The ROG Xbox Ally X fixes pretty much every complaint when it comes to Windows handhelds; we’re talking better design, better performance, better battery. But at $999, it is a pricey way to play your PC games on the go.
So in this episode of Buy or Skip, Tony breaks down the pros and cons for his ROG Xbox Ally X review, including how it compares to the Legion Go 2, and the new Xbox focused Windows 11 experience. Is this truly a portable Xbox? Watch to find out!
00:00It's finally here! I have the ROG Xbox Ally X, and no doubt this is one of the most exciting gaming handheld consoles we've had on this channel this year.
00:08The ROG Xbox Ally X fixes pretty much everything I've complained about when it comes to Windows handhelds.
00:13We're talking better design, better performance, better battery life, but at $999, it is a pricey way to play your PC games on the go.
00:20So in this episode of Buyer's Skip, I'm breaking down the pros and cons for my ROG Xbox Ally review, including how it compares to Legion Go 2.
00:28I've seen you guys asking for comparisons in the comments, don't worry, I got you. Let's get into it.
00:34Let's start with the ROG Xbox Ally design, because I know there were some mixed reactions when we shared the hands-on video a while back on the channel.
00:41I find the new controller grips to be way more ergonomic. While everyone was worried that it might be too thick, I think this is actually a good thing.
00:48The grips feel more like a full-size Xbox controller, just split in half. It also helps with weight distribution, a problem most PC gaming handhelds have.
00:55Compared to other handhelds I've tried, including the Legion Go 2, longer gaming sessions on Xbox, Ally X, or more comfortable.
01:02The only thing that would make it better is if it had a kickstand, but even then, I think there's a better design blueprint to follow.
01:08But let me know if you have a different perspective.
01:10You've heard me complain about this in almost all our gaming handheld videos, but Windows 11 sucks for handhelds.
01:15So it goes without saying, I'm hyped about the Xbox UI, also known as the Xbox full-screen experience.
01:20You can basically ignore Windows 11, at least after setting up the handheld, and jump straight into your games.
01:25It feels very SteamOS inspired, which you probably know is my favorite system for all handhelds.
01:30But I think Microsoft is really giving Steam a run for its money with this leaner version of Windows 11.
01:35The interface is better optimized for touch and controller inputs, and it also gives you quick access to system settings if you need to tweak anything, or you want to check out the performance monitoring tools.
01:45But on top of that, this Xbox UI has another big advantage, better optimization for games.
01:51One look at task manager, and you'll see the desktop isn't even running.
01:54There's less Windows 11 bloat running in the background.
01:57This gives you even better battery life and gaming performance.
01:59Speaking of performance, let's talk about the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme.
02:04I'm going to skip the whole AI part because, honestly, no games are actually using the NPU for performance, yet.
02:10What does matter is efficiency.
02:11The chip nails the balance between performance and power use, especially compared to the Ryzen Z1 Extreme.
02:17Sure, at full power at 35 watts while plugged in, the gains are small.
02:21But drop it to 17 watts performance mode, and that's where things get really interesting.
02:25AMD has clearly figured out how to squeeze even more out of every watt.
02:29We've also tested this chip in the Legion GO 2, and the results were a little bit mixed.
02:34Performance varied depending on settings, so I definitely recommend playing around with all the different settings because you're probably not going to get the same gaming performance you're looking for out of the box.
02:43And if you want to nerd out a little and see exactly how that translates to frame rates and benchmarks, check out the full performance breakdown in the link in the description.
02:53Another big win for the ROG Xbox LIX, it's its solid battery life.
02:57In testing, it lasted about 8 hours on the web surfing battery life, and roughly 3 hours on the gaming battery test with PC Mark 10.
03:04That means it can easily handle a medium length commute or a long gaming session on the go, with only occasional recharges needed for longer trips.
03:11For comparison, the Legion GO 2 hit around 11 hours on web surfing, but only 2 hours on gaming.
03:16Showing that the ally access efficiency under load is more impressive.
03:20That's definitely a selling point if you ask me.
03:21Before I move on to things that aren't selling points, I'd appreciate it if you hit that like button and subscribe if you're enjoying this video so far.
03:29So now, here's where I'm a bit disappointed with the ROG Xbox LIX.
03:32First, it uses the same 120Hz 7-inch LCD panel we've seen on Asus' other handhelds for the past few years.
