The upcoming ROG Xbox Ally models are making massive waves in the gaming community, but it seems like Microsoft made a few missteps in communicating the nature of its new handhelds. You see, while the ROG Xbox Ally is an Xbox-branded device, it’s not a console but a proper Windows PC.
The Xbox Ally’s Interface Is Like Game Mode on the Steam Deck
The Steam Deck was also initially mislabeled as a handheld console by many when it was announced due to its controller-friendly interface, which is similar to Steam Big Picture. But the Deck’s Game mode is only one side of the coin.
The Steam Deck also includes Desktop mode boasting the SteamOS desktop environment, which is based on the Arch Linux core coupled with the KDE Plasma graphical desktop environment. In other words, the Steam Deck is a Linux-based handheld PC capable of everything a regular PC can do, not a handheld gaming console.
The ROG Xbox Ally has fallen into a similar trap. In the handheld’s promo material, Microsoft has been focusing on the device’s console-like interface built from the ground up for controllers. But the Xbox-like, controller-friendly environment doesn’t paint the full picture of the Xbox Ally’s capabilities.
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Aside from the console-like dashboard that’s an equivalent to Game Mode on the Steam Deck, the ROG Xbox Ally also includes the Windows 11 desktop interface that’s just a few button presses away.
By default, the handheld boots into what Microsoft calls the “Xbox full-screen experience.” Aside from being controller-friendly, the console-like UI also features a number of under-the-hood optimizations that minimize the number of background processes and tasks, putting gaming front and center.
But this doesn’t mean the handheld is an Xbox console. It’s a standard Windows PC capable of running any PC game with support for every PC game store and launcher, including Steam, EA Play, Ubisoft Connect, GOG, and others. The device runs PC games and connects to PC lobbies for multiplayer titles. As of this writing, the Xbox Ally shouldn’t be able to play Xbox games unless you use emulators like Xemu and Xenia or stream games via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
The Xbox experience shows every PC game that’s installed on the device and plays the role of a unified game launcher. Instead of using half a dozen launchers to play your favorite games, you can launch every game directly from the Xbox-like home screen.
You can also multitask while in handheld mode, and run various PC apps such as Discord, Spotify, or your favorite browser. You can even use a different controller-friendly interface, like Steam Big Picture, instead of the Xbox full-screen experience, if you so desire.
- Dimensions
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28.0 x 11.1 x 2.12 ~ 3.24 cm (11.02″ x 4.37″ x 0.83″ ~ 1.28″)
- Number of Games Included
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1 + Game Pass Ultimate Voucher
Unleash portable power with the ASUS ROG Ally! This premium handheld gaming PC delivers AAA gaming performance, stunning visuals, and seamless compatibility with your favorite platforms. Play anywhere, anytime.
The Full Windows Experience Is a Few Button Presses Away
The ROG Xbox Ally ships with Windows 11 Home Edition which has no hidden limitations. The Xbox full-screen experience is just the default mode you’re going to use when gaming.
For instance, you can switch to the Windows 11 desktop and then launch games from there instead of using the Xbox-like dashboard. Or switch to Windows desktop mode and use the ROG Xbox Ally like any other Windows PC.
If you want to switch to the good old Windows 11 desktop, just press a few buttons and you’re promptly taken to the familiar Windows 11 UI found on millions of Windows laptops and desktop PCs.
The Windows desktop, however, is optimized for mouse and keyboard input. You can navigate the desktop environment using the thumbsticks, touch-screen, and controller buttons, like on the ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and other Windows handhelds. The experience is less than adequate, to say the least.
The subpar Windows experience on PC handhelds is the reason why Microsoft decided to make the Xbox full-screen experience the default UI on the Xbox Ally in the first place.
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The Windows desktop interface is indeed a crucial part of the ROG Xbox Ally package; it simply isn’t the primary mode of operation.
- Dimensions
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11.02 x 4.37 x 1.08 inches
- Brand
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ASUS
The ASUS ROG Ally X (2024) is a handheld gaming PC designed to take your favorite titles on-the-go. With the AMD Z1 Extreme processor and 24GB of RAM, you’ll find that the ROG Ally X packs a punch in the power department. It’s capable of playing games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at over 100 FPS using recommended settings. USB4 and USB-C allow the ROG Ally X to be converted to a desktop through a USB dock, making it even more versatile.
You Can Use the ROG Xbox Ally For PC Tasks Too
Instead of being limited to running games along with a few other uses (web browsing, YouTube, Spotify, Netflix, and other streaming apps) like game consoles are, the ROG Xbox Ally is as versatile as any other Windows PC.
You can hook the handheld to a handheld PC dock, connect peripherals and a monitor, and use it just like you’d use any other PC. Browse the web, type in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, edit photos and videos in Adobe Photoshop and Premiere, download and install Windows apps and tools, download torrents, install emulators like RetroArch—you name it.
You’ll be able to do all these things even without a dock; just be prepared for a good amount of frustration if you don’t have a mouse and keyboard lying around.
Considering that the Xbox Ally packs an AMD CPU and GPU, there’s a good chance you’ll even be able to install Linux distros on it, including SteamOS and Bazzite. I don’t know about you, but slapping SteamOS on an Xbox-branded device promoted by Microsoft sounds so wrong but also so cool.
Yes, the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X are, in fact, full-fledged Windows PCs. Their default mode of operation is the Xbox full-screen experience optimized for controllers, but the classic Windows 11 desktop is also part of the equation. If you’ve been looking for an Xbox handheld console, this probably sounds disappointing.
But if you’re interested in a Windows PC handheld that’s as straightforward to use as the Steam Deck, the Xbox Ally is just what the doctor ordered.
