Asus ROG Xbox Ally: A New Era for Windows Gaming Handhelds

I was skeptical about the ROG Xbox Ally, but this one feature has me excited

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally could be a true game-changer for gaming handhelds I wasn't impressed when the Asus ROG Xbox Ally was originally unveiled. While the promised performance gains that the AMD Z2 Extreme chip could offer over the Z1 Extreme-powered Asus ROG Ally X sounded appealing, this new handheld seemed like little more than the latter with Xbox branding and some reworked controller grips. The fact that it would be a Windows 11-based handheld was also a turn-off, especially since Valve allows SteamOS on other platforms. Now that both the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X have been fully unveiled during Gamescom 2025, my skepticism is waning. In fact, you could say I'm optimistic about the upcoming handheld. I like that Xbox is working with its game studio partners to test and optimize the best PC games for handheld compatibility, and that the Z2 Extreme model will utilize AI upscaling to deliver sharper graphics and smoother performance. And if rumors are true, the $599 starting price isn't as high as it could have been. Everything I mentioned above is reason enough to be excited about the ROG Xbox Ally. However, there's one aspect that my colleague Jason England discussed in his Asus ROG Xbox Ally hands-on preview that has me truly hyped for this system -- and it's something I've wanted from Windows handhelds for years. What is that? A simplified Windows 11 that boots into an easy-to-use UI. If this feature makes the ROG Xbox Ally as user-friendly as a Steam Deck, it could be one of the best handheld gaming consoles. This is something we've said for years, but Windows 11 sucks for gaming handhelds. Since Windows 11 isn't designed for controller inputs, you're forced to use touch controls to do anything outside of a device's game launcher, which isn't exactly easy on a small screen. You can use the right analog stick to move the mouse cursor, but it's a clunky exercise. Also, I don't want to be offered a free subscription to Office 365 when setting up a gaming device! Windows 11 also impacts battery life and performance since the operating system is running tasks in the background, most of which have nothing to do with whatever game you're playing. When Jason turned his ROG Ally X into a Steam Deck by replacing Windows 11 with SteamOS, he noticed a significant difference in performance and battery life, with both improving by an average of 25%. Windows 11 has been the proverbial albatross around the neck of handhelds utilizing Microsoft's operating system. Yes, Windows 11 offers greater game compatibility and customization than SteamOS, but if you want a handheld you can pick up and play, Windows 11 machines don't provide a seamless experience. Thankfully, it appears the ROG Xbox Ally will have a gaming handheld-centric version of Windows 11. As Jason explains in his preview, the Xbox Ally boots directly into an Xbox UI. It's not only a simpler front end, but it also dumps all of those aforementioned unnecessary background processes. This leaves more headroom for the processor and RAM to focus on gaming, which results in higher frame rates. This also allows for a more controller-friendly interface, with quick settings available with the press of a button and a multitasking viewer. Asus' Armoury Crate launcher is still here, and you can use it for further fine-tuning power profiles and more. This sounds like a complete departure from what we're used to from Windows handhelds, and I'm absolutely here for it. This is something we've yet to see, but I'd like to know if we'll still have to set up Windows 11 when we power the ROG Xbox Ally for the first time. That would be annoying, but if I don't ever have to see the Windows 11 desktop after the initial install, then I can accept that -- even if I'd still have to decline the free Office 365 subscription. It's possible that this simplified Windows on the ROG Xbox Ally isn't exactly simple, but if it works the way I hope, handhelds with SteamOS might have serious competition. A handheld UI and launcher with the elegance of SteamOS and the game compatibility of Windows could truly be something special. With the ROG Xbox Ally arriving in less than two months, it won't be long until we can see for ourselves if its UI can match SteamOS and if the machine can deliver enhanced performance and battery life. Color me excited!

