Our first contact with is here ROG Xbox Ally Xan improved version of the ASUS gaming laptop called Xbox. But before booting, keep in mind that the system maintains the base ROG Allyalthough it increases memory, perfects its design, eliminates the proprietary port and replaces it with two USB-C (both USB4, with DP 1.4 and PD 3.0, compatible with Thunderbolt 4) and, most importantly, doubles the battery life, guaranteeing more gaming time without needing to recharge.
Although it does not change the core approach of the device and maintains elements such as the 1080p IPS screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate and the RGB rings on the sticks, ROG Xbox Ally X does include hardware improvements such as 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. From here, we invite you to check in detail how this portable beast performs.
black dress
The first change you’ll notice is the black color (the first Ally was white). In addition to better hiding dirt, the dark body hides the bezel and gives it a more uniform appearance. The Grips are more contoured and Xbox-inspiredwhile the chassis is somewhat thicker and seems designed to better distribute the components and gain comfort during long sessions. On the back you can expect larger air inlets and a holographic stripe with the REPUBLIC OF GAMERS logo that make some differences evident compared to other models in the same family.
At the top, relocated ports and buttons to improve cooling and ergonomics such as volume, two USB-C USB4 (Thunderbolt 4/DP 1.4/PD 3.0), 3.5 mm minijack, microSD UHS-II reader and power button with fingerprint reader (which works well and is accessible). Slightly wider triggers, smaller rear buttons and more comfortable sticks/crossheads round out a set that keeps the XYAB and the four buttons next to the screen, as well as its 7″ screen with thick bezels, front speakers and microphones on both sides.
Dimensions: 29.0 × 12.1 × 2.75–5.09 cm; 715g.
Screen and hardware
In fact, the 7″ FHD 120 Hz, 500 nits, FreeSync Premium, Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC IPS LCD panel remains, which offers good calibration and tactile responsealthough the brightness can be low when playing outdoors and the level of reflections is high, making it difficult to see clearly in some environments. It is not a bad screen, far from it, but it could have opted for superior technology. Something that works very well, and not exactly a surprise considering ASUS’ track record, is the sound system. The stereo is powerful and immersive, and Dolby Atmos works wonderfully with headphones, providing great immersion.
In specifications, the ROG Xbox Ally Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 3.5 mm minijack, 2× USB4 and UHS-II microSD. AURA SYNC.
Focus on the Microsoft ecosystem
Windows 11 and the new “Xbox experience” optimized for the laptop, which centralizes libraries (Xbox/Game Pass/Steam) and facilitates navigation with a controller, are the immediate incentives of a system that, like everything, has its downside. Running Windows is still not perfect with touch/buttons and needs some attention in the first setup (stores, drivers, etc.). Ideally, open Armory Crate SE right away to take advantage of its unified library and make per-game adjustments (fan, panel color, RGB, and AMD options like RSR and AFMF). From Armory Crate you also map buttons (including the two back ones) and manage captures/clips.
Playful efficiency
Good, but what happens in practice? If ROG Ally already impresses, this Xbox version is not far behind. Even using Performance mode (15W), we have enough power for simple titles with a stable rate of over 100 fps at high quality. ‘Portal 2’ far exceeds 100 fps; ‘Counter-Strike 2′ moves above 60 fps; Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ is around ~40 fps on High and ‘Diablo IV’ or ‘Forza Horizon 5’ can be around ~40 fps on Medium (approximate; depends on version, drivers and settings). Turbo mode (25W) adds fps at the cost of more noise/heat and battery. The Silent setting (10–13W) is for light tasks because it penalizes the frame rate quite a bit. Plugged in, Turbo 30W allows for higher rates (graphics concessions via).
Double battery
The battery was the Achilles heel of the first Ally. Here we go to 80 Wh, with thermal and management improvements (≈ double the original Ally). At 15W and moderate brightness, it’s reasonable to be around 2–3 hours in demanding games; at 25W and high brightness, <2h (still better than the original). Included in the box is a 65W USB-C charger: ~20% in 15 min, ~50% in 40 min; complete in ≈ 2 h. It is advisable to balance when you play on battery and when plugged in.
Conclusion
ROG Xbox Ally For the outstanding, we would need a better screen (OLED), that Windows would be even more friendly to the portable format and that the Xbox/Armoury Crate SE experience would act as the default “layer” from the start. With all this, if you need a portable console with Windows and want to play your PC libraries with good performance and real Xbox integration, go ahead, because right now it is the most complete option in its segment.