Even with its premium pricing — $1,000 for the Xbox Ally X handheld and $600 for its standard sibling — neither model originally shipped with the advanced magnetic drift‑resistant joysticks that many demanding gamers would have expected in this price range. However, that shortcoming can now be effortlessly resolved for a remarkably modest investment. For an additional $20, easily obtainable through Amazon, players can replace the stock sticks with officially sanctioned TMR magnetic joysticks manufactured by Gulikit, a company that has earned a solid reputation for producing aftermarket components specializing in resistance to joystick drift. These new modules have been formally approved through collaboration with Asus, the creator of the Xbox Ally, ensuring direct hardware compatibility and smooth software recognition.
According to Gulikit, these upgraded sticks were co‑developed alongside Asus engineers, allowing the handheld console to automatically detect them once installed. After the swap, calibration is conveniently managed via the device’s built‑in Armoury Crate application, which offers users precise control over fine‑tuning sensitivity and ensuring that the sticks respond exactly as intended. This streamlined process makes the upgrade accessible not only to experienced modders, but also to more casual players who may be hesitant about hardware modification.
Although I have not personally tested these specific TMR joysticks, I do own a pair installed in my Nintendo Switch, which provides a point of comparison for their quality and performance. From past experience, opening the Xbox Ally to perform such an installation is quite straightforward. The procedure involves loosening a few Phillips‑head screws, gently inserting a thin tool such as a guitar pick to create a separation along the casing, and then applying slightly more pressure than expected to detach the internal clips holding the shell together. Once the housing is open, the joystick modules are immediately visible and unobstructed. To complete the swap, simply detach a single ribbon cable and unscrew the three small screws securing each joystick in place — a clean and uncomplicated process.
For those who prefer visual guidance, Gulikit provides a step‑by‑step demonstration of the replacement procedure. However, it is important to exercise care when dealing with delicate internal components. I strongly advise avoiding the use of sharp metallic tools such as tweezers on ribbon cables, as fingernails or a plastic spudger accomplish the task just as effectively and with a much lower risk of tearing these fragile connectors. Having personally damaged a few ribbon cables in earlier repair attempts, I can vouch for the wisdom of choosing the gentler approach.
When it comes to magnetic joystick technologies — including both TMR and the earlier Hall effect designs — I tend to describe them as “drift‑resistant” rather than absolutely “drift‑free.” This distinction matters, because even magnetic sensors can experience a gradual shift in their central calibration point over time. The key advantage, though, is that this kind of drift can be quickly corrected. A simple recalibration restores precision without any permanent degradation. This stands in stark contrast to conventional potentiometer‑based joysticks found in devices produced by Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, where the internal mechanical contacts physically wear down during normal usage, leading to irreversible drift that can only be remedied through replacement.
Gulikit’s newly released Xbox Ally TMR sticks are now available for purchase in the United States at a retail price of $20. The same upgrade will soon reach other major markets as well — including the United Kingdom for approximately £20 and across Italy, France, and Spain for about €22 — with a broader rollout expected in January. In short, for a small cost and minimal installation effort, the Xbox Ally’s controls can achieve a level of precision and durability previously reserved for far more specialized equipment.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/games/848568/xbox-ally-gulikit-tmr-joysticks
