Microsoft just announced the Xbox handheld I’ve always wanted

Abstract

The ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally characteristic enhanced specs, a extra ergonomic design, and deeper Xbox app integration.
The brand new Xbox-branded handhelds additionally characteristic impulse triggers, customizable buttons, and upgraded batteries.
Microsoft’s handheld partnership with Asus has been rumored for a number of months.

At Xbox’s 2025 Games Showcase, Microsoft and Asus revealed two Xbox-branded ROG Ally handhelds that characteristic extra highly effective AMD processors and improved integration with the Xbox app. Each ROG Xbox Ally portables are set to launch this coming vacation, but it surely’s unclear how a lot both will price. For context, the ROG Ally X is presently priced at $800 and the ROG Ally prices $500, so it is doubtless these new handhelds might be priced above their predecessors.

Past the inner chip bump, the ROG Xbox Ally encompasses a barely totally different design with Xbox controller-like arms for a greater grip. Since I discover the ROG Ally X fairly uncomfortable and picked up dbrand’s Killswitch caseto attempt to remedy the difficulty, I am thinking about seeing if this transformation makes the ROG Xbox Ally line simpler to carry.

Not a lot is understood about both Xbox-branded ROG handheld but past the bounce from the ROG Ally X/ROG Ally’s AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive processor (the sooner model of the ROG Ally options the AMD Ryzen Z1), however we do know a number of key specs, which you could find beneath:

ROG Xbox Ally X

AMD Ryzen Z2 Excessive GPU
24GB of RAM
1TB of storage

ROG Xbox Ally

AMD Ryzen 2a
16GB of RAM
512GB of onboard storage

Associated

I wasn’t expecting the ROG Ally X to outshine the Steam Deck quite this much

Each gaming handhelds have particular strengths and weaknesses, however typically, the ROG Ally X reigns supreme.

The brand new handhelds are the ROG Ally 2 in all the pieces however identify

It is unclear what advantages the deeper Xbox integration gives

The brand new handhelds characteristic a local Xbox app that enables customers to entry their Xbox video games and cloud libraries. Since you’ll be able to already set up the Xbox app on the ROG Ally and Ally X and do that, it is unclear what benefits are supplied by the ROG Xbox Ally line past the devoted Xbox app button on the left aspect.

In an Xbox Wire post, Microsoft says which you can swap between numerous apps like Discord, Battlenet, and “different main PC storefronts.” Once more, you’ll be able to already do that on the usual ROG Ally, so it is unclear what’s totally different with the Xbox ROG line. Asus says that the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds characteristic impulse triggers, customizable buttons, upgraded battery, and “deep Xbox integration.”

In a number of methods, this feels just like the Xbox handheld I’ve at all times needed the corporate to make.

Rumors surrounding Microsoft’s partnership with Asus have been swirling for months, with the handhelds being officially teased just a few weeks ago. In addition they practically totally leaked in a Federal Communications Commission filing. Extra not too long ago, stories of Xbox video games showing within the Xbox PC app began to floor, prompting hypothesis that Microsoft is making a unified platform to entry Xbox video games from each consoles and PCs, together with the mixing of different platforms like Steam.

Whereas I nonetheless have many questions on the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, particularly concerning what the Xbox integration gives past the present ROG Ally, the cheap spec bump and extra ergonomic design look promising. In a number of methods, this feels just like the Xbox handheld I’ve at all times needed the corporate to make. If latest rumors are correct, it is a good factor as a result of Xbox’s long-rumored dedicated handheld is reportedly on hold.

Following the Xbox Video games Showcase, Microsoft revealed an in-depth take a look at the creation of the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally X, which you could find above.