Asus' ROG Xbox Ally X20 fixes nearly all my issues with the Xbox Ally X, but you probably shouldn't buy it

Last year's ROG Xbox Ally X got a lot right, and a year after its release, I still think it's one of the best Windows 11 handhelds out there, especially as its competitors skyrocket in price.

Still, it's far from perfect. The handheld features the same 7-inch FHD IPS screen as the ROG Ally X and the ROG Xbox Ally X, including its sizable bezels, which make it look much older than it actually is. After several months of using the ROG Xbox Ally X as my main handheld, I've found it surprisingly uncomfortable, too. Its Xbox gamepad-inspired arms are just a bit too big for my hands, leading to muscle cramps during long play sessions.

On top of that, Windows 11 still isn't a great operating system for handhelds, despite offering out-of-the-box compatibility with a wide variety of games. Whether it's downloading updates from several different locations, keeping your game library updated, or even just getting your handheld to come out of sleep mode consistently, Microsoft's operating system doesn't feel like it belongs on a handheld, despite the Xbox app's best efforts.

This is where the mid-generation Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 update comes in. Originally set to be part of a ludicrously expensive $2,500 premium bundle packed with a pair of ROG XREAL R1 Edition 20 glasses and other case goodies from dbrand, it's now being sold on its own for a still-pricey $1,300. In some ways, the Xbox Ally X20 brings a lot to the table, with its 7.4-inch OLED screen capable of a peak brightness of 1,400 nits as the main draw, alongside other features like a flashy design, a more ergonomic feel, TMR joysticks, and a transforming D-pad.

In many ways, the Xbox Ally X20 is the Xbox Ally X 1.5. It solves several of the original Xbox Windows 11 handheld's key issues, while still sticking with the same Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip, 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and 1TB SSD. And that's the key issue — in a world where the issue-ridden but far more powerful Intel Arc G3 Extreme-powered MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ exists, the Xbox Ally X20 becomes a much tougher sell at this price, especially if you already own the Xbox Ally X or even Ally X.

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 specs, pricing, and availability

The ROG Xbox Ally X20 features AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU (8 cores, 16 threads, up to 5.0GHz) with AMD XDNA NPU (up to 50 TOPS). On the graphics side, the handheld features AMD's Radeon Graphics (16 RDNA 3.5 cores). Memory and storage are 24GB LPDDR5X and 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD, respectively.

The handheld's display is a 7.4-inch FHD 1920x1080 16:9 OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate and 100% of the DCI-P3 color range. More screen specs include Dolby Vision, VRR support, and peak HDR brightness of 1,400 (600 nits in SDR). Along with grippier arms, the ROG Xbox Ally X20 features TMR joysticks, a transforming D-Pad, and a glowing Xbox button.

Other key specs include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, USB 4 Type-C (Thunderbolt 4 / DisplayPort 2.1), USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD Express card reader. The handheld's battery is 80Wh. Lastly, the ROG Ally X20 measures 11.81x4.76x1.08-2.02 inches(30.0 x 12.1 x 2.75-5.13 cm) and weighs 26.7 oz (756 g).

The ROG Xbox Ally X20 launches on October 15th for $1,300 (the 20th Anniversary Bundle costs $2,500).

Say hello to the ROG Xbox Ally X 1.5

The ROG Xbox Ally X20 features a great-looking OLED screen and a very comfortable design

The first thing I noticed about the ROG Xbox Ally X20 is how good its larger 7.4-inch OLED looks. Blacks are deeper, and whites are brighter, all while every other color is blindingly vibrant. Still, diminishing returns apply here.

Yes, the Xbox Ally X20's screen looks undeniably better than the Ally X's LCD panel, but even with HDR enabled (which supports 1,400-nit HDR peak), it's not the massive leap some OLED fanatics make it out to be. To put it in perspective, I wouldn't upgrade from the Xbox Ally X to the Ally X20 just for the OLED screen. I felt the same way about the move from the Switch to the Switch OLED model, and the jump from the Steam Deck to the Steam Deck OLED.

On the other hand, I really appreciate the extra 0.4 inches over the Xbox Ally X's 7-inch screen. On paper, it might not seem like much, but it creates a more immersive experience. Before using the ROG Xbox Ally X20, my main handhelds were the Switch 2 and its 7.9-inch LCD (for the record, it looks awful at times thanks to its ghosting issues), and the ROG Xbox Ally X with its 7-inch display.

