Xbox ROG Ally feels like a premium handheld that delivers on performance

Published: Aug 21, 2025, 11:23

White ROG Xbox Ally handheld with the Xbox App showing on the screen

Dexerto

I spent about 30 minutes with the Xbox ROG Ally at Gamescom, and my overriding impression was that it feels very premium.

The build quality is high and the 7-inch screen is generous, with the promised crisp detail and smooth performance to boot. While it is comfortable to hold, this is not a small handheld by any means – at around 670g for the standard model and up to 715g for the Ally X, it carries more weight than many of its rivals, and you can feel that.

I was impressed with how the device delivered in tests with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 and Forza Horizon 5. Both looked sharp, and Forza in particular stood out with its sweeping vistas that are usually suited to much larger screens, but there was more than enough real estate here to enjoy it anyway. After getting acclimated, I was sucked in just like I would be on a console or PC.

White ROG Xbox Ally on the left, Black ROG Xbox Ally X on the right

A cool feature is unlocked with a long press of the Xbox button, which brings up an app switcher while your game continues to run seamlessly in the background. I was switching apps while Tony Hawk continued rolling around on his skateboard.

One issue I had was accidentally pressing the back buttons labeled M1 and M2. These are remappable to anything you want, so perhaps avoid mapping them to anything that would be disastrous if you accidentally bumped them.

Overall, the ROG Ally felt like a luxury device that delivers on performance and design. The price point will be the key factor, and given how premium it feels, it will be no surprise to me if the cost reflects that.