Xbox Ally Hands-On: A Cool Handheld Facing an Uphill Battle in 2025

Introduction: The Xbox Ally Enters the Portable Gaming Arena

In 2025, Microsoft and ASUS teamed up to launch the ROG Xbox Ally and its high-end sibling, the ROG Xbox Ally X — handheld devices blending PC power with the Xbox ecosystem. Designed to offer full Xbox experiences on the go, these handhelds bring desktop-level gaming performance into a portable form factor. But while they promise serious muscle and comfort, they face an uphill battle in a competitive handheld market dominated by devices like the Steam Deck.

Let’s dive into what makes the Xbox Ally series stand out, where it shines, and the challenges it must overcome to capture gamers’ hearts.

Powerhouse Specs That Impress

At the core of the Xbox Ally line is raw computing power rarely seen in handhelds:

Feature	ROG Xbox Ally	ROG Xbox Ally X
Processor	AMD Ryzen Z2A	AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme
RAM	16GB LPDDR5-6400	24GB LPDDR5X-8000
Storage	512GB M.2 SSD	1TB M.2 SSD
Battery	60Wh	80Wh (largest in handhelds)
Display	7-inch 1080p, 120Hz, FreeSync Premium	Same as Ally
Operating System	Windows 11 Home (customized for gaming)	Windows 11 Home (gaming optimized)
Controls	Xbox-inspired layout with impulse triggers and assignable back buttons	Same but with enhanced ergonomics

The ROG Xbox Ally X especially stands out with its cutting-edge Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip and a massive 24GB of fast RAM, enabling demanding games to run smoothly in a handheld device. Both models boast a 7-inch 1080p touchscreen with a buttery 120Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium, ensuring crisp, tear-free visuals for an immersive gaming experience.

Ergonomics and Design: Xbox Comfort in Your Hands

One of the Xbox Ally’s biggest strengths is its controller-inspired design. Instead of feeling like a mini PC or a clunky tablet, it feels like holding an Xbox controller split in half, with a bright screen in the middle. The contoured grips mirror the Xbox Wireless Controllers, offering all-day comfort, and the button layout includes familiar ABXY keys, impulse triggers, and two assignable back buttons for customization. This ergonomic approach gives it an edge over other PC handhelds, matching or even surpassing the Steam Deck in comfort for many users.

However, this comfort comes with a trade-off: the device is quite large and bulky, measuring about 290.8mm wide, 121.5mm tall, and 50.7mm deep. It’s not the sleekest or smallest handheld on the market, which may impact portability for some users.

Software Experience: Windows 11 Meets Xbox UI

Running on Windows 11 Home, the Xbox Ally series features a highly optimized, controller-friendly interface that boots directly into an Xbox full-screen experience. This tailored UI minimizes background processes typical of Windows, freeing up CPU and RAM resources to focus on gaming performance. The integration of ASUS’s Armoury Crate with Xbox’s Game Bar offers quick access to game libraries, device settings, and input controls, making it easy to switch between games, chat with friends, and manage system settings without leaving the game.

This smooth blend of Windows versatility and Xbox simplicity creates a unique gaming handheld environment where players can run games natively, stream via cloud, or remotely connect to their Xbox console elsewhere in the house.

Performance and Challenges: Heat and Price Concerns

The Xbox Ally pushes impressive performance for a handheld, but not without compromises. One recurring issue is heat management. Like many PC handhelds, the Xbox Ally struggles with heat dissipation, leading to louder fan noise during extended gaming sessions. While efficient at maintaining performance, the fans can detract from immersion, making headphones a must-have for full enjoyment.

Battery life is another consideration. The Ally X’s 80Wh battery is the largest in its class, yet powerful components and a bright 120Hz display can drain it relatively quickly under intense gaming. The base Ally offers a smaller 60Wh battery, which may impact playtime further.

Finally, pricing remains uncertain but expected to be on the premium side. The high-end Ally X, with its top-tier specs, is likely to carry a price comparable to or higher than other handheld consoles in the market, potentially limiting its appeal to a niche audience willing to invest in cutting-edge portable gaming.

The Uphill Battle: Market Context and Competition

Despite its technical prowess, the Xbox Ally faces stiff competition in the handheld space. The Steam Deck has established a solid foothold with a balance of performance, portability, and price. Nintendo’s Switch remains a beloved portable hybrid with exclusive games and a massive install base. New entrants with cloud gaming focus also vie for gamers’ attention.

The Xbox Ally’s Windows foundation and Xbox integration give it unique selling points, but its size, heat, and price may hinder mass adoption. It appeals most to gamers who want a full Xbox PC experience on the go and are willing to carry a bigger device for superior performance.

Final Thoughts: A Bold Move With Room to Grow

The Xbox Ally and Ally X are ambitious handhelds that successfully bring high-end PC and Xbox gaming power into a portable form factor with excellent ergonomics and a sleek user interface. They represent a cool, fresh take on handheld gaming for 2025, combining the flexibility of Windows with Xbox's ecosystem.

However, challenges like heat management, battery life, size, and pricing mean the Xbox Ally is currently more of a niche device for enthusiasts rather than a mass-market disruptor. As Microsoft and ASUS refine the experience and perhaps iterate on design and pricing, the Xbox Ally series could carve out a meaningful place in the evolving handheld gaming landscape.

Are you ready to carry a powerful Xbox in your backpack? The Xbox Ally might just be the handheld for gamers who want performance without compromise — but it’s a climb to the top.

Explore the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X on Microsoft's official Xbox handheld page and consider the latest deals on ASUS ROG devices on Amazon.in.