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ROG Xbox Ally X: The Best Inventions of 2025

Find out why ROG Xbox Ally X is on TIME's list of 2025's best inventions.

time.com

Gaming habits have become more portable, and the ROG Xbox Ally X is ASUS and Microsoft's response to the trend. The two companies partnered to build a powerful handheld console that's designed to meet players across platforms. "It would have been easy mode for us to make another walled garden," says Jason Beaumont, vice president of Xbox experiences at Microsoft. "But [players] wanted to be able to play their games regardless of where they came from." Launching in October, the handheld can play compatible games from across a user's PC or Xbox library. And because the device runs Windows 11, it can play PC games from third-party storefronts, too.

Buy Now: Xbox ROG Ally X on Amazon

 

[Ozzie666]

It doesn't play xbox console games behind their walled garden. It makes it sound like it does. What is an XBOX library? so fucking confusing for general public.

 

[LectureMaster]

 

[DreamcastSkies]

I do want one eventually.

 

[R3TRO]

Mine got delayed a month because I changed it to store pick up...

 

[Mister Wolf]

It's a nice portable. Too bad I already bought the Legion Go Steam recently or I would be all over one. Want to see how Microsoft Auto SR v2 stacks up against FSR 3 and XeSS.

 

[j0hnnix]

 

[nial]

Congratulations, Jonney Shih.

 

[LectureMaster]

My man Adam digging every cranny and nook onthe internet to find positive news about Xbox:

 

[Lambogenie]

Any of the Chinsse handhelds is more innovative than this...

 

[viveks86]

Nice! I wonder how much they charged for the feature

 

[Jigsaah]

Hopefully this get folks to clamor to buy this before Christmas. I need to flip mine. I'll buy it again, but it will be technically cheaper because I was willing to wait.

 

[poodaddy]

How the hell is a portable computer an invention?

Valve, come get your boy.

 

[RoboFu]

 

[SJRB]

 

[Hugare]

Someone at Time right now:

 

[ReBurn]

 

[Codes 208]

It doesn't play xbox console games behind their walled garden. It makes it sound like it does. What is an XBOX library? so fucking confusing for general public.

Xbox has their own store front on pc, my guy.

Just about every first party digital xbox one/SX games are cross-buy between console and pc

 

[DarkShadowXI]

Is it really that much more different than the ROG Ally X to be named an invention of the year?

They added grips, a new chip that's slightly more powerful than the last one, and slapped on a new UI that nobody has really used yet.

We have yet to see how revolutionary it really is yet. Will it even be a smooth experience or are we going to be beta testing the thing?

I almost bought one myself (ended up with Legion Go S Z1), but is it really one of the "inventions of the year"? We've had these for a while now.

Sounds like it was a really quiet year…

 

[BennyBlanco]

I already bought the Legion Go Steam recently

how do you like it? Xbox ally with the 7 inch display is just too small imo

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

Did people just not invent anything else this year?

 

[SJRB]

If you actually buy a Rog Xbox Ally there's a high chance you are legit retarded and you should get yourself checked out by professionals.

 

[Topher]

 

[That Damn Kid]

 

[DarkShadowXI]

how do you like it? Xbox ally with the 7 inch display is just too small imo

That's one of the reasons I opted out of the Xbox Ally X.

I also got a Legion Go S Z1 SteamOS! Feels like a Steam Deck 2. Been very happy with it. It's got a comfortable grip to it.

It is on the heavier side (I wouldn't go any heavier than this), the fans are audible on performance mode, and the battery life isn't that great, but that hasn't affected how I personally use it. YMMV.

8 inch screen is the sweet spot.

 

[reinking]

 

[rkofan87]

ROG Xbox Ally X: The Best Inventions of 2025

Find out why ROG Xbox Ally X is on TIME's list of 2025's best inventions.

time.com

time has lost it

 

[Holammer]

Must be a slow news year for technological innovations.

 

[Topher]

ROG Xbox Ally X: The Best Inventions of 2025

Find out why ROG Xbox Ally X is on TIME's list of 2025's best inventions.

time.com

Funny that their affiliate link to Amazon doesn't even link to the Ally X. It's to the cheaper Rog Ally.

 

[Buggy Loop]

My man Adam digging every cranny and nook onthe internet to find positive news about Xbox:

My man my man my man my man mymanmymanmymanmyman

Give it a fucking break already.

 

[adamsapple]

time has lost it

 

[Topher]

My man my man my man my man mymanmymanmymanmyman

Give it a fucking break already.

LectureMaster you've got a stalker.......my man

 

[Mister Wolf]

how do you like it? Xbox ally with the 7 inch display is just too small imo

I like it a lot. BUT I would rather have a Windows based device and now that the Full Screen Experience has made Windows portable gaming more viable this seems worthwhile to me. I dont want to deal with Linux and I buy games from any store that has them the cheapest so being relegated to only Steam fucking sucks. I might give this Legion Go to my cousin and just buy this. As soon as the Xbox ROG Ally X gets the Auto SR update I'll likely pull the trigger on impulse to buy.

 

[LectureMaster]

My man my man my man my man mymanmymanmymanmyman

Give it a fucking break already.

 

[iHaunter]

Checked cleared? This is absolutely not a new invention. They just threw Win 11 on the Ally. Overpriced crap.

 

[simpatico]

Holding out for the Zotac PhaseSlab

 

[Magic Carpet]

I kind of want one. But my launch lcd SteamDeck is still hanging in there.

 

[LectureMaster]

LectureMaster you've got a stalker.......my man

My man buggy is a good person, always backing up his green rats fellows. But I am not giving in my stance with Adam.

 

[analog_future]

It's a nice handheld at a reasonable price compared to the competition.


Unfortunately the competition are literally selling tens of thousands of units.

t's an extremely, extremely niche device that is not going to move the needled for Xbox in any meaningful way.


The Switch 2, in a few months, has already sold more than this thing is going to sell over it's lifetime.

 

[The Fartist]

 

[//DEVIL//]

Nothing was innovative this year, so they gave it to this garbage?

fuck even the GPD5 is better than this.

 

[Topher]

Nothing was innovative this year, so they gave it to this garbage?

fuck even the GPD5 is better than this.

I'm not even sure how Xbox Ally X qualifies as an "invention". What is it doing that we haven't seen before?

 

[Geometric-Crusher]

lol

 

[Mr Moose]

They invented the Xbox button.

 

[mitch1971]

What was 2nd place, the wheel?

 

[adamsapple]

What was 2nd place, the wheel?

It's a series of items they did, I just posted the one GAF would find the most interesting.

It's not a ranked list.

 

[Edgelord79]

Holy Moses, seriously? Talk about no research done whatsoever.

 

[consoul]

So this is what it means when they say Time is Money.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Strong portable gaming handhelds are in

 

[bender]

I'm not even sure how Xbox Ally X qualifies as an "invention". What is it doing that we haven't seen before?

It's an Xbox you can find on store shelves?