Asus ROG Xbox Ally

The ROG Xbox Ally is an interesting entry in the PC gaming handheld space for obvious reasons, but it's not quite a slam dunk. I really like its ergonomic tweaks, and its Xbox integration works solidly. Performance is also a little boosted over the older ROG Ally. But at a high price, it might not be the bolt from the blue Xbox is hoping, and SteamOS machines still have the value advantage.

It's too expensive to buy over a Steam Deck. It's not powerful enough to buy over its more expensive sister console. It doesn't add enough to be worth upgrading from the old Ally to. It doesn't excel at anything, leaving it lagging behind its competitors in every regard.

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally finally makes Windows handhelds as compelling as they should have been in the first place. The Xbox FSE UI is slick and easy to use, while the Full HD screen provides good detail and brightness. Battery life here is okay, and controls are comfortable. The Ryzen Z2A processor is certainly showing its age on a £500/$600 handheld, though.

The ROG Xbox Ally is a modest handheld that offers performance that's more on the level of the Steam Deck, making it one of the most direct competitors to Valve's device. Ergonomic grips, a relatively low cost, silent fans, and a good 7-inch IPS display are all attractive features. However, its modest performance and low storage capacity will not suit everyone's needs. If you're looking for a Windows handheld that's ideal for cloud gaming or running simpler graphics games locally, then this could be a good fit for you.