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Back in June 2025, ASUS and Xbox announced their joint collaboration for the ROG Xbox Ally series of gaming handhelds. These Windows 11 based portable consoles brought special optimizations and improved hardware, making them the unofficial Xbox handheld console that we’ve been waiting for. With the company finally announcing a launch date for these consoles, here’s a quick introduction to these gaming machines.
1. Hardware & Performance
Among the major highlights of these handheld consoles are the new AMD Ryzen Z2 series processors. The base Ally features an AMD Ryzen Z2 APU with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD storage, and a 60 Wh battery. Meanwhile, the higher end ROG Xbox Ally X packs the Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip that is paired with 24GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a larger 80Wh battery pack.
Both models feature a microSD card slot for storage expansion, replaceable M.2 2280 SSDs, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, and 65W charging. On the front, there is a 7-inch IPS LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1080p resolution, and Gorilla Glass Victus for protection.
2. Console-like Interface on Windows, Game Compatibility, & More
The devices boot directly into a revamped Xbox full-screen interface layered over Windows 11, including a dedicated Xbox button that launches Game Bar overlays and console tailored UI experiences. ROG Xbox Ally supports Xbox Game Pass titles, Xbox Play Anywhere games, and local Windows games. Apart from this, there are also special software optimizations that help bring an Xbox full screen experience.
These new modifications help minimize background activity and end all non-essential tasks. This makes the system more power efficient and enables it to divert more power to the games. The ROG Xbox Ally X series also includes an NPU for AI-powered features coming next year, such as automatic super resolution upscaling and AI-generated highlight reels.
3. Ergonomics & Release Date
Both models are ergonomically built, employing Xbox-style grips and slightly improved control layout over ROG’s previous handhelds. So those familiar with the Xbox wireless controllers will feel right at home. With no word on a portable Xbox console, this is the closest we get to a true handheld Xbox experience. The ROG Xbox Ally series blends the power of a full Windows PC with the streamlined accessibility of an Xbox console.
The ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X will be available starting 16th October 2025, in most major markets including the U.S., UK, Europe, and more. The base ROG Xbox Ally starts from 549.99 US Dollars, while the Ally X is priced at 899.99 US Dollars. Although these prices are still unconfirmed at the moment.
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