What We Know About The Xbox Handheld So Far

When the company that dominates the PC market, has a firm grip on consoles, and shapes much of the gaming industry finally rolls out a handheld, what exactly do they give us?

Naturally, it’s a Windows PC. But the lingering question, at least for me was: Is it also an Xbox?

Well... kind of. If anything, it's the Xbox consoles that have always been closer to Windows PCs. The new ROG Xbox Ally sits right in between: a Windows gaming handheld with Xbox DNA baked in. That said, as far as we know so far, it runs PC games only and not Xbox games.

What is the ROG Xbox Ally?

The device comes in two variants:

ROG Xbox Ally

ROG Xbox Ally X

Similar to the Steam Deck running linux, it runs Windows 11 Home, not a proprietary OS like the Switch. Interestingly, it boots directly into the Xbox app by default, skipping the full Windows shell. This UI bypass conserves power and reduces system overhead, something any power user knows is sorely needed when Windows is involved.

Under the Hood

Both models feature AMD’s new Ryzen Z2 APUs:

The standard Ally has a Ryzen Z2 A (quad-core, 8 RDNA 2 GPU cores)

The Ally X steps up with a Ryzen Z2 Extreme (hexa-core, 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores + an integrated NPU)

Memory and storage also differ:

16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB M.2 SSD on the Ally

24GB LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB M.2 SSD on the Ally X

Both models share a 7-inch, 120Hz 1080p IPS LCD display with VRR (Variable Refresh Rate).

Specs at a Glance

Release Info & Final Thoughts

The ROG Xbox Ally is expected to launch Holiday 2025, though exact pricing and regional rollout are still under wraps. What’s clear is that this is a spiritual successor to the original Asus ROG Ally, now reborn with official Xbox branding and Microsoft support.

Where does this fit in the crowded space of Steam Decks, Switches, and Legion Gos? That’s a debate for after launch. For now, it’s a hybrid beast; part Xbox, part Windows machine, and perhaps the cleanest bridge between the two yet. You can find more information on the devices on Xbox sites (here and here), on the Asus site (here and here) and finally a concise Wikipedia article here that I highly recommend, epecially to hardware enthusiasts.