The ROG Xbox Ally is formally hitting retailer cabinets this October

Asus and Microsoft have lastly confirmed the launch date for the highly-anticipated ROG Xbox Ally sequence of gaming handhelds, and the wait is lower than two months away. Avid gamers can anticipate each the usual Xbox Ally and the higher-end Xbox Ally X to reach on retailer cabinets starting October 16 of this yr.

At launch, each ROG Xbox Ally fashions can be obtainable to buy within the US, Canada, and the UK, along with various different international locations throughout Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The usual ROG Xbox Ally is about to reach in China “early subsequent yr,” with no phrase on whether or not the higher-end Ally X mannequin will make its strategy to the nation.

Internally, the ROG Xbox Ally is about to ship with an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of inside SSD storage. The ROG Xbox Ally X, in the meantime, consists of the extra highly effective AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Excessive processor, along with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of space for storing. Each fashions characteristic a 7-inch IPS LCD 1080p show with a 120Hz refresh price. A extra detailed breakdown of {hardware} specs will be discovered on Microsoft’s Xbox Wire website.

Asus and Microsoft first revealed the existence of Xbox-branded ROG Ally sport consoles on the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 in early June. On the time, we obtained affirmation of there being each a base Xbox Ally and a premium Xbox Ally X variant, together with a reasonably ambiguous launch window of “vacation 2025 in choose markets, with availability to observe for different markets the place ROG Ally sequence are offered immediately.”

With immediately’s information, we now have a a lot clearer image with regards to the brand new {hardware}’s launch timing and international availability, although neither Asus nor Microsoft have dedicated to any pricing figures for both mannequin fairly but. Based on the press launch, further pricing and pre-order particulars will observe “within the coming weeks.”

Within the meantime, Asus is showcasing each ROG Xbox Ally fashions to the general public at its sales space at Gamescom 2025, which is happening in Colgne, Germany from August 20 via 24.

• 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

  
  

The {hardware} is nice, nevertheless it’s the software program that issues most

The ROG Xbox Ally sequence is Home windows 11’s make-or-break second within the handheld gaming area

Asus / Microsoft

From a {hardware} standpoint, the ROG Xbox Ally sequence is shaping as much as be a strong handheld gaming PC providing. Constructing off the success of Asus’ present ROG Ally and ROG Ally X fashions, which run Windows 11, the all-new Xbox-branded ROG Ally items characteristic upgraded specs, a extra ergonomic exterior design, and the signature Xbox emblem button and face buttons.

In the end, the actual differentiating issue right here comes all the way down to software program. Primarily, Microsoft is utilizing the ROG Xbox Ally sequence as a springboard to launch an upgraded Home windows 11 expertise that is custom-designed for avid gamers with efficiency and effectivity in thoughts.

Home windows 11 has lengthy proven to be a problematic platform for handheld PCs, owing to a person interface that is not optimized for small shows, a scarcity of gamepad enter help on the shell degree, temperamental sleep/wake/hibernate tendencies, and an abundance of background processes that bathroom down the gaming expertise.

Whereas we do not but have all the main points, we do know that the model of Home windows 11 working on the ROG Xbox Ally fashions will characteristic a bolstered Xbox app that cuts down on background duties, kills parts of the desktop interface, and improves battery life and efficiency. Microsoft has additionally been busy bettering person interface parts inside its flagship OS in current months, too, together with by introducing a new gamepad-friendly keyboard and PIN enter display, a better-designed structure for the Xbox app, and the power to launch PC video games from various storefronts straight from inside mentioned app itself.

With rivals like Valve’s Steam Deck and the Lenovo Legion Go S working SteamOS now available on the market, the hand held gaming scene is changing into extra aggressive — and it is doing so in a method that sidesteps Microsoft’s domineering place throughout the conventional gaming PC business. If the corporate can kind out Home windows 11’s deficiencies, and if Asus’ {hardware} proves profitable sufficient, there is likely to be simply sufficient right here for Home windows 11 to reaffirm its standing as a viable platform for gaming, each at dwelling and whereas on the go.