ROG Xbox Ally X is a lot faster without Windows 11

Installing Linux and the SteamOS-like Bazzite on the ROG Xbox Ally X delivers up to a 30% performance improvement in some games compared to Windows 11.

ROG Xbox Ally X is a lot faster without Windows 11
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TL;DR: The ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X is the first Xbox-branded PC gaming handheld featuring a custom Windows 11 optimized for gaming, but it faces performance and efficiency challenges compared to Linux-based SteamOS. Tests show SteamOS delivers up to 30% better frame rates and more consistent gameplay, highlighting Linux's superior optimization for handheld gaming.

The new flagship PC gaming handheld from ASUS and Microsoft, the ROG Xbox Ally X, has been garnering a lot of attention lately. One reason for this is that it's the first Xbox-branded PC gaming handheld to include a new, custom version of Windows 11 optimized for gaming performance and efficiency. In addition to this, it also makes the Xbox app the default UI, in an attempt to create a Windows gaming handheld ecosystem on par with the Steam Deck.

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Of course, as the first version of this new Xbox-themed Windows, it has issues and isn't quite as seamless as you'd expect. According to reviews, it's a big step in the right direction, but using the ROG Xbox Ally X still feels like gaming on a Windows 11 PC. And with that, even with optimizations, there's still a performance cost for gaming on a Windows 11 handheld versus one running the simple-to-use and intuitive Linux-based SteamOS.

YouTube creator and tech enthusiast Cyber Dopamine has posted a new video showcasing the custom Linux OS 'Bazzite' running on the ROG Xbox Ally X. Bazzite, like Valve's own SteamOS, is a gaming and controller-friendly version of Linux designed for gamers to access their Steam libraries. And with that, even with the additional overhead of Steam's Proton compatibility layer, the ROG Xbox Ally X is faster without Windows 11.

These devices are especially ideal in low-power modes that are perfect for on-the-go gaming. Although benchmark results only include a handful of games, it does paint the picture that Linux and SteamOS are simply better optimized and more suited for PC gaming handhelds. Running in 17W mode, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II hits 47 FPS running on Windows 11, while it hits 62 FPS running in SteamOS - an improvement of 30%. Running in low-power 13W mode, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II hits 35 FPS running on Windows 11, while it hits 37 FPS running in SteamOS - a minor improvement.

Running in 17W mode, Hogwarts Legacy hits 50 FPS on Windows 11, while it hits 62 FPS on SteamOS - another performance improvement of around 30%. Running in high-power 35W mode, Hogwarts Legacy hits 60 FPS running on Windows 11, while it hits 65 FPS running in SteamOS - a slight but notable performance improvement.

Cyber Dopamine also notes in his video that, on average, running SteamOS on the ROG Xbox Ally X is not only faster but also more consistent, with fewer spikes and dips.