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Vue lecture

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The Xbox Ally, with its 1080p, 120Hz display and comfy grips, is putting the Steam Deck on notice — and it's now just below $490 instead of $599

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
It's the end of January, but we've found a major discount to close it out in style for portable handheld gaming users. The critically-acclaimed Xbox Ally, whose performance and hardware is on par with the iconic Steam Deck, is now on sale with a 18% discount.

Xbox Ally on its back with the default Windows background showing the ASUS ROG logo and the Xbox logo.

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Valve's Steam Deck suffers the same problem as the Xbox Ally, and the solution might be a modern manufacturing impossibility — Sony nailed it 16 years ago

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
Par : [email protected] (Ben Wilson)
Handhelds are a modern marvel, but they're getting way too big. Is the PSP Go an example of what we should have done, or is that space filled by smartphones?

Sony PSP Go handheld resting above a Steam Deck on a purple card stock background

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If your Xbox or ROG Ally is running hot or stuttering, disabling CPU boost is an easy fix that can make games feel noticeably better — here’s how to do it

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
CPU Boost is useful for short tasks, but during gaming it can limit GPU power. Here is a guide on how to disable it and when it makes sense to do so.

An Xbox Ally X with cartoon arms drawn flexing behind it.

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Steam Deck's biggest competitor is now just $489 — Enjoy Xbox and PC titles on the go with this gaming handheld for Christmas

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
The Xbox Ally, the Xbox spinoff of the critically-acclaimed ASUS ROG Ally gaming handheld, has received a 30% discount sale as part of Amazon's Super Saturday event.

Xbox Ally on its back with the default Windows background showing the ASUS ROG logo and the Xbox logo.

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My top 14 handheld games I played in 2025 — Indies and AAA titles I recommend for Steam Deck, Xbox Ally X, Legion Go 2, and more

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
Par : [email protected] (Rebecca Spear)
I played dozens of games on my handheld gaming PCs this year, but 14 of them stood out from the crowd. Here are my favorite games I played on handhelds this year.

Various video game characters coming out from an Xbox Ally X that is floating on a colorful background.

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OPINION: The Xbox Ally X handheld is too rough for me right now, but I see the vision — and I'm still extremely excited for Xbox's next-gen

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
The Xbox Ally X offers powerful handheld gaming, yet early setup issues, software problems, and what I call "jank" show it needs serious refinement before it can shine.

A closeup of the ROG Xbox Ally X's D-Pad, Xbox button, and joystick.

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This latest handheld gaming PC channels the spirit of one of my all‑time favorite smartphones, blending nostalgia with power

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
Par : [email protected] (Richard Devine)
AYANEO makes some pretty wild portable gaming devices, and in 2026 it's going to be making its first phone. 15 years on, we're finally getting a spiritual successor to the Sony Xperia Play.

AYANEO Pocket Play gaming smartphone

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ROG Ally makes a stronger case than Xbox Ally X as the handheld gift gamers should grab this holiday

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
Par : [email protected] (Rebecca Spear)
There's no denying that the Xbox Ally X is expensive. If you still want a solid gaming handheld but don't want to pay that much for one, the original ROG Ally is the device to consider, not the Xbox Ally.

An ROG Ally with a winking face and a finger pointing to it and a Legion Go with a winking face and a finger pointing to it. Behind them is a wooden table with pine needles, pine cones, holly berries, and holiday lights.

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JerryRigEverything proves you absolutely need a case for your Xbox Ally X — and dbrand just discounted its Killswitch ultimate upgrade

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
Par : [email protected] (Sean Endicott)
JerryRigEverything's teardown of the ROG Xbox Ally X highlights its plastic construction, making a protective case like dbrand's discounted Killswitch a must-have.

dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch Thmbgrip

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Legion Go 2 vs original: side‑by‑side photos reveal key design upgrades

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
Par : [email protected] (Rebecca Spear)
I took dozens of pictures comparing the physical design differences between the Legion Go 2 and the original Legion Go. See how these handheld gaming PCs compare.

Lenovo Legion Go 2 and original Legion Go lying on their backs with their screens off.

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The ROG Xbox Ally X and the Legion Go 2 seem to be approaching upgradability extremely differently — and it could hurt one of them in the long run

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
Par : [email protected] (Rebecca Spear)
After opening a Legion Go 2, I've discovered a big difference between it and the Xbox Ally X. It seems Lenovo is clamping down on upgradability, while ASUS ROG is leaning into it.

A closeup of the left controller while connected to the Lenovo Legion Go 2.

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Borderlands 4 on Xbox Ally X — my unscientific testing shockingly shows it MIGHT be possible to play on the latest handheld gaming PC

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
Par : [email protected] (Richard Devine)
I don't have an Xbox Ally X yet, and even if I did, I couldn't talk about it. But I am curious if Borderlands 4 might play on it, so I tried — unscientifically — to figure it out.

ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X (black) and ROG Xbox Ally (white) in a glass display case at Gamescom in August, 2025.

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The Xbox Ally X is a bargain, actually — ASUS and Microsoft's gaming handheld is a better deal than Steam's most popular desktop PC

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
Par : [email protected] (Ben Wilson)
The Xbox Ally X is a promising collab between ASUS ROG and Microsoft, priced at a surprisingly reasonable £799.99 in the UK. Here's why I'll ditch my Steam Deck for this premium handheld.

Xbox Ally X (front) and Xbox Ally (back) in a display case

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The best "Steam Deck killer" launched months ago, but you still can't buy this Windows 11 handheld — are tariffs to blame for another fumbled competitor?

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
Par : [email protected] (Ben Wilson)
Handheld gaming keeps expanding, and MSI's Claw 8 AI+ emerged as a powerful contender. Unfortunately, stock shortages and inflated prices leave me frustrated.

MSI Claw 8 AI+ handheld with a red background, behind 'Notify Me' and 'Sold Out' banners.

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Has ASUS lost its marbles? This 'Bulwark' handheld dock is $140 — spend that cash on a better ROG Ally instead.

✇Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
Par : [email protected] (Ben Wilson)
ASUS ROG's sturdy design sensibilities contrast with a shockingly high price, leaving the Bulwark Dock to undoubtedly struggle against affordable alternatives.

ASUS ROG Bulwark Dock (2025) on a pink card background

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