We’ve spent enough time with the ROG Xbox Ally X to say this: it’s no longer just a novelty. It’s a handheld that finally knows what it wants to be.

The original ROG Ally from 2023 was exciting. It was a bold step toward making PC gaming portable. But after a few sessions, it started to feel more like a prototype for what was coming next.

This one? It feels a little more complete.

So, let’s talk about how the ROG Xbox Ally X grips better, plays longer, and why it feels like a proper sequel.

Built for real hands, not show floors

The first touch felt awkward — the kind of feeling you get when you’re not sure how to hold something new. But the longer you hold it, the more it starts to make sense.

The redesigned grips, patterned after Xbox controllers, give it a natural curve that rests well in your palms. It still doesn’t dig in as much as the Legion Go S – my personal preference as of writing – but it’s certainly an improvement.

It’s also subtly heavier than the original, yet the weight works in its favor. The balance feels right. The texture, more grounded. It feels made for long sessions, not quick demos.

This is where ASUS seems to have listened. What was once a bit slippery now feels like an extension of your hands. The matte finish stays clean, the edges no longer bite. It’s a small but significant shift — and one that changes how you use it.

There is one thing I found myself wishing for: a slightly larger, and better (maybe OLED?) screen. The size isn’t a deal-breaker, but with the improved grips and better weight distribution, it feels like the device could comfortably accommodate just a bit more display real estate

Buttons and controls that take some getting used to

The button placements might be an issue for some. You know how in controllers, the little top left and top right buttons closer to the middle — in this case, the screen — are universally the “Select” and “Start” buttons? That’s not how it goes on the ROG Xbox Ally X.

The top left button brings up a Quick Settings version of Armoury Crate SE, while the top right one opens your Game Library. The buttons that function similarly to “Select” and “Start” sit right beneath them. And as far as I’ve checked, there’s no way to remap.

That’s quite a puzzling choice, as any gamer with experience will tell you this runs counter to what most of us are used to. Even now, I still press these buttons by mistake.

For the rest of the controls, the ROG Xbox Ally X follows Xbox’s asymmetrical layout. The face buttons feel tactile and responsive enough, so there’s little to complain about. The joysticks feel good, too — though only time will tell if they’ll fall victim to the dreaded stick drift. Other ROG Ally variants had few reports of this happening, and hopefully that remains the case here.

A battery built for actual gaming

We tested it the same way we tested the original: unplugged, Turbo mode, 25W TDP, NBA 2K Quick Play and a few other titles.

Back then, we couldn’t finish more than a single game and a few minutes of freestyle practice before the battery flatlined.

This time, it’s double that.

Two full games before reaching for the charger — and that’s without dialing down the settings. The new 80Wh battery doesn’t just promise endurance; it delivers it.

The cooling system has also been reworked, quieter yet just as efficient. It’s the kind of update that doesn’t make headlines, but you notice it — or in this case, don’t notice it as much.

Together, these tweaks make the ROG Xbox Ally X something the original never quite managed to be — a handheld that lets you play longer unplugged.

Designed for the Xbox era

The Xbox influence is everywhere, and it’s not just branding. The ROG Xbox Ally X now boots straight into the Xbox app, with the familiar button logo acting as your home key. Press it to launch the game bar and help you navigate your device using just the built-in handheld controls.

It feels less like a PC pretending to be a console and more like a handheld that understands both worlds. Although, it is still very much a compact PC.

You can still jump into Steam, Ubisoft Connect, and back to the Xbox app with ease. The tweaks that Microsoft made certainly make it easier to navigate the device using just the handheld controls. But the feel is still more PC than Xbox console.

Don’t get me wrong — it is certainly better than what the original Ally had to offer. Back then, it felt like ASUS built the hardware and hoped the software would catch up. Now, it feels like both sides have somewhat met halfway.

Performance that respects your time

Under the hood, the ROG Xbox Ally X runs the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip, but ASUS focused on optimizing what surrounds it — thermals, battery management, and storage.

The internal layout has been reworked to accommodate a much larger 1TB M.2 SSD and 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM. These aren’t just specs on paper; they change how the device behaves over time.

Load times feel a tad shorter. Switching between games and platforms/apps is smoother. You spend less time waiting and more time playing.

The fans, too, are less intrusive. You’ll still hear them when pushing the TDP to max, but they no longer spin up as abruptly. The entire system feels calmer — mature, even.

That’s the word that keeps coming back when describing the ROG Xbox Ally X. It’s the same idea, refined by time and feedback.

Software that finally plays nice

Armoury Crate SE still serves a purpose. You can still tweak TDP, fan profiles, and button mapping. It’s the experience that feels most familiar coming from older versions of the ROG Ally.

Meanwhile, Xbox integration makes it easier for casual players to jump in without touching a single setting. The ROG Xbox Ally X adapts to both power users and those who just want to play their preferred games on the couch, in bed, or wherever, really.

The software is designed around how people actually use the device — not how engineers think they might.

Is the ROG Xbox Ally X your GadgetMatch?

What makes the ROG Xbox Ally X a proper sequel isn’t raw power or a single headline feature. It’s the way everything now feels more connected.

The new grip design complements the bigger battery. The improved cooling complements the quieter operation. The tighter Xbox integration complements the way it fits naturally into your gaming habits.

It’s not perfect — the ergonomics could still go deeper, Windows still feels like an awkward fit for small screens, and this particular 7-inch screen could probably use an inch more. 

Overall though, the ROG Xbox Ally X is a Swipe Right. It no longer feels like a prototype or a statement piece. It feels like a handheld built for everyday play.

If the first ROG Ally was the promising first installment, then this one is a proper sequel – one that could pave the way to a blockbuster franchise.

Learn more about the ROG Xbox Ally X here.

WHERE TO BUY.  (PhP 56,995/ USD 999.99)