The most comfortable handheld gaming PC
What the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X really have going for them are their controls and ergonomics. If you’ve ever held an Xbox controller, you’ll be familiar with what to expect here. There are two textured grips on either side of the device, with asymmetrical sticks and a full complement of buttons. That means a D-Pad, four face buttons, start and select buttons, and stacked shoulder buttons and triggers. There are also two macro buttons around back, plus additional menu buttons for bringing up the Xbox menu, Asus Armoury Crate, or your game library (more on that later). The only thing you’d be missing would be bonuses like the Steam Deck’s dual touchpads, but given that you’ve also got a touchscreen here, most people should have everything they need.
Essentially, when you hold this thing in your hand, it mostly feels like an exceptionally wide Xbox controller with a screen in the middle, which is a pretty high compliment. It can get a little heavy if held at eye level over long gaming sessions, since at 1.58 pounds it’s technically heavier than a Steam Deck, but it also has the most prominent grips I’ve seen on a handheld gaming PC yet, and that does go a long way towards making it more comfortable and natural to hold than the competition.
It’s also an improvement over the more angular, non-Xbox ROG Ally or ROG Ally X, even if it does make the device a little hard on the eyes, and slightly bulkier when storing it away in a bag. It definitely looks and feels more like a dedicated gaming device when placed next to competitors, especially sleeker ones like the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo’s newest console looks more like a luxury tablet, but sacrifices comfort in the process. For a certain type of player, that’s a great first impression, even if it might come across as a little
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X Review: The Xbox Handheld Is Ugly, Buggy, and Underbaked
