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 value of 900 euros, it is best to think twice about whether or not this handheld is best for you. In any case, we can have extra alternative than ever on the finish of 2025. There are actually dozens of alternate options to the brand new handheld.
One in all these has been in the marketplace for a yr, however is on no account outdated: the Asus ROG Ally X – with out Xbox. With SteamOS put in, the “outdated Ally” seems like a model new system and is my advice if you wish to avoid wasting cash.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 supply 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 specifically:
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 provides a number of benefits:
- Operation is optimized for controllers. A keyboard and mouse aren’t needed.
- The Xbox app can be utilized to launch video games from different launchers, similar to Steam, Epic Video games Retailer, or GOG.
- A brand new multitasking characteristic, harking back to smartphones, helps you to rapidly swap between apps and video games.
- By putting off the Home windows desktop, the hand-held has extra system assets out there for video games.
Glorious ergonomics: Few handhelds match so comfortably in your fingers. With its distinctive grips and huge triggers, taking part in with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X seems like taking part in with an Xbox Wi-fi Controller. Because of its excessive degree of consolation, the burden of 715 grams doesn’t really feel as heavy as you would possibly count on, 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 checks, this mixture fought its method to the highest of my benchmarks. In case you’re searching for a handheld with the very best doable 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 may well 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 appropriate with SteamOS. That is the working system that Steam Deck additionally makes use of. Set up is straightforward due to 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 little interest in reinstalling Home windows.
If the brand new Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is just too costly for you, this mixture 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 be a lot simpler to make use of with the controller, however you may 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 companies. This is among 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 normally 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 ability button and easily proceed taking part in later the place I left off.
Curiously, 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 sport compatibility with SteamOS can 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 even be out there for the Asus ROG Ally X by way of an replace at a later date. So in the event you maintain Home windows 11 put in, you’ll nonetheless profit from an optimized person interface.
Similar nice battery life: In the identical situation, 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 min
- Asus ROG Ally X: 147 min
Each handhelds supply 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 will not be higher in any respect: Each the outdated and new Ally characteristic the identical 7-inch show with 120 Hz, Full HD decision, and VRR. It’s not a nasty display screen, however I might have appreciated to see an improve for the brand new Xbox model.
There are additionally few variations by way of controls. The brand new Asus ROG Xbox Ally X now options the Xbox controller’s so-called impulse triggers. Put merely, which means that they’re outfitted with rumble motors, which make gaming a little bit 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 X | Asus ROG Ally X | |
|---|---|---|
| APU | AMD Ryzen Z2 Excessive | AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive |
| RAM | 24 GB LPDDR5X | 24 GB LPDDR5X |
| SSD | 1 TB NVMe M.2 2280 | 1 TB NVMe M2. 2280 |
| Battery | 80 Wh, 65-watt charging energy | 80 Wh, 65-watt charging energy |
| Show dimension | 7 inches | 7 inches |
| Show decision | 1920 x 1080 pixels | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Refresh fee | 120 Hz (VRR) | 120 Hz (VRR) |
| Panel sort | IPS | IPS |
| Display brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| OS | Home windows 11 with Xbox full display screen | Home windows 11 / SteamOS |
My advice: 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 really like that Home windows is lastly being optimized for gaming and controller operation.
However realistically, its predecessor delivers the same gaming expertise, particularly with the set up of SteamOS. In case you’re at present searching for 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 superb finances different.
I might advocate ready for a sale – the Ally X is commonly on sale for round $730 – or simply shopping for a used system. With the discharge of the brand new model, there can be an increasing number of avid gamers who need to promote the outdated mannequin. Used costs vary from round $450 to $600.
To me, the Asus ROG Ally X with SteamOS seems 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 far more than simply the “outdated” Ally.
