Design and Features
The Asus ROG 20th-anniversary lineup, characterized by black, gold, and indulgent designs, includes products like the Azoth Extreme Edition 20 and ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20, which feature actual gold and carry a premium price tag.
Despite potential criticisms, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20's premium cost appears justified by its significant upgrades. These include a new OLED screen that is larger and brighter than the IPS panel in the standard Xbox Ally X, along with TMR thumbsticks, refined triggers, an enhanced cooling system, and a rapid 0.2 ms response time for the display.
The device as a whole feels refined, benefiting from a year of development since its predecessor. Its software is smooth and intuitive, allowing for easy switching between Xbox and Windows modes, though the experience remains distinctly PC-like rather than console-like. While considered the best ROG Ally currently available by the source reviewer, the prevailing memory crisis has impacted the pricing of gaming hardware, making the X20 a less competitive value proposition.
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20, a 20th-anniversary edition, carries a $300 price increase that reflects its luxurious upgrades. While these additions are appreciated, the cost is substantial for what remains a largely familiar package.
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 represents a granular update to the Xbox Ally X. A side-by-side comparison reveals that performance remains identical, as both devices share the same core specifications: a Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, 24 GB LPDDR5X memory, and 1 TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 storage.
Without a performance increase, the X20's appeal lies in its detailed refinements. Its most significant upgrade is arguably the OLED panel, described as a 'beauty' by the source reviewer. The DisplayHDR True Black 1400 certification ensures a bright and ultra-vibrant display. The larger screen enhances immersion but also contributes to the device's increased size and bulk.
While the joysticks in the original ROG Xbox Ally X can be upgraded with a TMR module, installing an OLED screen is a complex task. The source review acknowledges the value in the X20 as an upgraded and refined version of its predecessor, noting its new cooling system designed for lower temperatures.
Further refinements include a D-Pad that can be adjusted for button prominence, deeper grooves on the face buttons to prevent sharp edges, and a combination of more tactile bumpers and smoother triggers. These enhancements contribute to the X20's thoughtful design, a necessity given its higher price point.
The X20 is not bundled with a charger, a decision aligned with e-waste reduction efforts. However, this means users may experience suboptimal plugged-in performance without a sufficiently powerful charger. The source reviewer noted that using a standard charger prevented the device from reaching its full 35W mode during testing.
Included with the X20 is a cardboard stand, which, while not matching the device's luxurious feel, is described as clean, effective, and environmentally conscious. The source reviewer found this to be a small yet useful addition.
Performance and Thermals
The original Asus ROG Xbox Ally X briefly held the title of the highest-performing gaming handheld available, a position it maintained until the introduction of the more expensive MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM.
Despite its later release, the X20 offers no performance increase, featuring identical specifications to the original Xbox Ally X. The source review's performance figures largely align with previous tests of the standard model, with slight variations observed in games like Metro, Horizon, Cyberpunk 2077, and F1 25.
With the GPU memory budget set to 8 GB and the device in 35W Turbo mode, the source reviewer reported a positive experience playing F1 24, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Metro Exodus without upscaling. Cyberpunk 2077 achieved a borderline 40 fps, but Black Myth Wukong required upscaling or frame generation for a playable experience.
These performance scores are respectable and sufficient for current handheld gaming. The AMD Z2 Extreme chip remains a strong performer, though it is not the absolute leader. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM, featuring an Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor, delivers a 20-40% performance uplift in comparative game testing, but it also comes at a nearly 40% higher cost in the US market.
The ROG Ally X20 performs exceptionally well when its wattage is reduced to between 15W and 20W. This setting effectively preserves battery life, maintains low thermals, and significantly reduces fan noise, making it ideal for less demanding games.
Ergonomics and Controls
The X20 is described as an exceptionally comfortable handheld device. It features a subtle cutout between the screen and grips, allowing for a natural resting position for fingers, while the new rubberized grips provide excellent traction and a secure hold.
The X20's controls demonstrate Microsoft's expertise in controller design, featuring satisfyingly tactile buttons, responsive thumbsticks, and easily depressible bumpers and triggers that provide reassuring haptic feedback.
A notable omission is a trackpad, which the source reviewer found to be a drawback. While Windows 11 mode is functional, it feels less intuitive without a dedicated mouse control. Although the left analog stick can control the mouse via Armoury Crate, it lacks the precision and smoothness of a trackpad.
Trackpads are uncommon on most gaming handhelds, with exceptions like the Legion GO, Steam Deck, and certain GPD and Ayaneo devices. Integrating a trackpad into the ROG Ally X20 would likely necessitate design compromises affecting button placement and overall feel.
Weighing 756 grams, the X20 is not a lightweight device, but its excellent balance allows for extended play sessions without causing fatigue, according to the source reviewer.
Audio Quality
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 operates very quietly, distinct from its capable speakers which can reach high volumes. Even at 35W, the X20's fans remain unobtrusive, and they are particularly well-tuned between 15-20W. At 25W, game audio in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 easily masks any fan noise.
