First details of the ROG Xbox Ally: Microsoft's first step into the handheld PC market

As expected, during the Xbox Games Showcase, the ROG Xbox Ally was officially announced — a gaming device created in collaboration between ASUS and Microsoft. Rumors about this handheld PC had been circulating for several months, and at one point, actual photos of the device even leaked online. Until recently, we could only guess about its features — but now we have official information and even first impressions from tech reviewers. We’ve compiled the key details for you in this article.

First, let’s clarify one thing. If you’ve been following gaming news, you’ve probably read about a certain portable Xbox console that Microsoft was working on. Not long ago, it was reported that the company had put that project on hold indefinitely. It’s important to note that this was not about the ROG Xbox Ally. The ASUS and Microsoft device is a handheld PC, similar in concept to the Steam Deck or previous ASUS ROG Ally models. The canceled project was a standalone console developed solely by Microsoft.

Following the Xbox Series approach, the new device will launch in two variants. The standard version is simply called ROG Xbox Ally and comes with a white chassis, while the more powerful one carries the X suffix and features a black chassis. Again, as with the Xbox Series, there are several key differences between the two models — most importantly, the hardware inside.

The premium ROG Xbox Ally X runs on an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor and boasts 24 GB of RAM, while the base ROG Xbox Ally uses an AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor and 16 GB of RAM. Currently, there are no exact benchmarks comparing their performance, but it’s expected that the ROG Xbox Ally X is nearly twice as powerful as the Steam Deck. The base model is roughly on par with the Steam Deck, which is somewhat disappointing considering three years of technological progress. ASUS and Microsoft position the X model as a gaming system for 900p or 1080p, while the standard ROG Xbox Ally is targeted at 720p.

Another key difference is battery size. The ROG Xbox Ally X comes with an impressive 80 Wh battery, while the ROG Xbox Ally features a 60 Wh battery.

What both systems share is the same display. Buyers will get an FHD IPS panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 500 nits. It’s a decent screen overall, though nothing groundbreaking — essentially the same panel as last year’s ASUS ROG Ally X. It’s a pity that it isn’t OLED, but this is likely a necessary compromise to keep the device’s price within reason.

The first thing that stands out is the ROG Xbox Ally’s unconventional design with handles almost like those of a gamepad. That was exactly the engineers’ intention: to make the device’s ergonomics closer to an Xbox Series controller. How well this form factor works in practice remains to be seen. Some tech reviewers note that it really does feel more like a gamepad than a typical handheld PC, while others say that the ROG Xbox Ally still isn’t as comfortable to hold as, say, the Steam Deck. Additionally, the new Ally has somewhat sacrificed portability: it’s nearly twice as thick as Valve’s device.

What ASUS and Microsoft are most proud of is the work they’ve done on the operating system. When you power on the ROG Xbox Ally, you won’t see a standard Windows desktop — instead, you’ll be greeted by a revamped gaming interface called Xbox Experience. If you prefer, you can still switch to the familiar Windows 11 desktop with icons and a taskbar, but by default, it’s hidden.

In Xbox Experience, Microsoft’s OS runs significantly faster than usual: it disables all processes and apps that aren’t needed for gaming. Developers claim this frees up to 2 GB of RAM and reduces power consumption during idle periods to just one-third of normal levels. Excessive idle power drain has been one of the key issues with Windows-based handheld PCs, so it’s great to see this finally being addressed.

Microsoft wants the ROG Xbox Ally to match consoles or SteamOS devices in terms of intuitiveness. Since this is a handheld PC, you can access not only the Xbox store, but also Steam or Epic Games. However, navigating between different storefronts, browsers, and accounts can quickly become a frustrating process. ASUS and Microsoft are working to solve this at the interface level. For example, they’ve added an aggregated library to Xbox Experience that allows you to quickly launch games from various services in a single window.

Many of the Windows 11 changes debuting on the ROG Xbox Ally are likely to roll out to other Windows devices later on. After all, Microsoft’s endgame is to turn as many devices as possible into Xboxes and lower the barrier to entry into its ecosystem.

***

Both versions of the ROG Xbox Ally will launch later this year in November or December. There’s no exact release date yet, nor even a hint at potential pricing. However, looking at previous ROG Ally models, it’s reasonable to expect that the premium ROG Xbox Ally X will start at around $900.

What do you think of the announcement? What excites you, and what concerns you? Share your thoughts in the comments.