Imagine this: A sleek $600 gaming handheld straight from a tech giant like Microsoft, billed as the ultimate 'Xbox' device, but it can't even stay asleep or hold a charge reliably. That's the shocking reality I've uncovered with the Xbox Ally – and it's got me questioning everything we thought we knew about Windows on portable gadgets.
It's been just shy of two weeks since this powerhouse company unleashed their innovative handheld, and in my hands-on testing, it's proven frustratingly unreliable. Basic functions like sleeping, waking, or maintaining battery life during standby? Not happening. Despite multiple inquiries, neither Microsoft nor Asus would acknowledge the flaws in the white Xbox Ally model or provide a fix schedule. Asus simply asked for more testing time. But here's where it gets controversial: What if Windows itself is the root culprit behind these issues on handhelds?
Frustrated, I decided to experiment. I switched to the newest version of Bazzite, a Linux-based OS inspired by SteamOS, designed seamlessly for gamepad navigation. And guess what? It transformed the device entirely. Sleep mode worked flawlessly – I powered through weekends of Silksong and conquered challenging boss battles without ever needing to hibernate or shut down. Oh, and did I mention? Bazzite boosted my Windows games' performance significantly.
To illustrate, let's dive into some benchmark comparisons. I've compiled data for Bazzite versus Windows 11 on the Xbox Ally, and even tossed in results from the Steam Deck OLED and another Asus ROG Ally model for context. TDP (Thermal Design Power) refers to the power limit set for the processor, which affects performance and heat – think of it as a throttle on how hard the chip works. Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Returnal, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered were tested across various TDP settings and plugged-in modes. For beginners unfamiliar with benchmarks, these numbers show frames per second (FPS) – higher is smoother gameplay.
Starting with Cyberpunk 2077: At 15-watt TDP, Bazzite hit 48 FPS on the Xbox Ally, compared to 39 on Windows 11 (a 23.08% boost). The Steam Deck OLED managed 50 FPS, and another ROG Ally hit 51. Cranking up to 20 watts gave Bazzite 53 FPS versus 41 on Windows (29.27% improvement), with the Deck at 69. Higher TDPs showed Bazzite maintaining strong leads, and plugged in, it scored 54 to Windows' 43 (25.58% gain), Deck at 50, other ROG at 77.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided followed suit: 67 FPS on Bazzite vs. 55 on Windows at 15 watts (21.82% better), Deck at 64, ROG at 75. At 20 watts: 72 vs. 58 (24.14% up), and so on. Returnal was a slight dip for Bazzite in some cases – 20 FPS vs. 24 on Windows at 15 watts (-16.67%), but it still held up well overall. Shadow of the Tomb Raider: 59 vs. 51 at 15 watts (15.69% advantage), Deck at 60, ROG at 68. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: 33 vs. 26 (26.92% boost), Deck at 34, ROG at 29.
And this is the part most people miss: These aren't just numbers – they translate to noticeably smoother, more enjoyable gaming. Back on October 15th, I critiqued the Xbox Ally for lagging behind a two-year-old Steam Deck, even with similar hardware. But with Bazzite, it surges ahead by up to 30% in speed and outperforms the Deck in nearly every test. It's not just gaming that's peppier; the Steam interface feels crisp and uncluttered, free from Windows' background overhead. Suddenly, the handheld feels like a Nintendo Switch – power button to pause, resume later effortlessly. Launches are snappier, wake-ups instant, and I barely need the touchscreen, avoiding those pesky fingerprints. For those new to this, Windows on handhelds has long struggled with gamepad controls, something Bazzite sidesteps beautifully.
I won't repeat past praises – last December, I highlighted how Bazzite upgraded the original ROG Ally into 2024's top handheld. Here, I'll concede battery life isn't a clear win for Bazzite; it sometimes drains a watt more than Windows. Yet, the bigger story is damning: Microsoft's flagship 'Xbox' handheld, with a streamlined Windows build meant to eliminate bloat and optimize performance, gets outshone by a Linux distro from a small team of developers, building on Valve's ~300-person effort and the open-source community.
Bazzite initially stumbled with the white Xbox Ally's sleep function too – pressing power led to no wake-up, requiring hard resets. But by October 21st, after developer Antheas Kapenekakis got his hands on one and collaborated with AMD contacts, they fixed it swiftly, even enabling the programmable RGB lights on Linux. This highlights Linux's agility compared to Microsoft's lumbering fixes.
To underscore the Xbox Ally's unreliability, I tested two units last week: one with 'Modern Standby Assist' and 'Extreme Standby' enabled, the other disabled. After updates and monitoring, both awoke randomly on their own, often re-sleeping. Over 12 hours, one lost 10% battery, the other 23%. After another 12, both were down to 30% – one likely updated itself mid-sleep. Both also failed to wake sometimes, needing resets. Reddit users echo this (links provided), reporting sleep/wake woes and unexpected drains.
Microsoft's VP Anshul Rawat stated: 'Windows and Xbox teams are aware of challenges for a limited number of players and are refining sleep/wake reliability. Initial fixes will roll out soon. Optimizing Windows for diverse devices is an ongoing journey, with community feedback key.' We followed up on 'limited' and 'soon,' but no further details.
If I owned an Xbox Ally, I'd dual-boot with Bazzite and switch to Windows only for BIOS updates. Controversially, is waiting for Microsoft worth it, or does this expose deeper flaws in Windows for gaming hardware?
Linux gaming myths persist: fewer game options, no stores beyond Steam, poor compatibility, inferior performance. With few exceptions (like anti-cheat heavy games such as Apex Legends dropping Linux support), these are outdated. Sideloading from Epic, Battle.net, Ubisoft, GOG, etc., is easy, and community tools revive older Windows-troubled games. ProtonDB is a great resource to check compatibility – imagine playing classics that crash on Windows smoothly here.
Photos by Sean Hollister / The Verge
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What do you think? Is Windows fundamentally flawed for handhelds, or will Microsoft's fixes turn the tide? Have you tried Bazzite or Linux gaming, and how does it compare? Share your takes in the comments – let's debate whether this is a wake-up call for Microsoft or just a rough launch hiccup!
