Experience Your Favorite Xbox, Cloud, and PC Games Using the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X Handheld Gaming Console

While a higher-end console gaming system, like a Nintendo Switch 2 or PlayStation 5, will set you back between $450 and $800, a souped-up gaming computer can cost thousands. Which is best for you comes down to what type of games you want to play, where you want to play them, and your budget. There’s another alternative, however. The 2025 version of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is a handheld gaming system with an integrated seven-inch touchscreen.

Using Xbox Cloud Gaming (subscription required), many popular Xbox games can be played directly from the cloud, with no installations or downloads required.

The system is also compatible with many PC and cloud-based games from a variety of popular services and game publishers. So, whether you purchase and locally download individual games, subscribe to a gaming service, or enjoy cloud-based games, this Windows-based gaming system provides the computing power to do it all.

The folks at Asus recently sent me a review unit of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, which I immediately loaded up with a few games and started playing. When I paired the system with noise cancelling wireless earbuds, I experienced realistic and high-quality sound to go along with the games that were displayed with plenty of detail and vibrancy on the screen.

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X isn’t cheap. The core system costs around $1,000, and that’s without any games or accessories (except for the included power adapter). On the plus side, for a relatively low cost monthly subscription fee, you can access hundreds of popular games via Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, and Battle.net, and then enjoy them just about anywhere. (Anywhere dry that is: The system is not waterproof.) 

If you’re a serious gamer who wants to experience your favorite games while on-the-go, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is a viable option. That said, there are lower cost options for casual gamers. Keep reading to learn more about this powerhouse handheld gaming system.

Key Features of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X Handheld Gaming Console

There’s a lot to love about the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X. It’s basically a powerful gaming PC shrunk into a handheld system that’s battery powered. It has the controls and audio system needed to provide a smooth and immersive gaming experience, plus RGB lighting that gamers love and expect from a Republic of Gamers (ROG) designed device. But, if you choose, you can pair the device with Xbox controllers, an external keyboard, a mouse, and even connect it to your big-screen TV. 

The ROG Xbox Ally X is powered using an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor that’s accompanied by an AMD Radeon Graphics GPU, and AMD XDNA (Up to 50 TOPS) NPU. Combine this computing power with Windows 11, and many (but not all) AAA games can run flawlessly. Designed for use with both hands, this system is almost one foot long and weighs in at 1.58 pounds, so it’s a bit more cumbersome than a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2.

One of the things I like best about this system are the built in controls. Anyone who’s ever played with an Xbox using a handheld controller will find the controls built into this system are intuitive. And using the Command Center, the controls are customizable to adhere to your gaming habits when playing any of your favorite games.

Yes, the ROG Xbox Ally X can be used as a Windows PC. It runs virtually any Windows or cloud-based application, but it’s designed for gaming. If you plan to use it as a computer, consider investing in a Windows laptop instead. This isn’t the first handheld gaming system released by Asus, but it is the first designed in partnership with Microsoft. It also offers 30 percent better gaming performance than previous systems, not to mention a longer battery life, quieter performance, and enhanced graphics (with support for FreeSync Premium).

The seven-inch display offers 1080p resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, a maximum brightness of 500 nits, and serves as a touchscreen. One drawback: it’s not an OLED display. For most games, the display performs extremely well, but I did notice some unwanted glare from ambient light, especially when a game features darker graphics or animations. Also, some on-screen text appears small and can be difficult to read when working with the various subscription service menus, for example.

The unit has dual Smart Amp speakers that support Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio, along with a built-in microphone array. But, while the speakers are decent, I found using the system with noise cancelling headphones or earbuds boosts the sound quality of most games, so it sounds like the action is happening around you. And using the game’s trigger vibration and haptics system, you get instant feedback in your hands, too.

To get the most out of this system, you will need to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass. I was pleased that a three month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Premium is included.

To test this system, I used it with the Xbox Game Pass subscription, Epic Games, and my Steam account to play games like Fortnite: Battle Royal, Hogwarts Legacy, Resident Evil 2, Octopath Traveler II, and other AAA titles. When choosing games to play, I found not all run on the ROG Xbox Ally X, so pay attention to compatibility messages and seek those that have been “optimized for handheld.” In a few instances, the Xbox version of a game ran, but the PC edition of the same title did not.

