ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, First Impressions: The “consolization” of gaming handhelds has finally arrived

In a world where the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and other portable platforms are beginning to establish themselves in the market, ASUS’s ROG Ally line of portable consoles takes another step forward with the arrival of two models that perfect the gaming experience away from the desktop: the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X. Both devices not only offer the versatility of a Windows operating system but also integrate artificial intelligence and optimizations designed for gamers seeking the best performance without sacrificing comfort.

The fundamental difference between this and other portable consoles on the market lies at its core: by running Windows, the Ally goes beyond just gaming, allowing users to work, browse the internet, view multimedia content, and much more. In addition, its interface is designed to integrate directly with the Xbox platform, making it easy to access the game library.

What new features does this design offer?

ASUS has placed special emphasis on design to achieve ergonomics that evoke the familiarity of an Xbox controller. The grip has been improved to provide a more comfortable feel during longer gaming sessions, with a button and joystick layout that maintains the DNA of Microsoft consoles.

On the technical side, the screen is one of its strengths. Both models have a resolution of 1080p with 500 nits of brightness, ensuring excellent visibility, even outdoors. To protect this quality, they feature Corning Gorilla Glass, which prevents scratches when carrying the device in backpacks alongside sharp objects. To ensure long-lasting performance, heat dissipation is crucial. The ROG Xbox Ally uses a dual-fan system with liquid crystal polymer blades that prevent dust from sticking and ensure constant airflow, preventing ventilation obstruction regardless of the playing position.

Performance and battery: how do the models differ?

The difference between the Ally and the Ally X lies in their internal components, which directly affect performance and battery life.

We have not yet been able to determine the battery life, as we have not been able to test it properly because the final software for managing power settings was not yet available.

Connectivity

It guarantees a steady internet connection by supporting Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 6E (2x2). The ROG Xbox Ally X, on the other hand, advances significantly by incorporating USB Type-C ports that are compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and DisplayPort 2.1/Power Delivery 3.0. This feature pushes performance possibilities beyond the portable arena by enabling you to attach future external graphics cards or even displays with resolutions up to 8K in addition to high-speed external devices.

In addition, the ROG Xbox Ally X incorporates artificial intelligence technologies, such as AMD FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), for image rescaling. This means that if a game does not reach the optimal frames per second, the AI can generate additional frames and thus achieve high visual definition without placing such a heavy demand on the processor.

First impressions of the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X

Thanks to the units provided by Xbox and ASUS, we were able to interact with both devices. We found the ROG Xbox Ally very attractive aesthetically and perhaps one of the most interesting models in terms of performance. Although we were only able to try Hollow Knight: Silksong, we liked that the console didn’t overheat, that it was very quiet, and that the audio was spectacular.

In the case of the ROG Xbox Ally X, we were able to interact with it for longer hours by installing it directly from the Xbox Game Pass library:

However, we also install the following from the Steam library:

With all these games installed, we still had 148 GB of space left on the SSD. In performance mode, virtually all games ran smoothly in Full HD, some with medium graphics, others with low graphics, and there were a few surprises that ran with maximum graphics. It’s important to note that we didn’t monitor average FPS because, during these tests, we didn’t have the final version of Armoury Crate SE, which allows us to manage the resolution, voltage, and other functions of the ROG Xbox Ally X.

What we can say is that, like the ROG Xbox Ally, it generates very little heat, even compared to the ROG Ally X, and the sound is truly extraordinary. It is also worth noting that the initial setup process is much faster than that of the ROG Ally X or any other laptop of this type. This is where Microsoft’s great work in optimizing the operating system really shines through.

We will now continue analyzing the platform, since, at the time of completing these first impressions, the final software update has arrived, with which we will carry out the definitive analysis.

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