Updated 4 Nov 2026
Is the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally worth it?
Yes — for Game Pass on the go without paying for the Ally X.
It shares the Ally X's controller-style grips, 7-inch 120Hz 1080p screen and Xbox full-screen mode, with a slower Ryzen Z2 A chip, 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage and a 60Wh battery. Reviewers found it about as fast as a Steam Deck in big new games, so they need low settings, and at launch it looked pricey. Valve's 2026 rise changed that: at about $600 or £500 it now costs less than a Steam Deck OLED and plays Game Pass too.
87%of 54 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Same comfortable grips as the Ally X
- Xbox full-screen mode and Game Pass
- Bright 120Hz 1080p screen
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What owners say
Owners love having Xbox, Game Pass and Steam games in one comfortable, Xbox-style handheld. The main complaint is that it struggles with big, demanding games.
Good to know
- Its Z2 A chip is about Steam Deck speed, so new big games need low settings.
- 512GB fills quickly with big PC games.
- Windows still pops up behind the Xbox mode now and then.
- A big body for a 7-inch screen.
From 54 buyer ratings at Currys, Boulanger (France), Takealot (South Africa) and Costco (US), every complaint read by us, November 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Xbox, Game Pass and Steam in one placeMentioned a lot
- Comfortable, like an Xbox controllerMentioned often
- Runs their games wellMentioned often
- Well madeAlso mentioned
- Easy to use once set upAlso mentioned
What they complain about
- Struggles with big, demanding gamesOccasional
Get it if…
- You want Game Pass on a handheld for less.
- You play indie, older or lighter games.
- You want the Ally X's comfort without its price.
Skip it if…
- You want the newest big games to run well: get the Ally X.
- You want the best screen: the Steam Deck OLED.
- You want simple: Windows still shows through.
More on the ROG Xbox Ally
How we reached this verdict
T3 found nice ergonomics, decent power and solid Xbox integration, over five hours of battery when set up well, but a big body for the screen and a high price next to the old Ally, calling it not quite a slam dunk. Expert Reviews' review in progress praised the controls, bright accurate screen and sound but found Steam Deck-level speed in new games. PC Gamer called its $600 price ludicrous for that speed in October 2025, before Valve raised the Steam Deck OLED to $789. Owners at Currys, Boulanger and Takealot love the comfortable Xbox-style grips and Game Pass; the main complaint is that it struggles with big, demanding games.
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: T3, Expert Reviews, PC Gamer (Ally X review), ASUS (specs), PC Gamer, Engadget, Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 4 Nov 2026How we decide