ASUS ROG Ally X

The Verdict

The ROG Ally X is the Windows handheld done right — or at least as right as Windows gets. The Z1 Extreme is a beast, the 80Wh battery is the biggest in any handheld, and ASUS's Armoury Crate SE actually works decently as a launcher. It's the mainstream pick for people who want raw power and don't mind Windows jank. Great for emulation AND native PC gaming.

First Thing to Do

1. **Windows updates** — Painful but necessary. Let it churn through every update before doing anything else

2. **Update Armoury Crate SE** — ASUS pushes frequent fixes. Update from MyASUS app

3. **Install Handheld Companion** — Better TDP control and controller mapping than ASUS's built-in tools

4. **Install Playnite** — Unified launcher that pulls in Steam, Epic, GOG, and emulators into one interface

5. **Set Windows to auto-login** — Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Nobody wants to type a password on a handheld

Emulation Setup

→**PS2:** PCSX2 — 3x resolution, no sweat. The Z1 Extreme eats PS2 alive

→**GameCube/Wii:** Dolphin — 3x-4x resolution, full speed everything

→**Wii U:** Cemu — Full library at 1080p. BOTW with 60fps mod runs great

→**PSP:** PPSSPP — Max resolution, perfect

→**3DS:** Azahar — High resolution, zero issues

→**PS3:** RPCS3 — This is where Z1 Extreme earns its keep. Persona 5, Demon's Souls, many titles at 30fps. Don't expect The Last of Us though

→**Xbox 360:** Xenia Canary — Many games playable. Red Dead Redemption works. Halo 3 works. It's game-dependent but this chipset handles it

→**Switch:** Eden or Citron — Most games playable with tweaking. Mario Odyssey, BOTW run well. TOTK needs TDP cranked up

→**Everything older:** RetroArch

Native PC Gaming

Steam in Big Picture Mode is your best friend. The Z1 Extreme handles most games at 720p-1080p medium-high. Elden Ring at 720p 40-50fps. Baldur's Gate 3 at 720p medium 30-40fps. The 1080p screen means you can push resolution higher than Steam Deck. Use FSR or RSR for free performance.

Pro Tips

1. **TDP management is everything** — 9W for retro/PS2 games (4-5 hours battery). 15W for Wii U/PS3 (2-3 hours). 25-30W for native PC games (1.5-2 hours)

2. **The 80Wh battery is the Ally X's killer feature** — You get 1-2 hours more than any competitor at the same TDP

3. **Use GlosSI for non-Steam games** — Maps the controller properly for emulators launched outside Steam

4. **Set Armoury Crate SE as your shell** — It boots directly into a console-like UI instead of Windows desktop

5. **Disable Windows notifications** — Focus Assist > Alarms Only. Nothing kills immersion like a Windows Update popup mid-boss fight

Worth It?

At $799, the Ally X competes directly with Steam Deck OLED at $549. You're paying $250 more for significantly more power, Windows compatibility (Xbox Game Pass, Xbox 360 emulation), and the biggest battery in any handheld. The tradeoff is Windows jank — updates, driver issues, occasional weirdness. If you want power and don't mind tinkering, the Ally X is excellent.