The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is positioned as the flagship Windows-based gaming handheld, priced at £799.99 / $999.99. It is powered by AMD’s latest Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, paired with 24GB of fast LPDDR5X memory and a 1TB internal SSD, establishing it as one of the most powerful handhelds in its class.
In terms of design, the X model features a meaner, all-black chassis. Its controller-style grips and contoured finish offer comfort, despite its weight of 715g, which is 50g lighter than the MSI Claw A8. The screen is tilted away from the user for improved comfort. The control layout is designed to mimic a standard Xbox controller, including diagonally opposing thumbsticks, a D-Pad, ABXY buttons, shoulder buttons, and Hall-effect triggers with heightened accuracy. Extra features include impulse triggers for haptic feedback and two remappable clicky rear paddles.
The connectivity options are robust, featuring two USB-C ports on the top side. One of these ports is a powerful USB4 port with Thunderbolt 4 compatibility. Additional ports include a UHS-II microSD card reader and a headphone jack, facilitating easy connection to external displays.
The device utilizes a 7-inch IPS display, maintaining the Full HD resolution and 120Hz refresh rate with variable refresh rate support. While lacking an OLED panel, the panel achieves a peak brightness of 427.6 nits and offers 96% sRGB coverage, deemed adequate for gaming.
Performance is a primary strength, driven by the Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, which features eight Zen 5 cores, 16 threads, and a 16-core RDNA 3.5-based GPU. The device performs strongly when operating in full 35W Turbo mode. In comparative benchmarks, the ROG Xbox Ally X outperformed the MSI Claw A8 in titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, achieving 28.93fps versus 25.20fps at Ultra preset. For esports, Rainbow Six Extraction reached 66fps without upscaling.
However, the 1TB SSD demonstrated notably slower read and write speeds when the device was running on battery power compared to when plugged in.
Battery life is described as meagre and standard for this class. The 80Whr battery lasted 3 hours and 1 minute in the PCMark 10 Gaming benchmark. Charging from zero to 50% takes 45 minutes, with a full charge requiring 90 minutes, which is slower than the non-X model.
The standout software feature is the Xbox Full Screen Experience UI. Built atop Windows 11, this interface organizes installed games regardless of their source (Xbox app, Steam, Ubisoft Connect, etc.), giving a console-like experience. The device includes shortcut buttons for quick access to the Xbox Game Bar and game library, creating a streamlined, slicker experience than standard Windows 11.
Overall, the reviewer recommends the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X as the definitive Windows handheld purchase. It is considered superior to the MSI Claw A8 due to its better ergonomics, slight power advantage, and integrated Xbox Full Screen Experience. While its high price and meagre battery life are noted drawbacks, it is presented as the best option for those seeking a powerful, Xbox-branded handheld experience currently available.
Source: Trusted Reviews