Microsoft has announced two handhelds, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. Here are the differences and key information at a glance.
After weeks of rumors and leaks, Microsoft finally let the cat out of the bag at the Xbox Games Showcase: In collaboration with AMD and Asus, two new gaming handhelds have been developed:
- Asus ROG Xbox Ally
- Asus ROG Xbox Ally X
The “Xbox” in the name of the two handhelds isn’t the only special feature of these two devices. We’ll tell you everything we already know about the devices.
Asus ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X: the differences
At first glance, the only difference between the two handhelds is their color. But if we take a look under the hood – or simply at the spec sheet – we discover that there are differences in the hardware used. Here they are at a glance:
| ROG Xbox Ally X | ROG Xbox Ally | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 7-inch, 1080p, IPS, 120 Hz, VRR, 500 nits | 7-inch, 1080p, IPS, 120 Hz, VRR, 500 nits |
| APU | AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme | AMD Ryzen Z2A |
| RAM | 24 GB LPDRR5X-8000 | 16 GB LPDDR5X-6400 |
| SSD | 1 TB (NVMe 2280) | 512 GB (NVMe 2280) |
| Battery | 80 Wh | 60 Wh |
| Color | Black | White |
| USB ports | 1x USB 4, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 | 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 |
| Weight | 715 grams | 670 grams |
According to Microsoft, the ROG Xbox Ally is suitable for smooth 720p gaming and the Xbox Ally X for 900p to 1080p gaming. In addition, the X model benefits from AI features, a larger battery, and twice as much storage.
Design and controller: Ergonomics is a top priority
It was particularly important to Asus and Microsoft that these two handhelds feel like an Xbox controller with a large 7-inch screen in the middle. That’s why this handheld has grip horns, as you know from gamepads – especially from the Xbox Wireless Controller. The PlayStation Portal from Sony has a similar design.
Triggers and analog sticks:
- The Xbox Wireless Controller’s impulse triggers are built in. This means that the RT and LT buttons have haptic feedback. They use Hall effect sensors.
- The ABXY buttons look very similar to those on the Xbox Wireless Controller.
- The analog sticks have illuminated rings, as on the first two Asus ROG Ally consoles. Hall effect sensors are not used here.
On the left side, you will find a dedicated Xbox button, which has at least two functions:
- A short tap opens the Game Bar: This is a quick menu that allows you to access the most important Windows settings and the Asus Command Center.
- Tapping and holding opens the multitasking view: This is very similar to the ALT+TAB screen. It allows you to quickly switch between windows and apps.
(The new Xbox button has an angular shape to better match the design language of Asus ROG products. (Image source: Microsoft))
On the right side, you will find the game library button.This takes you quickly to a menu that displays all your games.
Other controller features:
- Forward-facing speakers are built in.
- The directional pad is disc-shaped.
- The handles are finely textured to provide a better grip. If you look closely, you can see that the texture consists of many “Xbox” logos.
Additional hardware features: In addition, features that we already know from the Asus ROG Ally X, which was released last year, have been carried over.
- The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is compatible with the “Asus XG Mobile” eGPUs.
- There are two USB-C ports, both located on the top. Only the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X has a USB4 port. The ROG Xbox Ally has two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports.
- The memory can be expanded with a microSD card (UHS-II).
- The power button has an integrated fingerprint sensor.
Software features: Windows – but optimized for handhelds
Microsoft, Asus, and AMD had a common goal for these two handhelds:The Windows operating system should feel like a real Xbox – just like a console. To achieve this, Windows 11 has been heavily customized and optimized for gaming:
- Both handhelds boot directly into the new Xbox app, which has been optimized for use with the controller.
- The Windows login screen can be operated entirely with the controller.
- The new Xbox app offers integration with all “leading” PC launchers. All games can be launched directly without having to call up the user interfaces of the other platforms.
- Some games will get a new label with the title “Optimized for Handhelds.”
The really special thing about this customized version of Windows is its focus on gaming.The user experience is similar to that of consoles, and far fewer background processes are running, leaving more system resources available for your games.
Standby mode has also been improved It consumes less energy and should wake both handhelds up faster. It is not yet known whether the standby mode works as well as on the Nintendo Switch 2, the Steam Deck, or other SteamOS handhelds.
Price and availability: The Asus ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X will both be released in December 2025. Prices are not yet known.
What do you think of the two new handhelds? Are you impressed by the hardware? And what do you think of the gaming optimizations for Windows 11? Let us know in the comments!
