The Xbox Ally, available in two versions priced at $600 and $1,000, has recently been the subject of ongoing testing. The Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) associated with these devices has seen improvements; however, several issues remain that question its reliability, particularly concerning game sleep functionality.
Two months post-review, testing has continued, including playing titles such as Hollow Knight: Silksong and Blue Prince. Recent updates are reportedly enhancing the functionality of the devices, particularly regarding saving games and managing battery life during sleep mode. Notably, the more expensive black Xbox Ally X has demonstrated improved performance in retaining game states after prolonged sleep, losing only 4 to 8 percent battery during a full day of inactivity.
Despite these advancements, certain issues persist, including control unresponsiveness post-sleep and operational interruptions due to Windows updates. Comparative testing revealed significant discrepancies in battery performance between units, with one Xbox Ally unit dying after just thirteen hours of sleep, while another retained much of its charge. Factory resetting the white Xbox Ally offered some improvements, but it still exhibited instances of waking on its own, resulting in battery drain and operational failures.
Moreover, inconsistencies have been reported regarding charging and system functionalities, leading to questions about the device’s stability and the reliability of the AMD Z2 A processor.
Asus has acknowledged difficulties in replicating these issues but has not provided a timeline for potential fixes. The overall sentiment suggests that while progress has been made, significant challenges remain for those considering the Xbox Ally, particularly regarding reliability and user experience with the Windows operating system. Given these ongoing challenges, potential users may want to evaluate the recent performance improvements against these persistent issues.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/games/843010/xbox-ally-x-sleep-battery-drain-two-months-later