Gaming is a big industry, dominated by two form factors, PC and consoles, with mobile gaming really being a different segment altogether. In the past two decades, if you wanted to do hardcore gaming, you could either get a full-fledged console or you could buy yourself a powerful PC.

In recent years, the world of handhelds has expanded, not just limited to the Nintendo Switch, which in itself has a completely different ecosystem. While the Steam Deck arguably made the market mainstream globally, Asus’ ROG Ally was one of the first big-name handhelds on Windows. Originally launched in 2023, the ROG Ally provided a console-level gaming experience with portability, while also providing PC functionality.

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But there were problems. Like every other Windows handheld, the ROG Ally struggled with optimisation. Windows 11 simply took too much performance out of the device in the background, which left many frustrated. Now, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are meant to address this issue while also bringing the Xbox experience to a non-Microsoft device for the first time. While the more expensive Ally X is targeted at hardcore gamers, the standard Ally is aimed at casual players who want the convenience of gaming on the go. But does the ROG Xbox Ally live up to its name? Let’s delve into our full review of the Xbox Ally to find out.

ROG Xbox Ally unboxing and design

The ROG Xbox Ally comes in a quite large-sized box, similar to any major console. The box does reassure you that you have purchased an expensive gaming device with the outline of the device on the top. The Xbox Ally gets a white box, which matches its colour. The Ally X comes in a black box.

Inside, you get the handheld itself.