under the hood, games and mods from other sources are still easily accessible.”

 

Other hardware to note is that both consoles come with at least 512GB of storage (with the Ally X having 1TB of storage) and at least 16GB of RAM (the Ally X again sporting a more potent 24GB of RAM).

 

What We Like

• The grips are contoured to resemble gamepad handles, which is something that we haven’t seen on very many platforms; very nice

• Familiar and dependable software (Windows 11) running underneath the hood

• Xbox Play Anywhere, seemingly Microsoft’s version of Steam, allows you to pick back up and play games that you previously played on your Xbox or PC

• Xbox Game Bar integration allows you to create clips and screenshots live, as well as chat with friends and perform other social features

What Could Use Some Work

• As a result of the much more powerful internals of the Ally X, the price will likely reflect the upgrade (to be expected, but may be higher than what others may be hoping to pay for)

• The resolution is slightly lower for both consoles (both share the same display configuration) than other options we’ve seen

• The screen is also smaller, with the Switch 2’s being nearly an inch larger (7 inch vs. 7.9 inch)

 

Verdict: Should You Purchase the Xbox Ally Series?

 

The Xbox Ally series, particularly the higher-end Ally X, represents a strong and compelling entry into the handheld gaming PC market. It brings with it the pedigree of Microsoft and ASUS ROG, blending Xbox's familiar gaming ecosystem with the flexibility and customizability of a Windows-powered device. For gamers already tied into the Xbox ecosystem, the Ally makes a lot of sense - it offers a seamless transition between console, PC, and now, mobile gaming.

 

When compared to other handhelds like the Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go, or MSI Claw, the Xbox Ally series holds its own - especially with the Ally X's upgraded specs. If you're looking for a handheld that acts more like a full-fledged gaming laptop with true Xbox integration—and you’re okay with a slightly smaller screen and a potentially steeper price point—the ROG Xbox Ally or Ally X is well worth your attention.

We’d say go for it - our team thinks it’s easily the most exciting gaming offering that Microsoft has had in a while.

 

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