Late last week, I attended an ASUS preview event for the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. I spent a little over an hour with both products, focusing most of my playtime on the ROG Xbox Ally X.

The ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X truly feel like the long-awaited Xbox handheld that people have been clamoring for over many years. With so many handheld devices already supported in the current console ecosystem, it can be tough to decide on yet another handheld—especially with the upcoming Switch 2, PlayStation Portal, and the Steam Deck all vying for attention.

Even the original Switch still boasts a plethora of games confirmed for it, which has led many to hesitate on purchasing the Switch 2 until more exclusives are released for Nintendo’s latest console.

Handheld consoles have been my major timesink since I was young, but over the years, many devices have felt less than optimal for extended play sessions—often leading to aching hands or sweaty palms. Getting my literal hands on the ROG Xbox Ally X felt incredibly natural. The contours and shaping fit perfectly. It seemed as if ASUS had taken an Xbox Wireless Controller’s grips and placed them onto the ROG Ally to create the ROG Xbox Ally.

Having tried the Steam Deck before, I initially liked its handling, but I was hesitant because I knew my hands would likely cramp or ache due to its grip shape. I remember needing to switch hands every few minutes because of its unwieldiness. With the ROG Xbox Ally X, however, it felt comfortable—nice to hold for longer periods without fatigue.

The first game I tried on the ROG Xbox Ally was *Hades*. Although I had never played it before, it ran extremely smoothly, allowing me to keep pace with the enemies, projectiles, and environments throughout each room I completed.

On the ROG Xbox Ally, available games included *Hades*, *Hollow Knight: Silksong*, *Balatro*, and *Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4*—mostly less graphically intensive titles. I attempted to launch *Hollow Knight: Silksong*, but Wi-Fi issues at the event prevented me from getting it running. This was unfortunate since I have over 80 hours in *Silksong* and was eager to see how it would perform compared to the Nintendo Switch 2.

Moving on to the ROG Xbox Ally X, the available titles included *Doom: The Dark Ages* and *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, both more graphically demanding games.

Initially, *Doom: The Dark Ages* experienced stuttering and lag. However, after tweaking a few settings—turning off ray tracing and path tracing—it ran excellently. I’m not particularly obsessive about frames per second or graphical fidelity, but it was impressive to see a recent *Doom* entry running steadily at 120 FPS in my hands. Honestly, my eyes probably wouldn’t have noticed much difference if I had opted for 60 FPS instead.

For comparison, I played *Pokémon Unite* for hundreds of hours before discovering I was actually playing it at 30 FPS, not the 60 FPS many players enjoyed.

Next, I tried *Expedition 33* on the Ally X. I ran around quickly, skipping dialogue where possible, to reach an early one-on-one fight scenario and test the timing of the counter mechanic—a feature known to be challenging on handhelds due to timing precision.

Getting accustomed to the gameplay mechanics and parries, I tackled the fight again and landed counters with impressive precision—including a triple counter during an enemy onslaught. The timing had little margin for error, yet I was able to seamlessly decipher my foe’s openings.

The ROG Xbox Ally X excels and shines in its lightweight design, handling, grip, contours, and grooves—making it well-suited for extended play sessions. Its large battery life also supports longer usage without interruption. Physically, it represents a massive upgrade from the original ROG Ally and even the ROG Ally X, primarily due to these ergonomic improvements.

Additionally, the Ally X can be connected to a large television screen for console-style play, although I only had the chance to experience it in handheld mode during the event.

Overall, the ROG Xbox Ally X feels like the handheld Xbox fans have been waiting for, blending powerful performance with thoughtful, comfortable design.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146353/rog-xbox-ally-preview