Latest news with #ROGAlly
CNET
4 days ago
- CNET
The Xbox Ally's Biggest Specs Upgrade Could Just Be Better Windows 11 for Handhelds
The same thing that makes Windows gaming handhelds desirable also holds them back. It's never been the hardware. The designs aren't perfect in a lot of the devices -- even the best of the lot, the Asus ROG Ally and ROG Ally X, which are the basis of the forthcoming ROG Xbox Ally -- but they're generally playable. The culprit has always been Windows. It simply isn't an operating system designed for a dedicated gaming handheld, and that needs to change. Of course, we'd all love the Xbox Ally to be cheap, somewhere in the range of the Nintendo Switch 2's $450. But while we don't yet know the real pricing, $600-plus seems more likely given the specs. With the exception of the processor, which is designed with handhelds in mind, the specs are the same as what you may find in a full Windows laptop. Specifications ROG Xbox Ally ROG Xbox Ally X Operating system Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Home Processor AMD Ryzen Z2A AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Memory 16GB LPDDR5X-6400 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 Storage 512GB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade 1TB M.2 2280 SSD Display 7 in. FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9; 120Hz FreeSync Premium 7 in. FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9; 120Hz FreeSync Premium I/O Ports 2x USB-C (2 x DP 2.1, PD 3.0), 1 x microSD, 1 x analog audio 2x USB-C (1 x USB4, 1 x USB 3.2 both w/ DP 2.1, PD 3.0), 1 x microSD, 1 x analog audio Network and communication Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4 Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4 Dimensions 29.1x12.2x5.1 cm 29.1x12.2x5.1 cm Weight 670g 715g Battery 60Wh 80Wh I can't vouch for the lower-end model of the Ally -- I've only tested the higher-end one -- but on the last-gen hardware, many games run well, at least at 1080p, and people have been known to output as high as 4K with an optional docking station. But Windows has a lot more to overcome. Windows annoyances, writ small There are a lot of chunks of the operating system that serve as a useful base -- many of which it shares with the Xbox -- and which make it possible to run games from any game store on Windows, one of the big reasons we want the handheld. Those parts also make connections to peripherals and communications possible, as well as supply an architecture for incorporating AI (where it makes sense) for games. But layered atop that scaffolding are the millions of lines of code (if not more) necessary for an OS that tries to be all things to all people, along with an interface intended to serve a multiplicity of uses. It can make just getting to play a game a misery. Microsoft has the opportunity -- really the necessity -- to strip Windows down to its gaming essentials in order to make the Xbox Ally the gaming handheld people want to love. Things need to change for gaming handhelds, and many of those things would make Windows an operating system we could hate a little less. Windows Update: Frequent updates have become a fact of life, and gaming devices are no exception. And if an update brings gaming-related bug fixes or feature enhancements, that's fine. But when I'm ready to game and have to sit through 10 minutes (or more) of updates for parts of the OS that have nothing to do with gaming, I get pissed. You can postpone for a while, but at a certain point, it gets angry and things begin to stop working. Then there are times when updates insist on happening even though you've postponed it. As I write this, I've gotten a pop-up notification on the Ally X that it needs to restart, and the update is estimated to take 30 minutes. "NO. THANK. YOU." Frequent updates have become a fact of life, and gaming devices are no exception. And if an update brings gaming-related bug fixes or feature enhancements, that's fine. But when I'm ready to game and have to sit through 10 minutes (or more) of updates for parts of the OS that have nothing to do with gaming, I get pissed. You can postpone for a while, but at a certain point, it gets angry and things begin to stop working. Then there are times when updates insist on happening even though you've postponed it. As I write this, I've gotten a pop-up notification on the Ally X that it needs to restart, and the update is estimated to take 30 minutes. "NO. THANK. YOU." Windows sign-on: By default, Windows 11 forces you to sign in to a Microsoft account; that's an annoying but common practice on a lot of devices, including