Asus confirms standalone OLED Ally X; hands-on impressions praise screen and ergonomics

Asus has confirmed that it plans to release a standalone version of its OLED Ally X handheld gaming device, which was previously only offered as a bundle with expensive augmented reality glasses. Company spokesperson Anthony Spence told The Verge that the release schedule is being discussed.

A journalist who spent two hours with the device at Asus’s California offices shared initial impressions. The new model features a 7.4-inch OLED display with 1080p resolution and a peak brightness of 1,400 nits, with an anti-glare coating that significantly reduces reflections compared to competing devices like the MSI Claw 8 EX and Lenovo Legion Go 2. The screen supports variable refresh rate from 30 to 120 Hz, which helps smooth out gameplay even at lower frame rates.

In terms of design, Asus has added rubberized grips for better comfort, redesigned the face buttons to be quieter and more flush with the shell, and introduced a rotating D-pad that can switch between eight-direction and four-direction modes. The device is slightly heavier than the existing Xbox Ally X but remains compatible with third-party accessories.

During hands-on performance tests at 25 watts, the OLED Ally X20 delivered lower frame rates than the MSI Claw 8 EX—44 fps versus 61 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 and 41 fps versus 62 fps in Returnal. However, the Ally’s VRR screen and quieter fan operation were noted as advantages. The journalist also reported that the Intel-based Claw suffered from driver-related stuttering and graphical issues in some games, while the Ally’s AMD chip performed more consistently.

Battery consumption was similar between the two devices, drawing about 36 watts and offering roughly two hours of gameplay with an 80-watt-hour battery. Pricing for the standalone OLED Ally has not been announced, but it is expected to cost more than the current $1,000 Xbox Ally X. Despite the performance gap, the author expressed that the OLED Ally might be the most comfortable and refined handheld available, especially for those willing to pay a premium for display quality and ergonomics.