03:39Don't get me wrong, it still has good color and sharpness, but given that this costs $1,000, I really was expecting an OLED for those inky blacks and deeper contrasts.
03:47It's one of the reasons I recommend the new Legion GO 2, which I talked a lot about in that episode of Buyer's Skip, so make sure you go check it out on this channel if you haven't already.
03:55And speaking more in particular about that price, it's a hard one to justify to anyone other than a hardcore gaming crowd or those who are serious about taking AAA experiences on the go.
04:04There are gaming laptops that can give you better performance for the same cost.
04:07Now, what I haven't mentioned so far is the lower spec ROG Xbox Ally.
04:11The regular Ally costs $600, which obviously sounds like a huge savings, whether it's in the context of the Ally X or other handhelds like the Legion GO 2.
04:20My pal Jason checked out the Xbox Ally and he felt like it didn't deliver the kind of value we were hoping for.
04:25He thinks $400 would have been a fairer selling price for those specs, and I agree with him.
04:29Go ahead and let me know if you'd like to see a full comparison of the ROG Xbox Ally versus Ally X here on the channel.
04:35Either way, definitely do your research. I don't want you regretting your purchase.
04:39Here's something else that's super important to know before you get too excited about the Xbox Ally X.
04:43This is still a gaming PC at the end of the day, and it does not automatically mean that all your Xbox games will be supported here.
04:49Despite what Microsoft claims, this is not an Xbox.
04:52One of the selling points here is that the Xbox Ally X is part of the Xbox Play Anywhere Microsoft program that lets you play eligible Xbox games on both console and PC at no extra cost.
05:03In theory, this makes the Ally X the perfect handheld for your existing Xbox library.
05:08Most of you probably won't run into any issues, especially if you lean heavily on Xbox Game Pass.
05:13But here's where things get a bit confusing.
05:15Many older backward compatible titles like Gears of War 2 and 3 and Fable 2 are still exclusive to the Xbox console and haven't been ported to PC.
05:23Yikes.
05:24Yes, they can be played with Xbox Cloud Gaming, which streams the games over the internet, but the experience won't be as good since you're not playing it locally on the device.
05:33But even with games that are supported on both Xbox and PC, there are some recent games like Battlefield 6 and Final Fantasy 16 that are not included with Xbox Play Anywhere.
05:42Meaning if you bought them for your Xbox, you will still need to buy another PC copy to play it on your ROG Xbox Ally.
05:48Hopefully this aspect will improve over time as more developers opt in, but for now, some key titles just won't work and that's a bummer for anyone expecting full compatibility.
05:58Both the Xbox ROG Ally X and the Legion Go 2 are awesome next-gen handhelds, but they really shine in different ways.
06:05The ROG Xbox Ally X is the more affordable pick.
06:07It's comfortable to hold, and if you're deep in the Xbox ecosystem, it just makes sense.
06:12It's fast, the battery's solid, and it gets the job done whether you're commuting or chilling on the couch.
06:17The Legion Go 2, on the other hand, is the more versatile option if you're cool with paying a little bit more.
06:21That OLED screen, gorgeous.
06:23The kickstand plus the touchable controllers gives you more ways to play than the Ally X.
06:27If you want a solid, traditional handheld that performs well and gives you plenty of customization, go with the ROG Xbox Ally X.
06:35Want a versatile premium handheld that wows every time you pick it up?
06:39Legion Go 2 is the way to go.
06:40I know we went over a lot in this video, so let me recap.
06:43If you want one of the best ways to play your games on the go, the ROG Xbox Ally X offers a great mix of hardware, ergonomics, and UI.
06:50It may not live up to all the hype that led up to the launch, and there are other consoles like the Legion Go 2 that are pretty great.
06:55But overall, I say this is successful.
06:58Now look, gaming handhelds are getting more expensive, so the $9.99 price here probably isn't as wild as it sounds.
07:04But if you're on a tighter budget, there are still other great devices that have come out in the past couple of years that are worth considering.
07:10So make sure you check out our handheld showdown series to learn more about those awesome consoles.
07:15For me though, the ROG Xbox Ally X is definitely on my short list for best gaming handhelds right now.
07:19But I want to hear from you.
07:21Which way are you leaning?
07:22And if this video helped you out, give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more wire skip reviews just like this one.
07:27I'm Tony Polanco, and I'll see you in the next one.
07:29Later.
07:49Oh, the fanboys are going to get mad with that one.
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