Despite its better-looking screen, I found myself preferring that roughly extra inch of screen real estate. The ROG Ally X20 and its bigger screen fix that problem. Lastly, on the display front, the handheld features FreeSync Premium Pro, allowing it to drop to 30Hz compared to the ROG Xbox Ally X's 48Hz. This lets the handheld sync its display to lower frame rates, reducing screen tearing and stuttering. The difference is really subtle, but since I play a lot of AAA games at 30fps, I've appreciated this improvement.

I'm also a big fan of the Xbox Ally X20's overall look. Its smoky, translucent black shell offers a very cool glimpse at the hardware underneath. It looks like a throwback to the 2000s era of see-through devices in the best way and is undeniably eye-catching. The gold Xbox 20th Anniversary accents and glowing Xbox button give the handheld a welcome extra dash of flash, too. Other upgrades I like are the rubberized grips and wider build, which make the ROG Ally X20 easier to hold and ditch the weird hand strain I felt with the Xbox Ally X.

The handheld also has TMR joysticks now. They feel a bit smoother than the Xbox Ally X's sticks and, in theory, should also reduce the chance of stick drift. Sticking with that theme, the face buttons have a lower profile, making them a bit easier to press. Overall, the Xbox Ally X20 feels far more polished than the Xbox Ally X. It really seems like Asus took all the criticism surrounding the Xbox Ally X's design to heart.

On the other hand, the transforming D-Pad is a bit strange. The concept is that it lifts and spins for games better suited to a diagonal profile, just like the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller. The issue is it doesn't seem to lock into place and keeps turning when in a diagonal position, making the transforming feature kind of useless. This feels like an odd misstep on an otherwise very well-thought-out handheld.

A year later, the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme feels a bit dated

The ROG Xbox Ally X20 still offers a more stable software experience.

My biggest issue with the ROG Ally X20 is that its internal hardware feels like it's a generation behind. That said, AMD's Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme is still fine. Even with new titles like Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, you'll get frame rates in the 25-30fps range, depending on your in-game graphics settings. However, with a handheld like the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and its newer, more powerful Panther Lake Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip, you'll get 50-60fps with the same in-game settings. Overall, MSI's lofty claim of a 44% higher frame rate in select games compared to the Ryzen Z2 Extreme is surprisingly accurate.

Of course, the Claw 8 EX AI+ has other issues, like a less polished software experience, but it's still worth considering if you're thinking about buying a Windows 11 handheld right now. At $1,300, the Xbox Ally X20 is undeniably pricey, but it's also $500 less than the far more future-proof Claw 8 EX AI+. That is a big difference, of course, but if you plan to keep the handheld for several years or use it as your main gaming device, it's a factor you should think about.

That said, we don't know when AMD's Ryzen Z3 Extreme (or how it will compare to the Arc G3) and ROG Xbox Ally 2 will be released or even revealed. Given the ongoing memory crisis, both could still be years away. On the other hand, while I still think the ROG Xbox Ally X20's Windows 11 experience could be better, it's still the most polished you'll find there right now.

The Xbox app works great, and once I set up and started using Quiver, a retro game PC port launcher, and RetroBat, an emulator front end, I rarely feel the need to dive into Windows 11 for anything. The same goes for Asus' Armoury Crate. That said, it would be great if all the Xbox Ally X20's settings were available in the Xbox app, giving users one unified location for everything. Still, Armoury Crate works fine and is generally very reliable.

On the battery life front, which I know is on a lot of people's minds given the upgrade to an OLED panel, it seems to come in at pretty much the same as my experience with the Xbox Ally X. This means that how long the handheld lasts varies depending on how hard you're pushing it with the game you're playing.

In most cases, I got about two hours from the ROG Xbox Ally X20, which is very comparable to my experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X. On that note, I also found the handheld runs a bit cooler thanks to its slightly larger fans, but the difference is pretty minor. I only noticed it during long gaming sessions.

Should you buy the ROG Xbox Ally X20?

You should buy the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 if:

• You really care about the minor upgrades an OLED display offers
• You're not interested in shelling out the extra money for an Intel Arc G3-powered handheld

You should not buy the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 if:

• You're hoping for the ROG Xbox Ally X20 to be a big leap
• You already own the ROG Xbox Ally X.

The ROG Xbox Ally X20 is my favorite handheld I've ever used, surpassing the original Xbox Ally X and even the Switch 2 as far as I'm concerned. It's just difficult to recommend buying a new device with last year's chip at this price point, especially as more Intel Arc G3-powered handhelds release in the coming months.

We might be years away from the Xbox Ally X 2, but that doesn't mean new worthwhile competitors haven't entered the space. I also don't think it's a worthwhile purchase if you already own an Xbox Ally X, unless you really care about an OLED screen. The new display looks better, but not that much better.