ROG XBOX ALLY X

Could this Asus/Microsoft collab be the handheld to hold out your hand for?

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It's taken a while, but Microsoft is finally getting serious about handhelds. Up to now, Windows 11 and portable gaming went together like oil and water; the desktop UI was just too fiddly on a small touchscreen. But with Asus hardware and a tailor-made interface, the ROG Xbox Ally X might have enough mainstream appeal to convince console owners to give PC-based gaming a go.

Effectively an Xbox-approved tweak to the formula that Asus established with the original ROG Ally X (see p53), this Windows handheld will set you back more than a top-spec Steam Deck OLED; but based on some early hands-on time, there are a few things the Ally X does better than Valve's trendsetter.

Let's go grippin'

There's plenty of Asus DNA still on display here, but the Xbox Ally X also proudly wears its Microsoft influences. Two grips that look like they could've come straight off an Xbox One controller now flank the 7in screen, giving you lots more to grab onto. It instantly feels more comfortable than the standard Ally, and sits more naturally in the hands than the Asus-flavoured Ally X.

It’s far chunkier than a Nintendo Switch 2 as a result, but still feels smaller than a Steam Deck. There's a resemblance to Sony's PlayStation Portal streaming handheld, only the Ally is considerably heavier because of the extra hardware needed for on-device gaming.

Otherwise you're getting a similar control layout to the Asus Ally, with a brace of (satisfyingly clicky) face buttons and pair of offset analogue sticks with an RGB underglow. The triggers have gained haptic feedback, which is a big deal as it brings the gameplay experience that much closer to playing on an Xbox console.

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