HandheldPicksROG Ally X Review: 4 Months of Daily Use
⚡ TL;DR
The ROG Ally X is the most powerful Windows handheld available in 2026 and represents a real iteration on the original Ally — bigger battery, more RAM, better build quality. Worth $799 if you specifically need Windows compatibility, Xbox Game Pass, or maximum performance. If you just want to play Steam games, the Steam Deck OLED is a better experience for $150 less.
✓ Verdict: Buy
What people are saying
Sources disclosed below
Pros
- +80Wh battery is a genuine improvement (2x the original Ally)
- +24GB of RAM helps with future-proofing and AAA workloads
- +1080p 120Hz screen is excellent for handheld gaming
- +Full Windows compatibility — every store, every game
- +Better build quality and ergonomics than original Ally
Cons
- −Battery life still falls short of Steam Deck OLED at matched workload
- −Windows 11 is a constant low-grade annoyance
- −Armoury Crate is improved but still buggy
- −Loud fan under sustained load
- −Heavier than Steam Deck OLED
Marcus Chen
Published April 22, 2026 · Updated April 29, 2026
$799–$799
Price may vary. Updated regularly.
What's actually new vs the original Ally
I owned the original ROG Ally for 8 months before switching to the Ally X. Here's what changed in real use:
Battery doubled (40Wh → 80Wh): The single biggest improvement. The original Ally had genuinely insufficient battery life — under 90 minutes for AAA games. The Ally X is usable for travel and away-from-charger gaming.
RAM bumped (16GB → 24GB): Less dramatic but matters for modern AAA titles. Cyberpunk 2077 with FSR 3 frame generation specifically benefits.
Internal layout fixed: The original Ally's SD card slot was directly above the exhaust vent — multiple users (myself included) had cards bricked by heat. The X relocates the slot. Significant reliability improvement.
Build quality: Subjective but real. The X feels less hollow, the buttons have better feedback, the joysticks have less wobble. After 4 months of daily use, no creaking or loose components.
Ergonomics: Slightly larger grips, better balance. I can game for 2+ hour sessions without wrist fatigue, which I couldn't on the original.
Performance: where the Ally X actually shines
The Z1 Extreme APU is the same as the original Ally, but the Ally X delivers more sustained performance because of better thermals and the bigger battery (sustained TDP is more achievable when battery isn't draining as fast).
Tested results at 1080p, medium-high settings, 25W TDP:
| Game | Ally X | Steam Deck OLED |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 42 fps | 28 fps |
| Baldur's Gate 3 | 48 fps | 32 fps |
| Starfield | 35 fps | 22 fps |
| Helldivers 2 | 52 fps | 30 fps |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 41 fps | 26 fps |
The Ally X is meaningfully faster on demanding modern AAA. For 2019-and-before games, both devices hit 60fps and the difference is invisible.
Display: the underrated upgrade
The Ally X uses a 1080p 120Hz IPS LCD. Specs that matter:
- Resolution at 7": 1080p is sharper than 800p, especially for text
- Refresh: 120Hz feels great for fast-paced games
- Color: Decent but not OLED-level
- Brightness: 500 nits, plenty indoors, marginal outdoors
Side-by-side with the Steam Deck OLED, the Deck's display has better contrast, blacks, and HDR support. But the Ally X's refresh rate and resolution advantage matter for some games (Helldivers 2 specifically benefits from 120Hz).
Windows: still the biggest friction point
Asus has improved Armoury Crate significantly since launch. The Game Mode UI is functional, the controller-as-mouse works most of the time, and games launch with minimal manual intervention.
But it's still Windows. In 4 months I've encountered:
- Windows update interrupting a gaming session (twice)
- Game Bar pop-ups during gameplay
- Cortana waking up unexpectedly
- One full system unresponsive event requiring hard reset
- Multiple games requiring manual graphics driver updates
I've configured my way around most of these (disable Game Bar, Cortana, automatic updates, etc.) but it required deliberate setup. SteamOS gives you most of this out of the box.
If you're comfortable with Windows tweaking, this is fine. If you want plug-and-play, this isn't your device.
Ecosystem advantages
What you get over Steam Deck:
Xbox Game Pass: Native, full library, including cloud games. This alone justifies the Ally X for many users.
EA App, Ubisoft Connect, GOG Galaxy, Epic, Battle.net: All work natively. On Steam Deck these range from "requires Lutris setup" to "won't work."
Anti-cheat games: Valorant, PUBG, Apex Legends, Fortnite — all functional. Critical for friends-list multiplayer.
Mod support: Mod managers work natively. Skyrim/Fallout/Bethesda games with extensive mod loads are a clear Ally X win.
Build quality after 4 months
- No creaking or flex
- Joystick centering is still accurate
- Triggers haven't developed any deadzone issues
- Fan is still quiet at low TDP, loud at 25W+
- Battery cycles look healthy in HWiNFO (0.9% capacity loss at ~140 cycles)
No mechanical issues. The Ally X feels like a more mature product than the original.
Who should buy the ROG Ally X
Buy if:
- You play Xbox Game Pass titles regularly
- You want anti-cheat games to work (Valorant, PUBG, Fortnite)
- You play modern AAA at high settings
- You're comfortable with Windows
- You already have a Steam Deck and want a complementary, more powerful device
Skip if:
- This is your first handheld (get a Steam Deck OLED instead)
- You primarily play indie or older games
- Battery life is your top priority
- You want the lowest-friction OS experience
Final verdict
The ROG Ally X is the best Windows handheld available in 2026. It fixes nearly every legitimate complaint about the original Ally and delivers a real performance advantage over the Steam Deck OLED.
But it's a $799 device that targets a specific user — someone who values Windows compatibility and maximum performance over polish and battery life. For most handheld gaming buyers, the Steam Deck OLED at $649 is the better choice.
I keep mine in the rotation specifically for Xbox Game Pass titles, modded Bethesda games, and demanding AAA. For everything else, the Steam Deck OLED comes out of the drawer first.
Sources
- 4 months of personal daily use
- 4,100+ Amazon ratings (averaged 4.3)
- r/ROGAlly community discussion (analyzed 1,340+ posts)
- Digital Foundry, Linus Tech Tips, Hardware Canucks technical analysis
- HWiNFO64 battery and thermal logs
Products covered in this review
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ROG Ally X better than the Steam Deck OLED?
It depends on what you need. The Ally X is more powerful and runs every PC game including anti-cheat titles and Xbox Game Pass. The Steam Deck OLED has better battery life, a better display, and a more polished console-like OS. For most users, the Steam Deck OLED is a better experience. For users who need Windows or maximum performance, the Ally X is the better choice.
How is ROG Ally X battery life in real use?
Expect 2-3 hours for modern AAA games at 25W TDP, 3.5-4.5 hours at 17W for mid-tier titles, and 5-6 hours at 13W for indie games or emulation. The 80Wh battery is a real improvement over the original Ally's 40Wh, but the device's higher power draw means it doesn't match Steam Deck OLED battery life at matched workload.
Should I buy the original ROG Ally or the Ally X?
Buy the Ally X. The original Ally is selling at $400-$500 used, which seems like value, but the X improvements are meaningful: 80Wh vs 40Wh battery, 24GB vs 16GB RAM, better thermals, refined ergonomics, and the SD card slot relocated away from the heat exhaust (a real reliability issue on the original).