consoles. But it should be much easier to do on a handheld, such as with a barcode scanned by a phone, the way you can log in to Steam, as well as an easy way to tell it to bypass authentication if you don't need it. The on-screen keyboard isn't bad, and a PIN code can be short, but it's still a pain and not accessibility friendly. Face ID doesn't work for these, and adding an IR camera on the long edge for Windows Hello would elevate what's already a high price. I could go on, but I'll spare you the rant I reexperience for every system I test. By default, Windows 11 forces you to sign in to a Microsoft account; that's an annoying but common practice on a lot of devices, including consoles. But it should be much easier to do on a handheld, such as with a barcode scanned by a phone, the way you can log in to Steam, as well as an easy way to tell it to bypass authentication if you don't need it. The on-screen keyboard isn't bad, and a PIN code can be short, but it's still a pain and not accessibility friendly. Face ID doesn't work for these, and adding an IR camera on the long edge for Windows Hello would elevate what's already a high price. I could go on, but I'll spare you the rant I reexperience for every system I test. Windows desktop: On a gaming-only device, you should never, ever have to see the Windows desktop unless you choose to, the same way you can use a Steam Deck (or SteamOS handheld like the Lenovo Legion Go S On a gaming-only device, you should never, ever have to see the Windows desktop unless you choose to, the same way you can use a Steam Deck (or SteamOS handheld like the Crapware: I have a fairly broad definition of crapware: Anything installed that I didn't ask for and that's not essential to a device's operation. Seriously, Microsoft -- the standard trial versions of Microsoft Office, Teams, LinkedIn, and more are an even bigger waste of space on a gaming handheld than on a laptop. Games are huge, storage tends to be too small for cost reasons, and every byte of storage should be dedicated to things required to play them. I have a fairly broad definition of crapware: Anything installed that I didn't ask for and that's not essential to a device's operation. Seriously, Microsoft -- the standard trial versions of Microsoft Office, Teams, LinkedIn, and more are an even bigger waste of space on a gaming handheld than on a laptop. Games are huge, storage tends to be too small for cost reasons, and every byte of storage should be dedicated to things required to play them. Controller navigation throughout: On a screen so small, touch alone doesn't cut it for an operating system and applications designed for use with a mouse, and it can throw you out of the gaming experience. On a screen so small, touch alone doesn't cut it for an operating system and applications designed for use with a mouse, and it can throw you out of the gaming experience. HDR: You shouldn't have to remember to go to the display settings and turn HDR on; it should be able to autodetect it when you turn it on within a game. You generally can't leave HDR enabled on screens this dim -- usually only as high as 500 nits -- without messing up the display of the non-HDR elements. But as far as I can tell, the only Windows handheld with HDR is the OLED Zotac Zone. And those are just the things that stand out in my memory. There are a lot of places that could use some interface streamlining as well, like Wi-Fi (have you ever tried to find your own network listed when you live in an apartment building with at least 50 different SSIDs within range?). And most of these would significantly improve the experience for PC Windows users as well.
Hypebeast
5 days ago
- Hypebeast
The Xbox ROG Ally Consoles Could Be Some of the Most Expensive Handheld Consoles Yet
Summary Microsoft'sXbox ROG Ally and Xbox ROG Ally Xcould be some of the most expensive handheld consoles to date. Citing information from two European retailers, reputable retail insider extras1s claimed the Xbox ROG Ally will retail for €599 EUR (approximately $690 USD), and the Xbox ROG Ally X for €899 EUR (approximately $1035 USD). The insider further alleged that pre-orders for both options are currently scheduled for August prior to its release in October. Neither Microsoft norAsushave confirmed the reports. Dexertoadds that the rumored prices are higher in comparison to Asus' previously-released ROG Ally consoles (none of which were created with Microsoft orXbox). First released in 2023, the handheld devices retailed for $599 USD and $699 USD, while the ROG Ally X was priced at $800 USD in 2024. Stay tuned for official details.
