Should You Buy the ROG Ally? Blazing Speed Meets Buggy Software and Sticker Shock

Xbox finally has a handheld... sort of. The ROG Xbox Ally is basically ASUS hardware wearing an Xbox jacket, complete with Xbox software touches and, yes, an Xbox button. On paper it promises console-level gaming on the go. In practice, it plays great, but at $599.99 it is a tough sell next to cheaper or similarly priced handhelds that feel better balanced, like the Steam Deck (OLED included). So, should you buy it? Short answer: no.

What it gets right

The screen is a standout: a 7-inch 1080p panel that runs at 120Hz. It looks crisp, it feels smooth, and paired with the AMD Ryzen Z2 A chip, it handles most modern games pretty well. It is also one of the more flexible handhelds in terms of where you can get your games: Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, and more are all supported. Toss in Xbox-style controls and comfy grips, and it is genuinely pleasant for long sessions.

Where it stumbles

Here is the part that does not live up to the spec sheet. That AMD Ryzen Z2 A sounds like a leap over what is in a Steam Deck, but in real-world play it is more of a boosted variant than a true upgrade. Expect differences that often land within about 10 FPS, not some huge generational jump.

The $599.99 base model only includes 512GB of storage. You can make that work if you are careful, but with game sizes being what they are, this price really should include 1TB. Battery life is fine for lighter fare and it charges reasonably fast, but like every handheld, push a demanding game and you will watch the percentage melt.

The software catch

This is the part that feels a little weird: for all the Xbox branding, the Ally does not behave like a true Xbox. The ecosystem is getting cleaner, and most new releases run, but older games often do not work at all. That disconnect is what a lot of early reviewers keep circling back to: the hardware is solid, the comfort is great, but the experience is uneven.

"Feels like an Xbox dream, priced like a nightmare."

The price problem

Performance and comfort get consistent praise. The sticking points are the software quirks above and the price tag. At $599.99, the ROG Xbox Ally lives in the same neighborhood as the Steam Deck line, and Valve’s handheld (including the OLED version) tends to feel more cohesive for the money.

Verdict

As an opening move for Xbox in handheld gaming, the Ally is powerful and promising. But unless you are deeply tied to the Xbox ecosystem, there are better-value options already out there. The overall verdict is cautiously positive, not a clear recommendation. As for the bigger sibling, the ROG Xbox Ally X at $999.99 might change the conversation, but that is a different price tier entirely.

Rebranding aside, this is mostly ASUS hardware with an Xbox-flavored layer on top. If that blend clicks for you, great. If not, the safer play is still the competition. Is the Ally the start of a new handheld battle, or just another niche gadget? We will see.