While not entirely silent, the X20's fan noise during Elden Ring gameplay was quieter than an idle PC across the room, an impressive feat that contributes to a comfortable user experience in public settings.
Equipped with two front-facing speakers, the X20 delivers decently tuned audio at sufficient volume levels. It also includes a top-mounted headphone jack and Bluetooth compatibility, though the latter may introduce latency with some wireless speakers.
Asus states the X20 features an 'evolved ROG intelligent cooling system' with a new internal channel and high-flow fans. In practice, this system delivers cool thermals. The source review's intensive benchmarking in 35W Turbo mode never saw the CPU temperature exceed 79 °C, which is a significant 17 °C lower than tests for the standard Xbox Ally X.
The source review also observed a lower maximum CPU package power of 48W, compared to 55W in the previous model, indicating refined software-based power management.
While custom wattage modes could increase device temperature, the source reviewer suggested a long-term custom mode of around 20W with peaks up to 30W, and a GPU RAM allocation of up to 10GB for more intensive games.
Even under peak thermal conditions, the source reviewer reported minimal heat felt in the palms, indicating a low risk of throttling. This thermal headroom also provides confidence for manually increasing clock speeds. During intensive gaming at 25W in titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the CPU temperature rarely exceeded 68 °C, which is impressive.
Software and User Experience
The Xbox mode on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 functions effectively, booting into a streamlined interface that allows direct game launching from the Xbox UI. This provides simplified access to games, bypasses typical Windows 11 startup processes, and avoids associated performance overhead.
Despite its Xbox branding, the device remains a PC for gaming. Launching a Steam game from the Xbox app, for instance, will first load the Steam client. While functional, this experience is not as seamless as a dedicated console and more closely resembles Steam Big Picture Mode. The Xbox library now integrates titles from platforms like Steam and Epic, minimizing the need to access the full Windows environment for gaming.
The X20 includes several bundled software applications, which contribute to its ease of use as a gaming handheld. Armoury Crate SE enables on-the-fly device adjustments and software updates, alongside the Xbox app. As a Windows device, it also includes typical bloatware such as Copilot and Clipchamp, which users may choose to remove.
The X20 features the same 80 Wh battery as its predecessor, a robust capacity for a gaming handheld that strikes a good balance between power, size, and weight.
During PCMark 10's gaming battery life test, the X20 achieved nearly three hours at 17W in Windows Balanced mode and 2 hours and 9 minutes in 25W mode. This indicates typical endurance for highly intensive games, with longer durations expected for less demanding titles.
In day-to-day use, the source reviewer found the battery life satisfactory, noting that playing a game like Graveyard Keeper for nearly five hours left the device with 40% charge. For indie games, the Ally X20 can deliver up to nine hours of use, which is commendable given its performance capabilities.
A significant aesthetic change distinguishes the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 from its standard predecessor. The new device features a black and yellow color scheme, with RGB thumbsticks defaulting to yellow, golden highlights, and a subtly transparent casing that reveals some internal components when held to light.
Aside from the new color scheme and an LED in the Xbox button, the X20 largely retains the Ally X's design, including its Xbox-etched front and tasteful branding. The rear features a gold commemorative ROG 20th-anniversary plate, consistent with other anniversary products like the Azoth Extreme Edition 20 and Asus ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20.
The new OLED screen boasts a peak brightness of 1,400 nits, making it suitable for outdoor use. This surpasses competitors like the Lenovo Legion Go 2 (1,000 nits) and OneXPlayer 3 (1,100 nits), though those models offer higher refresh rates. The source reviewer noted its extreme brightness, even causing discomfort when used in a dark room.
The X20 features a VRR display with a refresh rate ranging from 30 to 120 Hz, ensuring smooth handling of varying frame rates with minimal stuttering. The source reviewer found the display to be exceptionally smooth and visually stunning.
The X20 model commands a $300 premium over the standard X, offering an OLED screen, improved thermals, a refreshed aesthetic, and TMR thumbsticks. While these constitute luxurious and well-considered upgrades that enhance the device, they diminish its overall value for the average consumer.
Equipped with the Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip and 24 GB of LPDDR5X memory, the device is formidable for most games. However, its pricing creates an awkward market position: the same core performance is available for $300 less without the X20's extras, while a top-tier competitor offers superior performance for $400 more. The source review notes that for UK consumers, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM presents a more compelling option for only £100 more.
The market for handheld gaming devices under $1,000 is shrinking. Even the 512 GB OLED Steam Deck, priced at $789 new, features a 2023 Zen 2/RDNA 2 chip that was not considered a powerhouse at its release.
The initial $1,000 price tag of the original Xbox Ally X was met with surprise, yet the escalating memory crisis has made such pricing seem more reasonable. While the X20's $300 premium for additional upgrades depends on individual priorities, the source reviewer acknowledged that the extra cost is visibly invested in the device's enhancements.
