ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced a new Ally handheld gaming device.
For the first time, running an optimised version of Windows 11 that focuses on gaming through the Xbox platform (and others as you want). This paired-back Windows 11 offers so much less bloat and a real dedication to gaming on the go. Microsoft has partnered with a handheld PC company to co-brand as the first Xbox handheld. The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X were launched with a hands-on with some high-profile tech reporters.
Linus from Linus Tech Tips and Austin Evans gave their thoughts on the new devices, our invite must have got caught in the mail. Both acknowledge that the software improvements and dedication to gaming mean a 2GB reduction in RAM usage for the OS. That in itself is a great win, but removing bloat from Windows 11 will have more than handheld PC gamers interest. Will we see desktops or laptops announced with a new version of Windows (Xbox?) so gamers can focus on what they want?
From there media release ROG provides some insight into the creation of this device.
Developed in partnership with the incredible team at Xbox, the new ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X offer best-in-class ergonomics and a full-screen Xbox experience that marries the best of Xbox and PC gaming in one cohesive package.
“We wanted to take our handheld to the next level, but we could not do it alone.” said Shawn Yen, Head of the Consumer product team at ASUS. “This revolutionary partnership with Microsoft allowed us to forge a brand new device with ROG muscle and the soul of Xbox.”
The ROG Xbox Ally sports an AMD Ryzen™ Z2 A Processor with incredible power efficiency, while the ROG Xbox Ally X offers the new AMD Ryzen™ AI Z2 Extreme Processor for next-level gaming performance.
Each console is a redesign of the previous Ally’s, the Xbox controller-esch handles certainly make them look more ergonomic. Reports that the new devices, while weighty, seem to balance with a more comfortable grip that evens out the load.
The power, especially in the X variant, is more than sufficient for a handheld of this size. Although only sporting an LCD screen (OLED would provide better image quality), the 7-inch 1080 screen is more than enough for this size device.
Power under the hood
The standard variant may be a little light-weight, some reports that the Z2 A chipset is similar to the older Steamdeck, however it is the software that will be the deciding factor. If Microsoft, and more importantly Xbox, have been able to focus on gaming first, we might see a revolution of handhelds.
“ASUS and AMD share a deep-rooted, decades-long commitment to innovation and co-engineering, pushing the boundaries of high-performance computing for gamers,” said Jack Huynh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Computing and Graphics Group at AMD. “Advancing handheld PC gaming has been a personal passion for me, and our team was super excited to partner so naturally with Xbox and ASUS to take our vision even further. With ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, we are combining the best of AMD’s silicon, ASUS’s design expertise, and Xbox’s gaming ecosystem. Powered by the Ryzen™ Z2 Extreme processor, the ROG Xbox Ally X delivers breathtaking graphics, extended battery life, and truly portable performance—empowering gamers everywhere to play without limits—anytime, anywhere.”
The ROG Xbox Ally is promising console-caliber performance with its AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor. At the same time, its ultra-efficient design at low wattages and its 60Wh battery produce improved battery life. Meanwhile, the ROG Xbox Ally X takes performance to greater heights, offering more room for graphical fidelity at higher framerates with the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor.
Both chips are primed to take full advantage of AMD’s latest software suite for graphics and performance improvements, including AMD FidelityFX™ Super Resolution (FSR), Radeon Super Resolution (RSR), and AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF) frame generation, the latter of which can offer better framerates for improved smoothness.
In a nod to the future, the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme-equipped ROG Xbox Ally X features an NPU. With these next-generation chips, the ROG Xbox Ally X will be ready to power the latest AI features as they are introduced.
Are we in the golden age of handhelds?
We got the Switch 2 this month and last Steam OS running on… well anything. These along with the multitudes of handheld in the recent years starting with the Steam Deck and latter OLED version, MSI, ROG and Lenovo launching version running Windows and more recently Steam OS. It seems the handheld gaming world has had a rebirth and reset.
Driving this is both the tech, chips that can run triple A games, with low power with sufficient cooling that you can hold in your hand. The Operation System is the new step to keeping things future focused. Steam OS was seen as a huge advancement, showing a huge leap on the Steam Deck and now available for third party devices.
Will the Xbox/Windows 11 be enough to keep both manufacturers and users in the Windows environ?
Being able to play your Blizzard, Xbox, Steam, Ubisoft Connect, Epic Games and more maybe be a better selling point than just Steam OS.
I for one am keen to see how much more we can push out of handhelds, maybe the future of gaming isn’t a gaming PC, but a gaming device you can take with you everywhere and anywhere.
Launch
Launching late 2025 the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X will be available in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with availability to follow for other markets where ROG Ally series products are sold today.
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