XBOX Ally X20 Hands-On: OLED Display, New D-Pad and Price Concerns Explained

XBOX Ally X20 features an OLED display, enhanced controls and ergonomics, and a new external GPU option. The tablet also gets a 120Hz panel with 30-120Hz VRR, while the 20th-anniversary design brings a translucent shell and other improvements. The hands-on experience also raises questions about pricing, included accessories, and how the new XG Core fits into the handheld configuration.

A lot is good about the XBOX Ally X20. The big thing is obviously the OLED. That's the thing that jumps out, and that's the main change here. It's the ROG Nebula display with 1400nit peak brightness and HDR, which is HDR True Black certified. 1400nits is the brightest OLED panel on a handheld.

The OLED Display is the Main Change

The question is whether it is the best OLED display available in a handheld right now and whether it is the best option for an OLED handheld. There are still more specs to consider. The display is TÜV Rheinland certified, which means it's certified as flicker-free. There should be no PWM flickering, which is seen with devices such as the Legion Go 2 and the One XPlayer 3.

Not everyone suffers from it, but some people cannot use OLEDs that flicker. It can cause migraines and other issues for specific people, so avoiding that is a major benefit. As for VRR flicker, we don't yet know the full picture. We tested a few games, but only a few, and not for very long. We'll need more testing to evaluate things like that properly.

One important part of the VRR is that it is still a 120Hz panel, but this time it has 30-120Hz VRR, like the Legion Go 2 and the One X Player 3, even though those are faster screens. Having the lowest point at 30Hz for VRR matters because AAA titles, especially with the Z2 Extreme still in the device, will start running slower as games age.

Changes to the Ergonomics and Design

If a game runs at 30fps or above, you can still experience VRR, which is what you want. The display also looks good. The slight size increase brings it to 7.4 in. It feels and looks different from the previous Xbox Ally models. The 7.4 in. size is noticeable in use, although keeping the same 7.4 in. size and changing the aspect ratio to 16:10 would have helped fill the bezels and make the screen look larger.

The ergonomics are different. The back of the handles now has rubber grips, which provide more grip while holding the device. The long-term durability of the rubber remains a question because some rubber materials can become sticky over time. The transparent design is another standout feature.

A little more transparency would have been useful because the shell is quite smoky. Under harsh light, it stands out more, while in a dim room it is less noticeable. Subtle touches also show the device is a limited edition. It is a 20th anniversary limited edition, although the exact number of units has not been confirmed.

The New D-Pad

Another major change is the D-pad. It is a new design, although its usefulness will become clearer after more games are played with it. Compared with the current Xbox Ally X, it is a significant improvement. However, the new swivel design means you have to pinch the D-pad with your fingernails, lift it, twist it into place, and release it before it snaps into position.

This changes it from more of a four-way design to an eight-way dish. A magnetic system similar to those found on third-party controllers and XBOX Elite controllers could have been another option. That system lets you lift the D-pad off and replace it with another design. The difference between the two modes is so small that choosing one design and leaving it in place could have been enough.

The price is the main issue with the Xbox Ally X20. New devices cost more, which makes the X20 harder to assess outside the wider market. The X20 is a limited 20th anniversary edition. It was originally intended to be sold as part of a bundle with glasses rather than as a standalone product. The bundle was going to cost 2.5 grand.

Is It the Best OLED Handheld Display?

After the reaction to bundling glasses with a device that already has an OLED display, the X20 became available separately. A version without the translucent design, 20th anniversary badge, swivel D-pad, and rubber grips could potentially have been sold at a lower price. However, the limited edition design is part of the reason for the higher price.

The exact production limit remains unclear. The device targets people who specifically want an OLED screen. For those who do not need OLED, the Xbox Ally X offers a way to save money. For existing XBOX Ally X owners, upgrading may not make much sense given the price difference unless OLED is a requirement.

Users who specifically wanted an OLED handheld may have skipped the XBOX Ally X and waited for this model. The other issue is that the X20 still uses the Z1 Extreme. Other handhelds now use newer chips, making the performance landscape harder to compare. Still, for users who specifically want an OLED handheld, the X20 remains an option.

The Glasses Do Not Fit the OLED Focus

The glasses are harder to assess because you only had about 5 minutes of hands-on time. XR glasses can cause motion sickness for some users. It also raises the question of why glasses are included with a device where the OLED screen is one of the main reasons to buy it. Another issue is that both screens run by default.

The internal display remains active while you use the glasses, with the mode set to extend the display. This could use additional resources and battery. You can also see the internal display around the glasses in peripheral vision, which can cause double vision. The combination of an OLED device and glasses is difficult to justify.

A final bonus from the announcement was the XG Core, a new eGPU. The main new feature is the screen, while the glasses encourage users not to look at that screen. That also makes the price increase harder to justify. There is no fixed release date yet. A potential window is Q4 this year or Q1 next year.

XG Core Could Be the More Interesting Addition

There is also no fixed price, but the target is $1,000 or under. XG Core uses a 9060 XT 16GB version. It was shown connected to an XBOX Ally X, and the setup was running the new Plague Requiem at around 120fps. XG Core has a footprint around the size of a Mac mini or smaller. Its maximum draw is 75W.

It is a desktop-class external GPU rather than a mobile-class version because there is no 9060 XT mobile chip. The XG Core also differs from previous XG Mobile designs. Those versions used GPUs such as the 5090 and 5070 Ti mobile chips and cost much more. 9060 XT uses RDNA 4, so it can use FSR 4. 

XG Core also retains 16GB of VRAM rather than cutting down the memory. The combination of a desktop-class GPU, small footprint, and a target price of $1,000 or under makes the XG Core an interesting part of the lineup. Building an equivalent eGPU setup separately would require a GPU, a small case, a controller, and a USB 4 controller, which could cost about the same.

Compatibility with the white XBOX Ally is less certain because it is not believed to have USB 4.

XBOX Ally X20 has a mix of changes that set it apart from the previous model. The 7.4in OLED display, 30-120hz VRR, TÜV certification, revised ergonomics, rubber grips, transparent shell, and new D-pad all change the experience. The price and bundled accessories make the package harder to justify, while the XG Core adds another handheld direction.

If you ignore the price, the device offers an OLED display with 1400nit peak brightness, HDR, 30-120hz VRR, and TÜV certification. For users specifically looking for an OLED handheld, particularly those affected by PWM flickering, the X20 has fewer direct alternatives. The XG Core is also an unexpected addition. 

Its desktop-class GPU, 16GB of VRAM, 75W maximum draw, small footprint, and target price of $1,000 or under could make it a useful way to turn the handheld into a larger-screen gaming system. XBOX Ally X20 therefore has good, bad, and ugly parts. The device itself includes several changes to the display and controls, while the price and accessories remain the main points to consider.