Asus ROG Xbox Ally & Ally X first impressions: Console-class gaming on the go

Asus is shaking things up in the handheld gaming space. The new ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X feel less like typical portables and more like full-on gaming rigs you can actually hold. They pack the kind of muscle you’d expect from an Xbox or a solid Windows PC, just in a smaller shell that slips easily into a backpack. It’s console power made travel-friendly, and a proper step forward for portable gaming.

A proper gaming PC in your hands

Asus has built something genuinely interesting with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally series. It’s the first handheld that runs full Windows and actually feels like holding an Xbox, only smaller.

Not just your console games, you can play games over Xbox Cloud Gaming, or even play titles from your Steam or Epic Games library. That’s because at its core, both the Xbox Ally X and Xbox Ally are proper Windows-based PCs. But if you really want to go all out, you can plug in an external GPU for desktop-level power.

Coming to the build quality, both the handhelds feel solid and tough, as if they mean business. The output is crisp, and the performance doesn’t take a hit even in demanding titles. It’s genuinely surprising to watch a handheld console handle games this smoothly without drowning in the whine of fan noise.

The Ally doesn’t try to reinvent gaming, but it takes the best of console and PC worlds and makes them portable. And that, more than anything, makes it one of the most exciting gaming devices Asus has ever built.

Styled like an Xbox, built the ROG way

Holding the ROG Xbox Ally and the Ally X is a bit unusual when compared to most other handhelds and in a good way. The grips curve naturally into your palms, angled just slightly. If you’ve spent hours on an Xbox controller, this will feel very familiar.

Look closer and you’ll spot tiny ROG patterns and subtle Xbox-like detailing that do more than just look cool, they also add a little extra grip when things get intense.

The ROG Ally X takes this immersion a bit further thanks to its impulse triggers. They pack tiny vibration motors, so every drift, explosion, or gunfire hits with a satisfying jolt. It’s tactile, responsive, and surprisingly robust for something this compact.

Crisp visuals and surprisingly punchy sound

Both, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X get basically the same 7-inch FullHD display that supports a refresh rate of 120Hz. The image and visuals you get out of these panels is simply stunning. Even in bad lighting, the images were vibrant, with pretty good details and colours.

Games also look sharp and feels fluid. ANd because the panels have a 7ms response time everything feels snappy, whether you’re racing through Forza Horizon 5 or exploring Baldur’s Gate 3.

Sound quality holds up well, too. Asus uses a dual-speaker setup with Smart Amp and Dolby Atmos, and while it won’t match a full-size laptop, it’s still impressively loud and detailed. As a result, gunshots, explosions, tyre squeals, and even a game’s background music all have a nice depth to them. It’s the kind of setup that makes you forget you’re gaming on something this small.

Slick performance that feels effortless

Asus didn’t skimp on power with the ROG Xbox Ally lineup. The standard model runs on AMD’s Ryzen Z2 A chip, while the Ally X steps it up with the Ryzen Z2 Extreme. Both are tuned for serious gaming on the go.

For RAM and storage, the Xbox Ally X comes with up to 24GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD. The vanilla Xbox Ally comes with up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. Storage on both devices can be expanded easily with your own SSD in case you need more space.

Thermals are handled by a redesigned vapour chamber cooling system that does a surprisingly good job of keeping heat in check, even during long gaming sessions. Asus says it works efficiently at any angle, even if you flip the device upside down.

Although we are yet to run proper benchmarks on either of these, in our early testing, both models breezed through demanding games with smooth frame rates, minimal fan noise, and no throttling.

Bigger battery, longer sessions

Battery life is usually where handhelds fumble badly, but Asus seems to have given it proper attention this time. The regular ROG Xbox Ally packs a 60Wh battery, which already feels solid for a portable gaming PC. The Ally X, though, pushes that even further with an 80Wh unit — one of the biggest in any handheld right now. It should easily stretch gaming sessions without making you hunt for a charger every couple of hours.

Pricing and first impressions

The ROG Xbox Ally starts at ₹69,900, while the Ally X is priced higher, and comes in at ₹1,14,900. Picking between them though, shouldn't be an issue. The non-X version of the Ally is perfect if you’re new to portable gaming. It's also easier on the wallet.

The Ally X, on the other hand, is for players who want the absolute best performance, premium feel, and the comfort of longer playtime on a single charge.