The ROG Xbox Ally is the hand-held PC I have been ready for

Over eight years in the past, online game juggernaut Nintendo modified the sport with its hybrid Change console, which bridged the standard divide between gaming handhelds and full-blown dwelling consoles. The Change’s intelligent dockability resonated with many a gamer, and it additionally had the ripple impact of spurring the creation of an all-new product class of PC gaming handhelds.

The likes of Valve’s Steam Deck, Lenovo’s Legion Go, and Asus’ ROG Ally show that x86 structure with discrete graphics may be viably fitted right into a handheld system, and that full-fat PCs can step as much as the function of providing a console-like expertise when the time requires it.

Notably absent from the hand-held get together till now has been Microsoft, with the corporate providing no first-party moveable {hardware} to showcase its Xbox and Home windows 11 gaming ecosystems. This all changed back in June, when it was revealed that Microsoft and Asus have been teaming as much as carry a duo of Xbox-branded ROG Ally gadgets to market.

Whereas pricing stays unsure, we now have official affirmation that each the entry-level ROG Xbox Ally and the higher-tier ROG Xbox Ally X will reach store shelves on October 16 of this yr. Each Microsoft and Asus have been showcasing the 2 up-and-coming handhelds on the currently-ongoing Gamescom 2025 conference in Cologne, Germany, and I’ve had the chance to get hands-on time with each items.

Listed below are my ideas after spending a number of minutes utilizing the ROG Xbox Ally collection in particular person.

• Dimensions

  290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm

  Model

  Asus

  Weight

  23oz (670g)

  Chipset

  AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor

  RAM

  16GB LPDDR5X-6400

  Storage

  512GB M.2 2280 SSD

  
  

• 

  Dimensions

  290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm

  Model

  Asus

  Weight

  25oz (715g)

  Chipset

  AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Excessive Processor

  RAM

  24GB LPDDR5X-8000

  Storage

  1TB M.2 2280 SSD for simpler improve

  
  

Asus nailed the ergonomics

Each ROG Xbox Ally fashions are remarkably snug within the hand

Proper off the bat, I can safely say that I’m a fan of the ROG Xbox Ally from an exterior design perspective. I’ve all the time discovered ROG handhelds to be each well-built and aesthetically pleasing, and this completely carries over to the brand new {hardware} on provide.

Evolving on the shell design of Asus’ current ROG Ally and ROG Ally X fashions, the ROG Xbox Ally collection is designed with distinguished Xbox controller-inspired handles that make for a genuinely snug in-hand really feel. Weight distribution additionally seems to be nicely calibrated — the higher-end ROG Xbox Ally X’s 1.58 lbs (715g) weight is a little more than the 1.48 lbs (670g) base mannequin, however neither really feel notably dense.

After spending a number of minutes with the ROG Xbox Ally in my fingers, I picked up older ROG handhelds to immediately evaluate the in-hand really feel. In my view, these new gadgets make the older ROG Ally X really feel sharp and unnaturally angular by comparability.

To drive dwelling the Xbox a part of the product providing, the gadgets additionally embody a distinguished Xbox emblem button, coloured face buttons that match these discovered on Microsoft’s official controllers, and a signature inexperienced colour accent lit on by default for the LED gentle rings flanking every analog stick.

The software program is slicker than I anticipated

Microsoft’s try and console-ify Home windows 11 is greater than skin-deep

Whereas I didn’t get an opportunity to benchmark gaming efficiency, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X’s upgraded inner specs are certain to pack a graphical punch. They look like a modest spec bump over the prevailing ROG Ally X, which already performs comparatively nicely by handheld gaming PC requirements.

The up to date internals and the ergonomically refined, Xbox-clad exterior are each huge wins for the ROG Xbox Ally collection, however the actual show-stopper is undoubtedly on the software program aspect of issues. Microsoft has been exhausting at work on enhancing Home windows 11 for the paradigm that’s handheld PCs, and it is utilizing the ROG Xbox Ally as a springboard to launch its massively overhauled OS expertise.

The construct of Home windows 11 flashed on the ROG Xbox Ally is exclusive in that it options an necessary superpower. The system is able to booting right into a console-like interface setting that’s contact and gamepad pleasant, which instantly solves the problem of Home windows being unintuitive on small, mouse and keyboardless shows.

Importantly, this new console-esque software program mode runs greater than pores and skin deep. Behind the scenes, Microsoft has put in work to disable background duties that influence gaming efficiency, whereas additionally disabling the desktop and taskbar shell elements for a leaner OS with much less computational overhead to fret about whereas gaming.

The software program working on the demo items I examined isn’t finalized, and so it’s nonetheless topic to additional change and refinement. There was no means for me to confirm whether or not this stripped-down Home windows 11 expertise improves gaming efficiency and standby time to ranges approximating the Steam Deck or the Change 2, however I’ll say that the method of switching to and from desktop and gaming mode is extra seamless than I had anticipated.

Throughout the gaming launcher’s sidebar, a setting is on the market for switching over to desktop mode. The method is close to instantaneous, to the purpose the place I used to be shocked at how shortly the acquainted Home windows 11 desktop appeared on-screen. To re-enter into sport mode, you are able to do so with out rebooting the system, although a immediate strongly encourages you to press the restart possibility to make sure system optimization and sport compatibility.

The highway ahead

Handheld gaming PCs have legs

For so long as I’ve been a gamer, one factor has remained completely constant: my choice for handheld consoles over their dwelling console and desktop PC counterparts. My earliest gaming reminiscences have been facilitated by Nintendo’s 2003-era Recreation Boy Advance SP, and I’ve all the time privileged portability and a versatile gaming expertise over entry to a much bigger display or extra horsepower. Now, with at this time’s dockable gaming rigs being part of the equation, I can basically have my cake and eat it too.

Whereas the ROG Xbox Ally collection isn’t an alternative to my dream cell gaming system — a first-party Floor Xbox — it actually does look, really feel, and behave very similar to how I’d envision such a tool to take action. Even in my transient hands-on time with the 2 upcoming Asus handhelds, I can inform that severe effort has gone into the consolization of Home windows 11, which bodes nicely for the platform’s future.

As for the bodily {hardware}, it brings a touch of Xbox aptitude into the combo, together with refined design tweaks that make for a refined (and extremely snug) gaming expertise. Most significantly, it achieves this feat with out the have to be tethered to a wall outlet. Whereas I can’t but converse to the oh-so necessary metrics of efficiency, effectivity, and battery life, the mixture of mature Asus {hardware} and reinvigorated Home windows software program has me extremely enthusiastic about what’s to return within the handheld PC area.

If the ROG Xbox Ally collection is priced no less than considerably competitively, I feel Microsoft and Asus might need an actual winner on their fingers.