Almost six months later, the ROG Xbox Ally X finally has the Auto Super Resolution abilities Microsoft promised at launch. The AI upscaling tools work similarly to the likes of Nvidia DLSS, but while it benefits from being baked into Windows and not needing separate integration for games, the fact that it only works in docked mode spoils its potential as a gaming handheld feature.
Auto SR on the ROG Xbox Ally X still isn't public yet, but you can give it a try if you're a Windows Insider. You'll find it in the Display menu added to the Game Bar exactly one month ago if you're signed up for early previews, and you can toggle it on once you've launched a game. That's also when you'll see a message with an angry red dot informing you that you need to connect to an external display before the feature kicks in.
Simply put, if you haven't already got a Steam Deck dock or another way to a gaming monitor or TV, you won't be using Auto SR. In a sense, the upscaling tools work similarly to Nvidia DLSS on the Nintendo Switch 2, kicking in to scale things up in docked mode, but I can't help but feel like the perk would be more useful when playing on the portable itself.
The good news is that handheld Auto SR compatibility isn't off the table. In a blog post outlining the preview features, Microsoft says, "we’re starting the preview with docked mode where we expect players will see the most value." That should mean we'll eventually see a non-docked compatibility become a thing down the road, but who knows when that will actually be.
ROG Xbox Ally | $539.99 at Amazon
ROX Xbox Ally X | $999.99 at Best Buy
It feels pretty bold trying to boost fps on the Xbox Ally X at much higher external resolutions first. In my mind, it would have made more sense to use the tool to nudge frame rates to the 60fps sweet spot handheld players are continually fighting to achieve. Nevertheless, I decided to put the new docked mode enhancements to the test, and realised very quickly the reason why Auto SR isn't public yet.
For starters, there's far more to using Auto SR than flicking a switch. If you're using a game like Silent Hill F with a full-screen mode that locks to whatever resolution you're using in Windows, you'll need to dial things back to 720p. It feels like since the feature is baked into the operating system, it should be able to automatically switch your overarching resolution to suit, but alas, you'll have to use that new Display menu dropdown first.
Yes, that is the sort of back and forth that puts me in a bad mood, but there is at least a payoff. Upon finally getting Auto SR to activate, I could immediately spot an improvement to edges and textures, with blades of grass in the misty rice fields appearing far sharper than at 720p. The downside is that while I was able to squeeze frame rates around 70fps with everything dialed to low previously, that figure dropped to around 56fps with the upscaling tool on, so you're getting the opposite of a performance boost.
I also picked up on some weird ripple effects when running around as Hinako that's linked to Auto SR. My guess is that the upscaling struggles to keep up with fast camera movements, meaning you can actively see the post-processing working its magic. Quick tests in Cyberpunk 2077 produced more of the same, but while the inherent softness of 720p was alleviated, other low-spec issues like aliasing and mushy textures were a distraction from the benefits.
These are just lightweight Auto SR tests for now, but the general vibe is that it's firmly a work in progress. It reminds me of the early days of DLSS when I'd try and get resolutions below 720p looking "playable" just for the fun of it, even though the sharpening effects are far more impressive than Nvidia's early tech. I guess if you're specifically looking for a mini PC you can treat like a Switch 2, then Microsoft's new scaling could be handy right now. Otherwise, it's going to need much longer in the oven before I'd call it a reason to buy a ROG Xbox Ally.
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