not all it seems, but a great portable PC

Of course, the sticks, buttons, triggers and touchscreen make it feel more like a console than a PC when actively gaming, and there are three main things the Xbox Ally X excels at over most other Windows handhelds, including ASUS.

First, the Xbox-inspired grips and large, textured triggers make for a very comfortable device. Ergonomically, it looks like Microsoft and ASUS have collaborated to make the best of both worlds between their machines. Aesthetically, it’s a little too ROG for my personal taste. It would be nice if it looked more like an Xbox device visually.

Xbox Ally lets you port games from Steam, Epic, and other stores to the Xbox app, so you can ditch Windows altogether.

Second, Microsoft has introduced a viable software solution for using Windows for handheld gaming. My biggest problem with all previous Windows-powered handhelds is that trying to use the operating system with just a small touchscreen and no keyboard or mouse is unbearable. Here the system boots into a custom full-screen version of the Xbox app. You can purchase games from the Microsoft Store or other supported apps (including Steam, Epic, and GOG), browse apps you own or have installed, browse the Game Pass subscription library, and launch any game without leaving that console-like interface.

Third, it is extremely powerful. As with all PCs, you’ll inevitably find yourself tweaking the settings to achieve your preferred balance of fidelity, performance and battery life, but it’s a more pleasant experience here than on other Windows handhelds, and you’ve got plenty to spare. The default profile uses 17W of power, which is a good option for getting four hours of continuous gameplay from a less demanding game. But switch to turbo mode (25W on battery, 35W plugged in) and it’s a performance beast.

There are other elements of the system that I don’t find as positive. The display is 1080p with 120Hz refresh, which is similar to the sound you want for video games. But it’s a 7-inch, 16:9 LCD panel with no HDR support, meaning it looks small and dull compared to most of its rivals. For example, while the Steam Deck OLED has a much richer display, its lower resolution and 90Hz refresh are perfectly suitable for handheld devices.

I also find ASUS’s arsenal software rather lacking, and it clashes with Microsoft’s overall better experience here. I was able to do basics like changing the RGB lighting, configuring the gyroscope for motion controls in games, and setting power profiles, but it all feels too complicated and needs to be integrated into the Xbox app. Speaking of which, the top priority for software teams should be to consolidate all system updates (across Windows and ASUS stuff) into one spot, because that’s a headache right now.

Jump into games

I love playing on consoles because all the optimizations and settings are done for you. That’s never the case on PC, but things are getting better.

Brand new loading The Outer Worlds 2 The game measured the hardware on the Xbox Ally X and loaded an appropriate profile that appeared to be designed to run it at 60 frames per second. It worked, and players less annoyingly dedicated than me might not have changed anything, but I could see this using an ugly and aggressive AI upgrade. With some tweaks I got it looking great and running at 30 frames. For a 35W turbo, it can do 60 when plugged into power.

Games from at least five years ago tend to be the best experience because you can only run them at high settings. I played the 2019 version Resident Evil 2 It was both gorgeous and smooth. Cyberpunk 2077 it also hit 60 frames per second mostly at high settings.

Balancing the need for repair is the computer’s great flexibility. You can stick to the Microsoft Store and if you have Game Pass, you’ll have hundreds of games to play instantly. But you can also access anything you buy on Steam or get for free from Epic.

If you want to play games from stores not included in the Xbox app, you’ll need to switch to full Windows mode; This works, although it’s still annoying to navigate. Frankly, some PC games are designed to work with a mouse and keyboard, and there won’t be great experiences there. Both Steam and the Microsoft Store have verification systems that will alert you to these issues before you buy. Or you can connect a mouse and keyboard. (And a screen and a Bluetooth headset, it’s a PC after all.)

In most games, you can pick up where you left off on PC or console. However, you can also use Ally as a console by connecting it to a TV.

If you’re coming from an Xbox console, you might be wondering what the move to PC means for you, and the truth is, it depends on your library. If you play mostly from Game Pass and any games you purchase support Play Anywhere (a Microsoft feature that gives you the right to play games on console and PC when you purchase them on both), your games may arrive. Most have cloud saves that automatically sync between the Microsoft Store and the Xbox console, so your progress is protected.

However, there are gaps in this system. For example, I own Star Wars Outlaws It’s on Xbox, but it doesn’t support Play Anywhere, so I’ll have to buy it again on PC to play locally on Ally. Older games, such as games originally released on Xbox 360, are also rarely available on the PC Microsoft Store. If available, you must purchase them from Steam and save data will not be transferred.

Microsoft’s temporary measure on this issue is streaming. Game Pass subscribers can stream supported games from the cloud to their Ally, and these are Xbox console versions. So technically I can play both outlaws and the 2010s Long live Pinata As long as I have stable internet, I will use Ally.

Overall, although the Xbox Ally X is expensive, its approach to Windows gaming is a huge improvement, and its performance and battery life are quite impressive. With Microsoft now releasing its games on all platforms and planning to use a similar Windows approach for future consoles, I expect Ally will benefit from software improvements and future ways to play Xbox console games on PC.

But even if its problems have never been resolved, this is an excellent portable gaming machine, especially if you’re interested in keeping one foot in the Xbox ecosystem while exploring other PC options.

[Disclosure: ASUS provided an Xbox Ally X for evaluation, on a loan basis]

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