Opinion: The Asus ROG Ally X with SteamOS is my insider tip for 2025.
The brand new Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is right here! At a worth of 900 euros, it is best to think twice about whether or not this handheld is best for you. In spite of everything, we may have extra selection than ever on the finish of 2025. There at the moment are dozens of options to the brand new handheld.
One in all these has been available on the market for a yr, however is under no circumstances outdated: the Asus ROG Ally X – with out Xbox. With SteamOS put in, the “previous Ally” looks like a model new gadget and is my suggestion if you wish to avoid wasting cash.
What’s the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X?Asus and Microsoft have collectively developed two handhelds that run on Home windows 11 however provide a brand new full Xbox expertise. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, the black mannequin, is supplied with quicker {hardware} and a bigger battery.
What makes the brand new Asus ROG Xbox Ally X so particular?
4 options stand out particularly:
Full Xbox expertise: The brand new Asus ROG Xbox Ally X launches the brand new Xbox app with out loading the Home windows desktop. This presents a number of benefits:
Operation is optimized for controllers. A keyboard and mouse should not essential.The Xbox app can be utilized to launch video games from different launchers, reminiscent of Steam, Epic Video games Retailer, or GOG. A brand new multitasking function, harking back to smartphones, helps you to shortly change between apps and video games.By putting off the Home windows desktop, the hand-held has extra system assets accessible for video games.
Glorious ergonomics: Few handhelds match so comfortably in your fingers. With its distinctive grips and huge triggers, enjoying with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X looks like enjoying with an Xbox Wi-fi Controller. Because of its excessive degree of consolation, the load of 715 grams doesn’t really feel as heavy as you would possibly anticipate, however it’s nonetheless noticeable after some time.
Excessive gaming efficiency: Inside the brand new Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is the brand new AMD Ryzen Z2 Excessive chip. It has 24 gigabytes of RAM at its disposal. In my exams, this mix fought its technique to the highest of my benchmarks. If you happen to’re in search of a handheld with the best potential efficiency, it is best to put the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X in your shortlist.
Lengthy battery life: The big 80 Wh battery, mixed with environment friendly {hardware}, ensures lengthy battery life. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X lasts about 150 minutes in triple-A video games with an influence consumption of 17 watts. With lighter indie titles, it might even final three to 4 hours.
My insider tip: The predecessor with SteamOS
For a number of months now, the Asus ROG Ally X has been suitable with SteamOS. That is the working system that Steam Deck additionally makes use of. Set up is straightforward because of the directions from Valve, set up may be very straightforward.
I’ve been utilizing this on the Ally X for 2 months now and have no real interest in reinstalling Home windows.
If the brand new Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is just too costly for you, this mix offers you an nearly equal handheld for much less cash.
SteamOS is user-friendly: SteamOS has been optimized for handhelds from the bottom up. When navigating menus, launching video games, or switching between apps, I by no means want a mouse or keyboard.
The brand new Xbox full-screen expertise on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X can also be a lot simpler to make use of with the controller, however you possibly can nonetheless inform that the app was initially designed for mouse management. The controller optimization was clearly added later.
Much less is extra: SteamOS is lean, resource-efficient, and does away with pointless background providers. This is without doubt one of the explanation why the older Ally X with SteamOS comes surprisingly near the efficiency of the brand new Xbox variant, regardless of having barely weaker {hardware}. The distinction is often solely 10 to twenty p.c. nbsp;
A standby mode like on consoles: The standby mode works simply as reliably on SteamOS as I do know it from the Steam Deck or the Nintendo Swap: press the facility button and easily proceed enjoying later the place I left off.
Apparently, this additionally works flawlessly on the brand new Xbox Ally X to date. Asus and Microsoft have made some important enhancements right here.
What if SteamOS isn’t for you? Though recreation compatibility with SteamOS will probably be higher than ever in 2025, there are nonetheless some video games that can not be performed on this working system.
The Xbox full-screen expertise may also be accessible for the Asus ROG Ally X by way of an replace at a later date. So for those who preserve Home windows 11 put in, you’ll nonetheless profit from an optimized consumer interface.
Identical nice battery life: In the identical state of affairs, Management with 17-watt TDP, 80 p.c brightness, and 60 p.c quantity, each handhelds lasted nearly the identical period of time.
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X: 150 minAsus ROG Ally X: 147 min
Each handhelds provide sufficient endurance to play on the go with out worrying about battery life. On prime of that, nonetheless, the predecessor is barely extra compact.
In some respects, the brand new handheld just isn’t higher in any respect: Each the previous and new Ally function the identical 7-inch show with 120 Hz, Full HD decision, and VRR. It’s not a foul display screen, however I’d have preferred to see an improve for the brand new Xbox model.
There are additionally few variations when it comes to controls. The brand new Asus ROG Xbox Ally X now options the Xbox controller’s so-called impulse triggers. Put merely, which means they’re geared up with rumble motors, which make gaming somewhat extra immersive.
The remainder of the controller options are similar, so we’re not lacking out on something with the older handheld on this regard. Sadly, this additionally signifies that the brand new Asus ROG Xbox Ally X nonetheless doesn’t have Corridor impact sticks.
Comparability of an important {hardware} specs
Asus ROG Xbox Ally XAsus ROG Ally XAPUAMD Ryzen Z2 ExtremeAMD Ryzen Z1 ExtremeRAM24 GB LPDDR5X24 GB LPDDR5XSSD1 TB NVMe M.2 22801 TB NVMe M2. 2280Battery80 Wh, 65-watt charging power80 Wh, 65-watt charging powerDisplay size7 inches7 inchesDisplay resolution1920 x 1080 pixels1920 x 1080 pixelsRefresh rate120 Hz (VRR)120 Hz (VRR)Panel typeIPSIPSScreen brightness500 nits500 nitsOSWindows 11 with Xbox full screenWindows 11 / SteamOS
My suggestion: A brilliant Steam Deck for much less cash
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X might lay the muse for the way forward for Xbox, and I like that Home windows is lastly being optimized for gaming and controller operation.
However realistically, its predecessor delivers an analogous gaming expertise, particularly with the set up of SteamOS. If you happen to’re at present in search of a quick gaming handheld with lengthy battery life and discover the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X too costly, then the Asus ROG Ally X is a wonderful finances various.
I’d suggest ready for a sale – the Ally X is usually on sale for round $730 – or simply shopping for a used gadget. With the discharge of the brand new model, there will probably be an increasing number of avid gamers who need to promote the previous mannequin. Used costs vary from round $450 to $600.
To me, the Asus ROG Ally X with SteamOS looks like a brilliant Steam Deck: extra energy, extra flexibility, however the identical intuitive operation.
If you wish to get monetary savings in 2025 and nonetheless personal among the best handhelds, it is best to give its predecessor an opportunity.
It’s way more than simply the “previous” Ally.
