Xbox has had a rough few years — studio closures, price hikes, cancelled exclusives. The ROG Xbox Ally X is Microsoft's bet on what comes next. But does it actually deliver? And can it dethrone the Steam Deck as the go-to handheld for gamers? Let's break it down.
Watch the Full Breakdown https://youtu.be/2Pj0tKh8uhU?si=if7MOeretI_2hDwx
What Is the ROG Xbox Ally X?
The Ally X is a Windows-based gaming handheld running something called Windows FSE (Full Screen Experience)—a special edition of Windows optimized for handheld play. It strips down background OS processes on boot to free up RAM for gaming and loads you straight into an Xbox-skinned interface. It feels like an Xbox — until an update dialog box reminds you it's still very much a Windows PC.
Game Library: More, But With Catches
This is where the Ally X gets complicated. You can't play every Xbox game you own. Only Play Anywhere titles (like Gears of War 5) cross the divide between console and PC. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers also unlock Xbox Cloud Gaming for titles like Assassin's Creed Shadows. Out of the box, you do get 3 months of Game Pass Premium — a solid head start. Plus, being a Windows PC, Steam and Battle.net are fully accessible.
Build, Feel & Display
At ~750g (about 1.5 lbs), the Ally X is chunky but comfortable. The textured Xbox-etched grips distribute weight well and won't slip even mid-snack session. The 7-inch 120Hz IPS display is mounted at a slight angle, which Xbox claims enhances viewing. It's not OLED — and at this price point, that's a fair criticism — but in everyday use, it's genuinely fine.
A few design quirks: the menu/start buttons sit awkwardly around the right thumbstick, the Armory Crate and Xbox home buttons are essentially redundant, and the back buttons sit just a bit too far for smaller hands.
Performance: Ally X vs Steam Deck
The Ally X earns its stripes here. In turbo mode (plugged in), it hits 62 fps on Cyberpunk 2077 at medium settings at 1080p—something the Steam Deck simply can't match. But turbo mode requires a power source, and juggling performance modes manually is a chore. Windows pop-ups mid-session don't help either.
The Steam Deck, by contrast, keeps gaming neatly compartmentalized from desktop mode—desktop only appears when you ask for it. It's also more moddable, has a stronger community, and a significantly lower price tag.
The Bottom Line
Choose the ROG Xbox Ally X if performance and PC/Xbox game library access are your top priorities.
Choose the Steam Deck if you want a reliable, affordable, community-backed handheld without the tinkering tax—especially a used one while you wait for next-gen iterations.