Asus and Microsoft Launch ROG Xbox Ally Handheld Gaming PCs
Asus and Microsoft are launching their ROG Xbox Ally series of handheld gaming PCs on October 16, featuring two models running a redesigned Windows 11 Home to compete with Steam Deck.
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Overview
- Asus and Microsoft are set to launch their new ROG Xbox Ally series of handheld gaming PCs on October 16 across various markets.
- The series includes two models: the basic ROG Xbox Ally and the more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X, both running a redesigned Windows 11 Home.
- The Ally X features an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage, while the standard Ally uses an AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor.
- This collaboration aims to introduce new software optimizations and products, directly competing with SteamOS and the Steam Deck in the handheld gaming sector.
- A Handheld Compatibility Program was announced, with future plans for features like Automatic Super Resolution to be introduced in early 2026.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by highlighting the critical absence of pricing information for the new Xbox handhelds. They express "concern" and speculate on reasons for the delay, suggesting potential high costs and competitive challenges. The narrative emphasizes the necessity for competitive pricing to ensure market viability, guiding the reader to view the unannounced price as a significant hurdle.
"Microsoft and Asus have a large hill to climb if they plan to have the Xbox Ally dethrone the Steam Deck."
CNET"The ROG Xbox Ally consoles and their bespoke Windows customizations are a response to Valve's SteamOS, promising a gaming-centric experience with enhanced compatibility and performance."
ARS Technica"The Xbox Ally needs to be, at the very least, as cheap as a baseline Steam Deck OLED at $550 or the $600 Lenovo Legion Go S if Asus and Xbox want any chance of staking a claim in the still-nascent handheld scene."
Gizmodo"Asus says that info, plus preorder dates, "will follow in the coming weeks.""
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FAQ
The ROG Xbox Ally features newer AMD processors, with the Ally X model using the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor that has Zen 5 architecture and 16 compute units (RDNA3.5), while the Steam Deck uses older AMD Zen 2 and RDNA2 hardware. The Ally X supports higher power (15-35W) compared to the Steam Deck's 4-15W, and offers more RAM and storage possibilities, leading to potentially better performance.
The Xbox Ally runs a redesigned Windows 11 Home with an Xbox interface, allowing it to run all PC games and Xbox titles via native downloads, remote play, and cloud streaming. In contrast, the Steam Deck runs Valve's Linux-based SteamOS, which is optimized for handheld gaming and offers wide compatibility with Steam games. The Windows OS on handhelds can have issues due to being designed for laptops/desktops, but the Xbox Ally aims to mitigate this with software optimizations and the Xbox interface.
The ROG Xbox Ally, especially the Ally X model, is generally faster than the Steam Deck, with up to 50% better performance in comparable scenarios. It supports higher power modes (up to 30W turbo) and has a higher-resolution 1080p screen. However, some software updates have caused minor performance regressions on earlier ROG Ally models. Overall, it can run newer, demanding games more smoothly than the Steam Deck.
Asus and Microsoft have announced a Handheld Compatibility Program and plan to introduce features like Automatic Super Resolution starting in early 2026, which will enhance gaming visuals and performance on the ROG Xbox Ally platform.
The Xbox Ally uses an Xbox interface on Windows 11, allowing users to download Xbox games directly, remote play them from an Xbox console, or stream games via Xbox Cloud, thus providing seamless access to Xbox gaming services unlike the Steam Deck, which focuses on Steam games.
History
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