a powerful handheld PC tied to a battered brand : NPR

Technology maker ASUS is struggling to meet demand for its new ROG Xbox Ally Xreleased Thursday. After testing the review portable gaming PC, I can attest that it is a powerful, albeit expensive, alternative Steam deck. But it's also compromised by Microsoft's unpopular change in gaming strategy, and it doesn't quite fit into the niche I was hoping for.

This is (not) Xbox

The Xbox brand is in crisis. Latest generation sales fall far behind PlayStation 5: Demand falls further after tariffs prompt Microsoft owner raise prices for consoles. Meanwhile, the company is also trying to expand the Xbox brand beyond such flagship devices.

Recent”This is Xbox“The ad campaign portrays everything from phones to laptops to smart TVs as capable of playing high-quality games. Xbox Game Pass. But this subscription service, long advertised as the “best deal in gaming” sparked controversy when Microsoft raised the price of its fanciest tier to a staggering $30 per month. Microsoft presented the change as an update as it also added a slew of games to the service.

But shortly after this announcement, the Xbox membership site went down, which social network users attributed to angry fans rushing cancel Game Pass subscriptions. A Microsoft spokesperson later said the issue was “caused by an isolated technical issue and is not related to high traffic or cancellations.”

The Xbox Ally X and its less powerful brother Ally (without the “X”) couldn't have arrived at a stranger moment. Neither comes cheap; Ally X retail price $999and Ally for $599. Ultimately, they feel more like intriguing half-measures than real breakthroughs.

Unboxing

I reviewed the original ROG Ally in 2023 and its improved sequel, Ally Xin 2024. Each one was essentially a tiny laptop with joysticks and buttons attached, and they had all the flexibility and inconvenience of a Windows PC.

My fingers struggled to get a comfortable grip on the sides of the Xbox Ally X, as they ended up getting caught between the controller's grips and the blocky edge of the device.

James Mastromarino

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James Mastromarino

ASUS positions the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X as simpler options. Turn on your computers and they will default to “Full Screen Mode” and your latest games will be at your fingertips. Press the big Xbox button next to the left joystick and you can switch between apps, settings, or the normal Windows desktop view.

But the Xbox Ally X still isn't the mobile console I wanted. It took several updates and reboots before I could sign into my Xbox account. When I did this, I couldn't even play most of my Xbox library—instead, I could only stream those games over Wi-Fi from my Xbox Series S, making Ally more like PlayStation Portal and less like a console in itself.

Luckily, I was able to download mine”Xbox on PCWhen I finally fired one up, everything went pretty well. No, I couldn't put the device to sleep during a game and reliably pick up where I left off, like I could with most consoles. But the Xbox Ally X runs games that don't play well on the Steam Deck, even better than the 2024 Ally X model from the famously intense Cyberpunk 2077 before the new one Silent Hill f.

You will feel all this power – literally. The Xbox Ally X is much thicker than the Steam Deck or the slender console. Switch 2. This large size comes with a huge battery and short controller handles that I found more awkward than ergonomic.

Comparison of the thickness of the Xbox Ally X (bottom), OLED Steam Deck (center) and Nintendo Switch 2 (top) handheld gaming devices.

James Mastromarino

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James Mastromarino

Bottom line

I'm obsessed with new gaming gizmos, but I only ended up choosing the Xbox Ally X when my Steam Deck couldn't handle the game. Despite the flexible interface, it cannot be picked up and put aside for a few minutes.

It also looks less profitable now than even last month. Before the Game Pass price increase, the Xbox Ally X had proven itself to be a mobile alternative to a full-fledged gaming PC, especially since every purchase comes with a 3-month Game Pass Premium subscription. Tech fans with money will still find plenty to enjoy, but they alone won't save the Xbox brand and likely won't usher in a new era of portable gaming.