Regardless of which game I played, I found that the system’s built-in controls were easily accessible and comfortable to use. While the two thumbsticks are surrounded by colorful RGB lighting, the other buttons are not backlit.

Until you’re accustomed to the system’s control layout, don’t try playing games in a dark room. I also noticed that some games launched considerably faster than others, but once loaded, they played smoothly. 

Who Will the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X Handheld Gaming Console Appeal To?

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is for serious gamers who like the idea of a handheld gaming system that plays a wide range of locally installed and cloud-based games, and that also works with popular gaming services. It’s not an ideal choice for young gamers, as it’s too big, and not as intuitive to operate as a Nintendo Switch 2, for example.

The selection of games available also caters more to older gamers. And the system’s price is more than most parents want to spend on a gaming system for their children or teens. The system is, however, rather durable and comfortable for adults to hold and use.

I can see spending money on a dedicated gaming system, like the Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, because it offers a vast library of exclusive games from mega-popular franchises, like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, and more. Most are family-friendly. The games playable on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, however, can also be played on a gaming computer or Xbox console. 

Playing Popular Games on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X Handheld Gaming Console

Depending on the game, many work immediately upon being downloaded and installed, assuming there are no compatibility warnings. A few that I came across required that the controls be manually reconfigured to adapt to the handheld system.

Out of the dozen or so games I attempted to install from Xbox Game Pass, Epic Games, and Stream, some worked flawlessly right away, as long as nothing else was being downloaded in the background. A few didn’t run at all, and either generated an error message or just hung. This was one thing that made the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X a bit more confusing to work with, compared to a gaming laptop or Xbox console.

As for the games that ran flawlessly, they were as enjoyable to play on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X as they are to play on any other system. The benefit is you can use the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X anywhere in your home, or wherever there’s a Wi-Fi connection.

The built-in controls cater to all of the various game genres, although the physical size and weight of the unit can be cumbersome. That said, if the device were any smaller, it could not accommodate the seven-inch touchscreen display or full-size buttons and controls.

One cool feature offered by the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is that you can remotely access your Xbox gaming console and stream games already installed on it (including Game Pass titles) when using the Xbox Remote Play feature. This makes the handheld system extra appealing to existing Xbox users.

In addition, using the Xbox Cloud Gaming feature that’s associated with a Game Pass membership, some titles can be played directly from the cloud with no local installation required.

As you’d expect, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is designed around Microsoft Xbox Game Pass compatibility. One issue I have with this service is that there are several membership tiers, which range in price from $9.99 to $29.99 per month.

Among other things, each tier determines the number of games that are playable. Meanwhile, if you want to purchase and locally install PC games, or access games from another service, additional fees apply.

My Final Thoughts: Is the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X Handheld Gaming Console Worth It?

The concept and overall design of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is impressive. Gaming on the device is certainly fun. It’s very much a Republic of Gamers gaming device in every sense. And with the dedicated Xbox button, you get quick access to the Game Bar, customizable widgets, and more. 

But since there are so many excellent gaming laptops that are thin and lightweight (including several from Asus), it seems like a better financial decision to purchase a laptop that plays AAA games, that can also handle plenty of other everyday computing tasks. Yes, if you connect a monitor, mouse, and keyboard to the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, it too can serve as a fully-functional computer, but you lose the portability.  

Unlike the Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is not a mass-market product with broad appeal. It’s more of a niche gaming device that caters to experienced gamers who want an alternative and more portable way to enjoy a wide range of popular games (and who are willing to pay for the privilege). 

I found the device’s interface for finding, downloading, installing, and selecting games to play is a bit quirky based on which gaming service it’s being used with. Once a game is running, however, the system’s performance is impressive. If you opt to invest in the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, keep your expectations in check, since the handheld gaming experience is good, but not as good (at least in my opinion) as playing the same games on a gaming laptop. 

While I really enjoyed my time playing games on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, and the system lived up to most expectations, the $1,000 price tag is a bit of a turnoff. Serious gamers, however, might find the price more palatable. There’s also the less expensive Asus ROG Xbox Ally ($600), but it offers a scaled down hardware configuration that includes 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, along with a less powerful battery.