Remember when people said Xbox would never go handheld? Well, Microsoft and ASUS just looked at that rumour and said, “Hold my Game Pass.” Now we’re staring down the barrel of not one, but two shiny new Windows gaming portables: the ROG Xbox Ally and its beefier sibling, the ROG Xbox Ally X.
Meet the ROG Xbox Ally Family
A quick rewind: these bad boys grew out of what was once codenamed Project Kennan. Back then, folks whispered about a “ROG Ally 2” or a first-party Xbox handheld. Fast forward, and the rumour mill was half-right. Microsoft ditched the idea of making its own hardware and teamed up with ASUS to co-create the ROG Xbox Ally line instead.
Both models are rocking that clean Republic of Gamers vibe, and the Ally X even comes in a slick black finish if you like your gear low-key stealth.
Same Display, Different Guts
So, what’s the difference? Well, think of the base Ally as your dependable daily driver. It’s got an AMD Ryzen Z2 A chip under the hood: that’s a quad-core Zen 2 with eight RDNA 2 graphics cores. 16GB of RAM, a comfy 512GB SSD, and a bright 7-inch 1080p 120Hz display. Solid, right?
Now the Ally X steps things up. You get the new Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme: a six-core Zen 5 beast with sixteen RDNA 3.5 graphics cores plus a neural processing unit (NPU). Basically, more headroom for the good stuff: AI upscaling, smoother frames, less stutter when you’ve got Chrome tabs open. It also bumps the RAM to 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 and doubles storage to 1TB. Add in a bigger 80Wh battery (versus 60Wh on the base) and you’re set for longer sessions.
Boot Up, Game On, Xbox Style
Here’s the real kicker: both models ship with Windows 11 Home, but they’ll be the first Windows handhelds with a new mode that boots directly into the Xbox app. No full Windows shell in the way. No clutter. Just Game Pass, your library, and that sweet console-like experience.
Microsoft says this saves up to 2GB of memory and cuts idle power by about two-thirds. So yeah, more juice left to melt zombies or farm loot.
Why Not an OLED Screen? Good Question.
You might wonder: why not slap an OLED on there, too? Turns out, ASUS and Microsoft thought about it but ditched the idea. OLED with variable refresh would’ve sucked up more battery and made power management messy. So they stuck with the tried-and-true IPS 120Hz panel, which still looks crisp enough for the handheld hustle.
Ports, Power, and Little Extras
If you’re the tinkering type, you’ll love the Ally X’s port setup. You get USB4, DisplayPort 2.1, and Thunderbolt 4, basically, plug it into a dock and boom, instant desktop rig. The base Ally still has solid ports too, just not quite the same high-end spread.
Both models keep the standard Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, and a UHS-II microSD slot. That’s your digital packrat plan sorted.
So… Which One Should You Grab?
Honestly? Depends on your vibe. The base Ally is already pretty sweet if you just want a no-fuss Windows handheld for Game Pass and indie nights. The Ally X? It’s more like the “treat yourself” version with bigger battery, more RAM, more graphics grunt, and all the fancy ports.
Mild contradiction here: it’s not a generational leap in display or design. But that’s the point: it’s refinement, not reinvention.
When’s the Drop?
Mark your calendar: ASUS and Microsoft unveiled the family at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8, 2025. Both models are landing late 2025, just in time to stuff your backpack with your entire Steam backlog and maybe a few Game Pass gems.
The Handheld Era’s Just Getting Started
In a world where the Steam Deck kicked the door open and ASUS + Microsoft decided to strut through it together, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are the clearest sign yet that handheld PCs are here to stay. Bring your charger … or don’t. This time, you might not need it.