The rumours have been swirling about Xbox finally creating their own handheld gaming system, and it turns out people were mainly right.
Xbox has partnered with ASUS ROG to bring their very own version of the Ally, called the Xbox Ally and the Xbox Ally X. I was lucky enough, ahead of the Xbox Game Showcase, to go hands-on and learn about the development process between Xbox, ASUS, Windows and, that’s right, AMD. The Xbox Ally and Ally X will be AMD-powered devices, with the Xbox Ally featuring an AMD Ryzen Z2 A, and the Xbox Ally X hosting an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme.
Of course, this isn’t the first time AMD has powered a handheld device; beyond many of the previous PC-based handhelds based on AMD, MSI also created an AMD model at Computex this year, which previously featured Intel chips. What IS notable, however, is that this is the first time a handheld gaming device will feature AI Acceleration. This is the first time an NPU with this capability is being used for handheld gaming.
Other specs vary between the two models, and some things were not entirely clear during my brief session, but here is what I DO know:
Xbox Ally Specs:
- AMD Ryzen Z2 A
- 16 GB Memory
- 512 GB Storage
- 720p Display
- On-Board Microphone
Xbox Ally X Specs:
- AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme
- 24 GB Memory
- 1TB Storage
- 120Hz Refresh Rate
- 1080p 7-inch Display
- On-Board Microphone
As you can see, I was able to snag more details about the Ally X than the Ally, as it was heavily featured in the trailer shown at the Xbox Game Showcase, which I pre-screened. I did not hear a refresh rate for the regular Xbox Ally, I also saw the Xbox Ally X in black, but also saw a white device in the room and on screen. I am unsure if the Xbox Ally comes in white and the Xbox Ally X comes in black, or if both models come in both colours. Both systems also looked the same size, implying both had 7-inch displays, but it wasn’t confirmed.
That being said, there is a lot I do know for sure! These new versions of the ASUS ROG Ally are loaded with aesthetic Xbox touches, like a brand-new Xbox button on the left, though it doesn’t glow! They also have impulse triggers, which allow for immersive haptics, whether you want to feel the terrain you’re running on or the heaviness of each hit in a fighting game.
Something that might be of note to gamers who want the ultimate performance with their games: The Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X will work with XG Mobile. This means you can hook them up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 laptop GPU to bring powerful performance paired with your handheld. These new devices will also have Hand-Held Game Optimization, which means they can tell you which games are made for handheld and which games may perform poorly, without you having to find out the hard way.
You will also notice that ASUS has changed their signature Ally style to suit Xbox controllers. Gone is the angular shape that the team said caused “flat” fingers at the back of the device. They have exchanged this for the curved design of Xbox controllers, allowing your hands to sit more naturally at the back of the device. In turn, Xbox has adopted some of ASUS’ angular branding in its Xbox button. It is no longer a perfectly round shape, now looking more like the other buttons to the right and left of the Ally display.
But what makes these hand-helds “Xbox”? Anything can be an Xbox now, right? When loading up the Xbox, you are loaded directly into the Xbox Full Screen Experience. For previous ASUS ROG Ally users, you know that you usually jump into Armory Crate first, and then into Windows and your preferred gaming platform, such as Steam, Epic Games, GOG, Ubisoft Connect, etc. With the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, ASUS has taken a gracious step back, allowing the Xbox Full Screen Experience to command the Ally.
What does the Xbox Full Screen Experience mean?
Xbox users will find the Full Screen Experience very familiar. Here, you will load directly into your dashboard, where you can see all your games on offer. They will also be able to jump back into their Xbox games across any platform, whether it is PC, the new Ally, or their console, from an easy-to-find “Jump Back In” section, complete with game saves.
With the Xbox Ally X and Ally, it is not just about being able to play your Xbox titles via the cloud. It’s about bringing a familiar home to all of your gaming platforms. So, you’ll notice a new button that looks like three vertical lines, which connects directly to perhaps the most exciting feature on the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X. This button gives you access to all your games across ALL your gaming platforms, not just Xbox.
Instead of jumping into Windows, then the Xbox App, then back to Windows and over to Steam when you want to play a game, you’ll be able to see all your games across various platforms, Xbox and Game Pass, all in one spot. What I am unsure of still is if you can update your games from other platforms within the Xbox Full Screen Experience. If so, with the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, you could circumvent the Windows system altogether, if that was your choice. However, if you do like the Windows system, it is still fully functional, with the ability to swap over whenever you want.
How does the Xbox Ally X feel?
Pretty damn good. I am already an Ally X game, but the ergonomic grips feel great and very familiar. There is also an ROG Xbox Micro Texture on the device, which feels grippy and also breathable. The signature Xbox ABXY buttons keep their design, and the clickiness is great, though not as clicky as you’d find on some Razer controllers or the Kishi. All in all, the Xbox Ally X FEELS like an Xbox controller.
Playing a very short segment of Gears of War: Reloaded (no, not enough to report on, sadly!), the display looked crisp, clear, and vibrant, so there isn’t much more I can ask for. In the hand, the device felt light and well-balanced, but it is important to note that this was not a final version and is still in development, so this could change.
With the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, Xbox is really playing on the “every gamer” experience. Where we see companies like PlayStation and Nintendo keeping their hand-helds in the family, Xbox has branched out in this partnership with ASUS ROG to bring an Xbox gaming experience not only to Xbox gamers, but to Steam gamers, Epic gamers, and PC gamers as a whole.
The Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X will be available in time for the holidays this year, 2025.
