Game Pass and every PC launcher, console-style
ASUS ROG Xbox Ally
Reviewed by
Eran Yorkovsky · Founder, PickGrade
The value way into Windows handheld gaming. Microsoft's Xbox full-screen interface makes it feel console-like, while Windows runs Game Pass, Steam, Epic, and every anti-cheat game. It's far weaker than the Ally X and the screen's IPS, but at ~$499 on sale it's a steal.
The ROG Xbox Ally is the value benchmark for Windows handhelds in 2026. The Xbox full-screen interface finally makes Windows feel close to console-friendly, booting into a controller-first home screen with Game Pass front and center — while full Windows underneath means Steam, Epic, Battle.net, and every anti-cheat-protected multiplayer game just work. At $599 it undercuts a new Steam Deck OLED by a wide margin, and for players whose library lives in more than one store, the flexibility is worth far more than the spec sheet suggests.
$599
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Last reviewed Jun 10, 2026
What we like
- ✓Full Windows: every launcher, every store, every anti-cheat game
- ✓Xbox full-screen mode makes the interface genuinely controller-friendly
- ✓Native Game Pass with cloud and remote play built in
- ✓Comfortable Xbox-style contoured grips
- ✓Strong value at $599 after rivals' price hikes
Trade-offs
- −Much less powerful than the Ally X for demanding AAA games
- −IPS screen, not OLED
- −Average battery life
- −Still Windows underneath - first-time setup needs updates and drivers, not console-style onboarding
Best for
Game Pass subscribers and players with libraries spread across Steam, Epic, Battle.net, and Xbox — full Windows runs every launcher and every anti-cheat multiplayer game.
Avoid if
Windows on a handheld still means occasional driver updates, pop-ups, and tinkering — if you want zero maintenance, pick a SteamOS device or the Switch 2. Battery life under heavy loads trails the efficiency-tuned SteamOS machines.
The three lenses
How we grade →- 9.1/10
Value & Longevity · Eran Yorkovsky
Score breakdown
- fit9.1/10
- value9.1/10
- quality8.8/10
- ease8.7/10
Specs
- os
- Windows 11 + Xbox Full Screen Experience
- chip
- AMD Ryzen Z2 A
- price
- $599 (often ~$499 on sale)
- memory
- 16GB LPDDR5
- weight
- ~1.48 lb
- battery
- 60Wh
- display
- 7-inch 1080p 120Hz IPS touchscreen
- storage
- 512GB SSD; microSD
How we know
High confidenceLast checkedThe ROG Xbox Ally is the value pick for players who want one handheld that runs everything — Game Pass plus every PC launcher (Steam, Epic, Battle.net) — without paying flagship money. It's a Windows 11 handheld, but the big change versus older ROG Ally models is Microsoft's new Xbox Full Screen Experience: an Xbox-first interface that boots into a console-like library, frees up memory by skipping the full Windows desktop, and makes the device feel far more like a game console than a tiny PC. The hardware is tuned for value: an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a comfortable contoured grip around a 7-inch 1080p 120Hz IPS touchscreen, with a 60Wh battery. In practice that means indies and older titles run great, and many newer games are very playable with settings dialed back. The trade-offs are real: it's noticeably less powerful than the Ally X, the screen is IPS rather than OLED, battery life is average, and because it's still Windows underneath, first-time setup involves updates and drivers rather than console-style onboarding. It frequently drops to around $499 on sale, which makes it one of the best-value ways into PC and Game Pass handheld gaming.
Compare ASUS ROG Xbox Ally with the top alternates side-by-side.
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Other expert reviews
Video reviews
Dave2D — ROG Xbox Ally & Ally X review
From real owners
Human reviews that sharpen our AI grade
- ★★★★★Does the job, mostly
ASUS ROG Xbox Ally mostly does what it says. I can use it, but I would compare a few alternatives before buying.
Alon Hart · Jul 6, 2026
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