There’s plenty of excitement surrounding ROG Xbox Ally X, as this handheld was supposed to be the first to sport Microsoft’s new Windows 11 handheld mode. Emphasis on the past tense there, as the feature has already found its way on to existing devices by way of a leak.
Reddit user Gogsi123 took to the ROGAlly subreddit to share the “full screen experience” for handhelds was already readily available to those willing to install Windows 11 25H2 on their devices. Currently, this update is technically only available to members of the Insider Program, but you can circumvent enrolment by an ISO file if you wish.
Those wishing to try the feature ahead of release should check out Gogsi123’s guide. However, I must stress this is pre-release software and may not reflect the final version. Install at your own peril.
Windows Central didn’t hesitate to get an ROG Ally up and running with the new handheld mode. The view does seem far more convenient for systems like this, forcing fullscreen where possible and making smart use of the controller layout.
So, how do games perform? Swapping to the classic interface demonstrates how much more efficient this new handheld mode is. While running in the latter state, fewer background processes are running resulting in ~4.5GB (40%) RAM usage. However, switching to desktop sees a sizeable increase in system processes, reducing available memory by an additional ~2.4GB (20%).
This may not sound much of a big deal, but the ramifications to performance are enormous. Benchmarking Shadow of the Tomb Raider, frame rates jump from a 29fps average in desktop mode to a much healthier 38fps in handheld. That’s a whopping 31% improvement courtesy of a reduction in Windows 11 startup apps and other optimisations.
ROG Xbox Ally X will hit store shelves October 16, 2025, so there’s not long to wait before Microsoft updates Windows 11 with a handheld mode. This feature will arrive on other systems too, but Asus’ devices (Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X) will be the first to officially support it.
I can’t wait to try the mode for myself, as this update should address one of the core pains of Windows 11 that have kept me firmly glued to my Steam Deck OLED. Keep your eyes peeled for further coverage leading up to launch.
In the meantime, make sure you’re following Club386 on Google News for the latest on all things handheld and tech.
