A year on from launch, the Xbox Ally X remains expensive, but sharper upscaling and stronger software support have made its powerful hardware easier to justify.
A year after its launch, the Xbox Ally X still looks like one of the more accomplished handheld gaming PCs on the market, but its value now rests on more than its raw hardware. Windows Central says the device, developed with ASUS and powered by AMD’s Z2 Extreme chip, has gained a meaningful second wind from AMD’s FSR 4.1 upscaling technology, which is now being rolled out across Xbox hardware and, according to the site, is already available to test in beta driver form on the Ally family. The result, in supported games, is sharper image quality and more room to push performance settings without the soft, blurred look that older quality modes could produce.
That matters because the Xbox Ally X was never a cheap device. At launch, it sat at around the $1,000 mark and was positioned as the most powerful handheld of its class. Windows Central’s re-review suggests that price is easier to justify now than it was then, not because the machine has changed physically, but because the software and graphics stack around it has improved. In titles such as Warhammer 40,000: Darktide and Control, the publication says the new upscaling mode noticeably improves clarity, while demanding games can still be driven into the 40 to 60 frames-per-second range at 1080p when the device is set to its higher-power modes.
The battery has also held up reasonably well, at least in the hands of a regular user. Windows Central says the handheld can still deliver roughly four to five hours in its 13W silent mode on less demanding 2D games, and around two to three hours in 17W performance mode on heavier titles. In turbo mode, endurance falls to about an hour. The review also notes that the device’s battery-care settings can be used to limit charging to roughly 80 per cent, a sensible approach for users who want to reduce long-term wear, especially on a machine intended for frequent travel or nightly use.
The less convincing part of the experience remains Windows 11 itself. The review argues that, while the hardware is solid, the operating system still feels incomplete in a handheld or docked living-room setup. Basic navigation can still require a mouse, controller focus can be lost when the device is connected to a television, and the Xbox PC app remains clumsy by comparison with the cleaner interfaces that handheld users often expect. Microsoft is preparing a broader refresh to the Xbox app, and Windows refinements are also on the way, but Windows Central says the device still feels as though the user is helping to test the software as much as enjoying it.
Even so, the conclusion is strongly positive. Windows Central argues that the Xbox Ally X remains one of the best options for players who want a Windows-based handheld with enough power to handle modern games well, especially for those with a substantial Xbox Play Anywhere library. The site expects the machine to remain viable for several more years, helped by the fact that its current hardware is already strong enough for demanding releases and by the likelihood that FSR 4.1 support will spread to more games over time. For players who want one device that can serve as a handheld console, a docked PC and an emergency work machine, the verdict is that the Xbox Ally X still makes a persuasive case for itself.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
