Tired of joystick drift ruining your gaming experience? Even with a hefty price tag, the Xbox Ally X and its more affordable sibling didn't include drift-resistant joysticks. But here's the good news: you can upgrade! For a mere $20, you can equip your Xbox Ally with official, Asus-approved TMR joysticks from Gulikit, a company renowned for its aftermarket drift-resistant sticks.
Gulikit collaborated with Asus, the Xbox Ally manufacturer, to create these joysticks. The company assures they'll be 'automatically recognized' upon installation, and you can calibrate them using the handheld's Armoury Crate app.
While I haven't personally tested these specific joysticks, I can vouch for the ease of installation. Opening the Xbox Ally is straightforward: just unscrew the Philips-head screws, gently insert a pry tool to create a gap, and carefully unclip the device. The joystick modules are right there, waiting to be swapped out. You'll simply need to disconnect a ribbon cable and unscrew three screws.
Want a visual guide? Gulikit provides a walkthrough, but remember to be gentle! (I've learned the hard way about ribbon cables.)
What's the difference between 'drift-resistant' and 'drift-free'?
When discussing TMR or the older Hall effect joystick technology, it's more accurate to say 'drift-resistant' rather than 'drift-free'. While these joysticks are far superior, you might still experience some center point drifting over time. The beauty of magnetic joysticks is that recalibration is all you need! Unlike the potentiometer joysticks found in Nintendo, Sony PlayStation, and Microsoft Xbox controllers, magnetic versions don't involve the wear and tear of scraping away material that leads to permanent drift.
Gulikit's new Xbox Ally sticks are available for $20 in the US. They're also expected to be available in the UK for £20 and in Italy, France, and Spain for €22 this January.
But here's where it gets controversial... What do you think about the fact that these joysticks aren't included by default, especially considering the price of the console? Are you willing to spend extra to upgrade? Let me know in the comments!
