Asus ROG Xbox Ally Review: A Comfortable Xbox Handheld That Sidesteps Windows Slowdowns at Rs 69,990

Out of the box, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally looks like it belongs on a console shelf. It ships in a large white box with the outline of the device printed on top, matching the white finish of the handheld inside. Its pricier sibling, the Ally X, comes in black. At Rs 69,990, the standard Ally is the first handheld to get full Xbox integration, and India Today's review asks whether that buys a console-level experience.

The question has a history. Handheld gaming has widened well beyond the Nintendo Switch, which runs its own separate ecosystem. The Steam Deck arguably made the category mainstream worldwide, and Asus's ROG Ally, launched in 2023, was one of the first big-name Windows handhelds. It offered portable play with full PC functionality. But like other Windows handhelds, it struggled with optimisation. Windows 11 drained performance in the background, and many owners were frustrated.

The Xbox Ally and Ally X are meant to fix that. The standard model is aimed at casual players who want gaming on the go, while the Ally X targets hardcore gamers. The standard Ally boots straight into the Xbox full-screen interface rather than the Windows desktop, which cuts background processing and drops you into your game library. That library lists every game on the device, including ones not installed from the Xbox store. Other stores such as Steam can be added without trouble, though Xbox titles are the easier path. Buyers get three months of Game Pass Premium free. On the review unit the trial initially failed, and a software update fixed it. Asus says retail units won't have the problem, and another update for battery and performance is due on October 16. Armoury Crate is still here for settings such as resolution and the frame-rate limiter, and a swipe from the bottom switches to a full Windows 11 desktop. The reviewer found that mode ran smoothly but was hard to use with only touch and joysticks, and the device itself recommends a keyboard and mouse.

The hardware changes are mostly about comfort. New grips mimic an Xbox controller and make long sessions easier, and a dedicated Xbox button opens quick settings for network, Bluetooth and audio, along with live CPU, GPU and frame-rate readouts. The layout is otherwise nearly identical to the original Ally, with RGB-lit joysticks. There are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, where the Ally X makes one a faster USB 4 port. A MicroSD slot helps given the 512GB of storage. The white finish picked up marks within a week despite its matte surface, and the cardboard stand in the box feels cheap for the price.

Performance comes from the AMD Z2 A chipset. Asus and Microsoft promise smooth 720p play, and anyone wanting polished 1080p is pointed to the Ally X. The reviewer's time was cut short by the Game Pass problem, but he played Forza Horizon 5, Hogwarts Legacy, No Man's Sky and Halo Infinite. Forza defaults to High at 720p and held around 40fps without noticeable lag. The haptics are present, but the impulse triggers found on the Ally X are not, so racing at 200kmph lacks force feedback. No Man's Sky defaults to 1080p and barely reached 30fps there, but at 720p it stayed well above 40. Minecraft ran at a steady 120fps. Loading times are the weak spot, especially in AAA games. The 7-inch IPS screen isn't the brightest in direct sunlight, but you won't miss OLED, and the speakers are loud and impressive.

Heat is handled well. The fan vents upward, the grips stay at normal temperature and the fan is nearly silent. The 60Wh battery, against 80Wh in the Ally X, gave three to four hours on heavy games, just over three on Forza Horizon 5. For a long flight you'd want the charger. The device also streams YouTube and Prime Video well, docks to a TV for multiplayer, and handles ordinary PC tasks, though the reviewer says demanding work like video editing calls for the Ally X.

The verdict: it costs more than a traditional console, but it targets casual gamers short on time. It delivers the Xbox experience comfortably, and Windows no longer gets in the way. The costs are slow loading, a scuff-prone white body, and the pull of a Game Pass subscription once the trial ends. For those who can afford it, the review calls it worth buying.