ROG Xbox Ally & Ally X: Asus and Microsoft Team Up for a Powerful Handheld

Microsoft and Asus have officially launched their new handheld duo—the ROG Xbox Ally and the upgraded Ally X. These devices combine Asus’s powerful ROG Ally hardware with Xbox branding and software enhancements, positioning themselves as the first true Xbox handhelds.

Key Features

1. Hardware & Specs

Processor:
- ROG Xbox Ally: AMD Ryzen Z2 Go chipset (codename “Project Kennan”), akin to ROG Ally hardware.
- Ally X: Z1 Extreme-based version with a beefier configuration—more memory, storage, and improved thermals.
Display: 7″ Full HD touchscreen, 120 Hz refresh rate, 500 nits brightness.
Controller & Design: Resembling Xbox controllers—longer grips, added Guide/Xbox button, and on the Ally X, impulse triggers.

2. Xbox Software Integration

Xbox App & UI Overhaul: Includes a compact mode optimized for handhelds and a Windows “Xbox handheld mode” for smoother navigation.
Game Pass Included: Built-in 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate support allows downloading and streaming of hundreds of titles.
Seamless Cloud & Remote Play: Full support for Game Pass cloud games, Xbox console remote play, and Play Anywhere titles across Xbox and PC.

3. Market Timing & Pricing

Launch Window: Hitting the holiday season 2025 in the US and UK markets.
Expected Price: Estimates range from $499–599, possibly with pricing promotions via Microsoft subsidies.
Competitors: Direct rivals include Nintendo Switch 2, Valve’s Steam Deck, and Asus’s own ROG Ally X. Recent price hikes for handheld devices may influence consumer interest.

🎮 Why It Matters

Xbox Finally Goes Portable: With this joint venture, Microsoft enters the handheld market without building hardware from scratch—a long-awaited move.
Portable Windows Performance: Users benefit from full Windows 11 capabilities, unlike limited-console ecosystems.
Unified Gaming Library: Enables a single device for accessing various platforms—Game Pass, Steam, Epic, and more.

📊 Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	⚠️ Cons
Strong hardware, full Windows, Game Pass integration	Battery life may be underwhelming—similar to ROG Ally baseline models
Familiar Xbox UI, cloud + remote play options	Will not natively play Xbox Series console versions/won’t support old-gen backward compatibility
Competitive pricing under $600	True experience depends on future Windows handheld-mode polish

✍️ Market Reaction

Phil Spencer (Xbox head) has long endorsed the idea of a handheld and sees importance in local play capabilities.
Reviewers appreciate the underlying specs and versatility but point out the usual Windows design compromises for battery life.
Reddit users report smooth streaming, cloud/gamed remote play, and praise the cross-device Play Anywhere integration.

“Gamepass is sick with Ally. Stream games, remote play, or download them…”

✅ Verdict

The ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X represent a smart union of hardware and ecosystem—offering gamers a powerful, portable experience with deep Xbox integration and Windows flexibility. If you’re a Game Pass subscriber or PC gamer wanting Xbox portability, this could be your ultimate go‑anywhere device. However, expect trade-offs in battery endurance and understand it won’t play traditional console-exclusive versions.