Early Asus ROG Xbox Ally X benchmark suggests excellent power efficiency and cooling - but I'm still not sold on the handheld

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X launch isn't too far away, with the handheld landing on October 16 to challenge the best handheld gaming PCs on the market. However, early benchmarks have given us an insight into what we should expect performance-wise - and I'm not convinced just yet. As highlighted by Windows Report, the ROG Xbox Ally X excels at power efficiency and cooling, based on early benchmarks by Cary Golomb on X. At 18W TDP (Thermal Power Design or, essentially, power consumption) with FSR upscaling, ray tracing, and frame generation enabled, it hit 70fps in intensive sequences in Doom: The Dark Ages. This was achieved while using AMD's Ryzen Z2 AI Extreme processor, with the GPU load at 97%, and the temperature remaining stable at 57C. Gamers will be able to save plenty of battery life while using the Xbox Ally X on the go, thanks to its 80Wh battery, and this early benchmark is a clear indication of that. However, without the use of frame gen in this early benchmark, the frame rate would likely fall between 35 to 40fps, which isn't that much better than you would get with the Z2 Extreme's predecessor, the Z1 Extreme. It's unclear whether the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor used in the ROG Xbox Ally will show significant performance differences over the standard Z2 Extreme. One thing that's clear to me (based on early showcases), though, is that this handheld isn't impressive enough to warrant a high price tag. Now, I must reiterate that the price for the ROG Xbox Ally X isn't confirmed and is due to be announced later in September once pre-orders become available. However, all the signs from rumors and leaks point towards the device costing €899 - that would work out to around $1,050 (about £775 / AU$1,600) or potentially more. If that's the case, then its future success could be in the balance. It's worth noting that the ROG Xbox Ally will be the cheaper and less powerful alternative, reportedly costing €599 (which should be around $700, or about £520 / AU$1,070), but its Ryzen Z2A with RDNA 2 architecture is highly unlikely to challenge the Ryzen Z1 Extreme. Based on benchmarks between the Ryzen Z2 Extreme and the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, the performance jump does not appear to be significant enough to warrant paying $1,000; the original Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go handhelds can be found much cheaper on sale. As I've said before, I've got my eye on the Lenovo Legion Go S using the Z1 Extreme, since it's the only reasonable upgrade for me with 32GB of RAM and an 8-inch screen. Any other handheld is priced too high, and unfortunately, it looks like the ROG Xbox Ally X is joining that list, too.

ROG Xbox Ally X runs DOOM: The Dark Ages at 1080p 70 FPS with ray-tracing

TL;DR: The ROG Xbox Ally X, launching in October, is a Windows 11 gaming handheld powered by AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme and Radeon Graphics, featuring a 120Hz 1080p display and 24GB LPDDR5X memory. It delivers impressive performance with advanced upscaling and AI frame generation for efficient, high-quality AAA gaming on the go. The ROG Xbox Ally X is coming in October, with this collaboration between ASUS and Microsoft serving as the first taste of the company's next-gen plans for Xbox hardware. It's a Windows 11 gaming PC; however, with an optimized version of the OS, the first Xbox-branded PC gaming handheld is set to present a more intuitive Steam Deck-like experience than we've seen to date. DOOM: The Dark Ages performance on the ROG Xbox Ally X hits an impressive 70 FPS at 1080p. Powered by the new AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor with integrated Radeon Graphics and an XDNA NPU that offers up to 50 TOPS of performance, the flagship ROG Xbox Ally X also sports a vibrant 120 Hz 1080p display and 24GB of LPDDR5X memory. Impressive stuff, and with a price tag of around $900 (the non-X model is set to be cheaper), you might be wondering what sort of performance it delivers, natively, when playing a modern AAA title. Well, according to @carygolomb on X, who went hands-on with the ROG Ally X at Gamescom 2025, playing DOOM: The Dark Ages, the premium PC gaming handheld hit an impressive 70 FPS at 1080p with ray-tracing enabled. And that's with the unit drawing 28W of total system power. However, this jaw-dropping performance for a PC gaming handheld comes with a long list of caveats. Firstly, ray-tracing is enabled because DOOM: The Dark Ages is an RT-only experience that leverages the advanced lighting effect technology for global illumination and hit-detection on all versions of the game. On the ROG Ally X, the game was being run with a mixture of low and medium settings with FSR (AMD's upscaling solution) enabled using the Performance preset. This means that the internal resolution was 540p, with FSR upscaling this to 1080p. And on top of this, AMD's FSR Frame Generation was also enabled, so the native frame rate was closer to 35 FPS than the 70 FPS we see in the video. FSR at a 50% render resolution setting and Frame Generation turned on might set off alarm bells; however, these are the sorts of technologies tailor-made for handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally X. Upscaling and frame generation open the door to efficiency and a longer-lasting battery, however, as this is FSR 3 and not FSR 4, image fidelity and latency suffer. The good news is that Microsoft has confirmed that it's going to use the NPU inside the ROG Xbox Ally X for its own Super Resolution upscaling and other rendering technologies that could include AI-powered Frame Generation. Two technologies that could dramatically improve image quality and motion clarity when gaming on the handheld.

