Xbox has been the topic of many a debate in the video game community recently. The price hikes, Game Pass shenanigans, and porting their exclusive games to PlayStation have left a lot of gamers confused as to what Xbox is doing. One thing that hasn’t changed over the past couple of months is the excitement for Xbox’s first handheld, the ROG Xbox Ally. I was interested in this new handheld until I saw the price. The X version (the one with the best specs) would set you back $1600 AUD, which is a lot of money to spend on a console of any kind. I didn’t know if I could justify the price, but PAX Aus has provided the perfect opportunity to try out this new handheld and see if it’s worth that massive price tag.
The most pressing question I had before trying the system out was whether it could actually run Xbox Series X games. I got my answer immediately as I jumped into a race in Forza Horizon 5, running natively on the system without a hint of a load time. Ok, maybe there was like a second, but I barely noticed it. Similarly, I didn’t experience any stuttering, input delay, or any other issues you associate with poor optimisation; this shit was smooth. I was also able to quickly switch between Forza, the home screen, and other games seamlessly, creating a user experience that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The handheld controller's layout is basically an Xbox controller with a screen in the middle, and it works. After refreshing myself with the Xbox control scheme, I found the Ally X intuitive to hold and play. I also appreciated the inclusion of adaptive triggers, even if they are only available on the X model. All of this to say, the ROG Xbox Ally X is what it has been advertised to be: an Xbox Series X turned into a handheld.
The team may have turned an Xbox Series X into a handheld, but is it viable as an everyday handheld system? From my time with it, I would certainly say it has potential. The system is both lighter and heavier than I expected, landing in a somewhat middle ground that felt just right for a handheld of its size. It also has a nice texture to the system, allowing for better grip while playing. The touch screen is also a fun feature, allowing for multiple ways to navigate the intuitive UI.
I asked the booth attendant what the main difference was between the ROG Xbox Ally X and the non-X version. From his PR spiel, he said the non-X version would be ideal for people who casually play games or play relaxing games like Stardew Valley. He then went on to say that the X is for “serious gamers” and that it’s the best choice. He went on to specify things like the X having adaptive triggers and a better battery life. Tbh, I kinda rolled my eyes a bit at this spiel, as it was very much marketing jargon, but I do see the appeal of having such a powerful machine on the go, so maybe it’s not all marketing talk.
And now we are at the big question of this preview: is the ROG Xbox Ally X worth the $1600 AUD price tag? After trying the system for myself and chatting with the booth worker, I’m hesitant to say yes. I don’t doubt that there is a market for this type of system that will buy it no matter what, but for someone who owns a Switch and PS5, I don’t see the reason to dump $1600. There aren’t any games exclusive to the system that could justify that price to me, because Xbox has been big on putting their games on everything. That’s good, as more people get to play their games, but it also means the ROG Xbox Ally X has less appeal to me. Exclusives aren’t the be-all and end-all, but when I’m putting down $1600, I’d like a unique experience that I can only get on the system, aside from the novelty.
And that’s the other thing, unless you’re already in the Xbox ecosystem, this is just a novelty (maybe even for die-hard Xbox fans). Cause I mean, yeah, it’s a technological marvel that this thing exists, but once the novelty is gone, you’re left with a very expensive handheld that has no experiences unique to it. At least with a Switch, I have Mario, and with a PlayStation, I have Astro Bot, but Xbox just doesn’t have that, and I think that hurts the ROG Xbox Ally X more than anything. This is an issue I have with Xbox as a whole, and it certainly impacts my willingness to pick up a ROG Xbox Ally X. Maybe I’ll consider it if there’s a price drop, but it’s still a no from me for now.
The ROG Xbox Ally X is a phenomenal handheld. It runs great, feels good to hold, and is jam-packed with features that make it one of the best handhelds on the market… on paper. Despite all the positives, the price tag and lack of any exclusive experiences make it a tough product to recommend. I’m happy for the people who are excited for this next Xbox hardware release, but I might pass on the ROG Xbox Ally X for now (cut the price, plz!)
Will you be picking up an ROG Xbox Ally? What games do you want to play on it? Is it too expensive? Let us know in the comments where we can talk all things Xbox.
