Updated 4 Nov 2026
Is the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X worth it?
Yes — if you'll pay for the best Windows handheld.
Its Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip runs new PC games faster than the Steam Deck, the controller-style grips are the most comfortable we've seen, and the 80Wh battery lasts about three hours in big games. It boots into Xbox's full-screen mode, which hides most of Windows, and plays Game Pass, Steam and other stores. The 7-inch 120Hz screen is LCD, not OLED, the haptics are weak, there's no case in the box, and it costs about $1,000. ASUS's OLED X20 followed in October 2026 for $300 more.
86%of 66 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Fastest handheld we list
- Very comfortable grips
- Xbox full-screen mode and Game Pass
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What owners say
Owners love its power and having Xbox, Game Pass and Steam games in one place, anywhere. The main complaint is that Windows and its menus take time to learn.
Good to know
- It costs about $1,000 or £800.
- The 7-inch screen is a bright LCD, but not as vivid as OLED, and has no HDR.
- Windows still pops up behind the Xbox mode now and then.
- Weak haptics, and no carrying case in the box.
- Only a little faster than the last ROG Ally X.
From 66 buyer ratings at Currys, Boulanger (France) and Harvey Norman (NZ, Australia), every complaint read by us, November 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Powerful: runs big games wellMentioned a lot
- Xbox, Game Pass and Steam in one placeMentioned a lot
- Play anywhere, in bed or on tripsMentioned often
- Comfortable and well madeAlso mentioned
- Good battery lifeAlso mentioned
What they complain about
- Windows and its menus take time to learnRare
Get it if…
- You play Game Pass and PC games and want them smooth.
- You play for hours at a time.
- You want Steam, Xbox and other stores on one device.
Skip it if…
- You want the best screen for the money: the Steam Deck OLED.
- You already own a ROG Ally X: the gain is small.
- You want simple: Windows still gets in the way at times.
More on the ROG Xbox Ally X
How we reached this verdict
Engadget scores it 88 for strong performance, a bright screen and solid battery, about three and a half hours in a big game, with the price and weak haptics as the drawbacks. Tom's Hardware praises the ergonomics and Xbox mode but notes an LCD that trails OLED rivals and a small gain over the last Ally X, and PC Gamer scores it 84: the best handheld its reviewer had used, at a price hard to recommend. ASUS launched an OLED version, the X20, in October 2026 at $1,299 (HotHardware). Owners at Currys and Boulanger love its power and having Xbox and Steam games in one place; the main complaint is that Windows takes time to learn.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: Engadget, Tom's Hardware, PC Gamer, HotHardware (X20), ASUS (specs), PC Gamer, Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 4 Nov 2026How we decide