"Built to game with Xbox" - Microsoft says these handhelds will get the same features as the ROG Xbox Ally, but I've got beef with its picks

Microsoft likes to point at things these days and proclaim, "This is an Xbox", and that extends to existing gaming handhelds. The company even has a shortlist of devices it believes will deliver an experience on par with the upcoming Asus ROG Xbox Ally thanks to their specs, but it's seemingly trying to ignore the portable PC I'd recommend to most players. Over at Microsoft's Xbox on Handhelds page, the gaming giant runs through features set to debut with the ROG Xbox Ally range. However, it also spotlights portable PCs like the MSI Claw 8 AI+, the recently released Lenovo Legion Go S, and the Asus ROG Ally X as "built to game with Xbox", which means all three should gain all the same Windows 11 optimization perks. That's great news for anyone who owns one of those handhelds, but I almost feel like Microsoft is pretending the OG Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go aren't a thing. Both options are still available, and while I'd wait for a discount before grabbing one, they feel like better value than the cheapest ROG Xbox Ally on paper, largely thanks to their Ryzen Z1 Extreme chipset. Okay, so what's the dealio? Why would Microsoft not mention one of the most popular Windows 11 handhelds out there? You could use specs as an excuse since it's older than the company's picks, but that Ryzen Z1 Extreme chipset actually packs more of a punch than the Ryzen Z2 Go. The original ROG Ally also has nearly identical specs to the white ROG Xbox Ally, and the only real differences side by side are the weaker APU included with the latter and ergonomic grips around the back. If the new handheld ends up costing significantly more than the OG device, advertising the fact that new features are coming to the latter could be a pretty bad look, and that could ultimately be the reason for the omission. That said, the ROG Ally's absence on the Xbox on Handhelds page doesn't necessarily mean it'll miss out on new Windows 11 features. I suspect the perks will roll out to any device that supports the latest version of Microsoft's operating system after the ROG Xbox Ally makes its debut. But if select devices do miss out on optimizations, it could force players to upgrade their portables regardless of their specs. There are ultimately reasons why you'll want to grab the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X or its cheaper counterpart later this year. Ergonomic tweaks mean you should end up with a level of console comfort not unlike the PlayStation Portal with its DualSense sensibilities, and features like its "Windows Performance Fit" indicator will help combat browsing compatible games similarly to the Steam Deck OLED. You'll also be able to tap into "Advanced shader delivery" tricks that'll load in texture packs as your game downloads to speed things up, and Microsoft even has its own "Automatic Super Resolution" AI upscaling in the works that'll leverage your handheld's NPU. That latter feature is something that'll likely be exclusive to Ryzen Z2 handhelds since the older Ryzen Z1 chips lack an NPU, which includes the Asus ROG Ally X. I do find it a little weird that Microsoft is highlighting the portable as "Built to game with Xbox" based on that fact, but it could be a sign that'll get other non-AI perks. We'll simply need to wait and see which ROG Xbox Ally features make their way to other handhelds, too, once the updates officially arrive, and that could ultimately help the new devices stand out from the crowd. If every Windows 11 device ends up with the same tools, though, it'll be pretty difficult to recommend the cheaper Xbox handheld unless the OG ROG Ally vanishes for good.