The new ROG Xbox Ally just got its biggest update yet, and it could be a game-changer

If you’ve got an ROG Xbox Ally or ROG Xbox Ally X and haven’t installed the latest system update, now is the time. The new software is a major boost to both of the new Asus and Microsoft handhelds, offering quality-of-life improvements such as boosts to battery life and performance, making them much more capable competitors to the market-leading Steam Deck.

This is the most significant update since the launch of the two Xbox-branded handhelds last month, and it’s likely intended to solve some of the issues users have reported in the first few weeks of using the devices. The full patch notes also point to some bug fixes, which is understandable given how the new Steam Deck alternatives are, which should improve power consumption on standby for the ROG Xbox Ally and Impulse Trigger haptics on the premium Xbox Ally X.

Funnily enough, we actually highlighted the battery life of the more expensive handheld in our ROG Xbox Ally X review. It was the price point that we found to be the main sticking point, as did others, making it one of the more costly options from our guide to the best handheld consoles. However, we did encounter a couple of performance issues during our testing, so it’ll be interesting to see if this latest patch provides a noticeable improvement.

Outside of the performance and battery boosts, the new patch also offers a couple of specific fresh features. There’s now a quicker way to access full-screen mode, while an adjustment of the 45fps cap to 40fps is intended to “better align” with the device’s 120Hz refresh rate display. For more information, you can check out the official changelog on the Asus website.

This update comes on the back of a report from Asus that the ROG Xbox Ally X is “exceeding expectations,” despite its $999 price point. With the updated software, we’ll have to wait and see if the enhanced performance and battery life change the perception of the handhelds, particularly the premium Ally X model, which many potential users currently deem too expensive to justify.