Digital Trends
09-06-2025
- Digital Trends
The ROG Xbox Ally fixes the worst problem with Windows handhelds
A few years ago, there was a moment when I felt like the only thing that could make the Steam Deck better was if it would ditch Linux for Windows. That turned out to be one heck of a monkey's paw. As soon as competing handhelds flooded the market, all equipped with Microsoft's OS, I realized exactly why Valve didn't go in that direction. Windows is a total pain to navigate in devices like the Legion Go for countless reasons. The Steam Deck was protecting me from myself all this time. So forgive me if I was a little skeptical when Microsoft revealed the ROG Xbox Ally. While I used to dream of a portable device like this that was built around Xbox Game Pass, I was filled with some mild dread when the big day finally came. I just didn't want to struggle with another Windows handheld. Thankfully, Asus and Microsoft have seemingly read the room. Following the device's announcement at the Xbox Games Showcase, Digital Trends went hands-on with the handheld and learned much more about its internals. The good news? All of the pesky parts of Windows have been cut out in favor of a more focused gaming device. Recommended Videos The most important thing I learned is that this isn't simply a regular ROG Ally with an Xbox logo slapped on the box. Sure, its guts may have some similarities, but key parts of it have been rebuilt. That starts with the design, as the Xbox Ally trades in rounded edges for traditional controller grips to bring the device more in line with a gamepad. That puts it somewhere between a ROG Ally and a PlayStation Portal in terms of comfort. Impulse triggers further soup the package up, which is a nice touch. The only problem is that it's quite heavy. Even after no more than 10 minutes holding it up, I could definitely feel some strain forming in my wrist. There are plenty of specs to pour over here, including the pricier Xbox Ally X's Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme or its 120Hz display, but the most important thing about it is that Windows has been entirely redesigned for it. Microsoft has taken a page out of Valve's playbook and crafted its own bespoke gaming UI here. The main menu is similar to that of the Steam Deck's showing off all recently played games in a tidy little row. Any games downloaded on the device will show up in the UI, so it isn't only compatible with Game Pass titles. It's an all-in-one approach to PC gaming under an Xbox branding. The best part of that is that Microsoft has slashed how many pieces of Windows runs while that view is open. Anything that's not necessary to gaming simply won't be active, so you won't have to worry about the calendar app suddenly taking you out of games. That's an enormous improvement, as the unwieldy nature of handheld Windows often makes these devices so cumbersome to use. Even the sign in UI has been redesigned and built around controller support, with key features like Wi-Fi accessible with some simple controller clicks. Players can still launch a normal version of Windows, but it's no longer the default experience when booting the system up. It's not just about cutting out some minor annoyances; slashing these features saves 2GB. It makes the machine far more efficient, which finally makes gaming on a portable version of Windows more viable. In my demo, I'd play a small slice of Gears of War: Reloaded, which ran shockingly well considering that it's a fairly robust remaster. I didn't have enough time with the system to do a full benchmark test, but I was getting a much clearer image at a stable framerate than I would have expected. Xbox even plans to make it easy to tell how well games can run on it with its own version of Steam Deck's verification system. The plan is now just to tell people if a game can run on the handheld, but how well it runs too. Asus' goal here is to streamline the UI all around and it goes a long way. For instance, I can press the Xbox logo on the left side of the device to pull up a pop-up menu that features just about everything I'd need in an Xbox experience. Even better is that the menu also includes Asus' Armoury Crate app rather than siloing it off into a separate menu. That's a small consideration, but it's one that condenses every key menu in one place. I'll no longer have to fumble around separate menus to find whatever thing I'm looking to tweak or access. I only got a short introduction to the handheld, which wasn't nearly enough time to test its power or see how thoroughly it catalogues games from any service into the Xbox interface. Part of me still feels like there must be some sort of hidden trade off that comes with slashing Windows down. Every portable device has some kind of catch and I'm sure we'll discover the Xbox Ally's in due time. For now though, I'm optimistic that Asus has fixed the biggest problem with its devices and invented a viable alternative to SteamOS. If this works as well as it seems to, I imagine that Microsoft may salvage its handheld reputation just yet.
Android Authority
09-06-2025
- Android Authority
The main issue with Windows handhelds is Windows, but the Xbox ROG Ally tries to fix that
TL;DR Microsoft has announced the Xbox ROG Ally and Xbox ROG Ally X handhelds, coming this holiday season. These Windows handhelds boot directly into a controller-friendly UI and feature an Xbox button to summon the Game Bar overlay. Microsoft has also turned off various Windows elements in the name of gaming performance. We've heard for a while now that Microsoft and ASUS were working together on an Xbox-branded ROG Ally handheld. Now, the companies have indeed announced the Xbox ROG Ally and ROG Ally X devices. These machines aren't actually handheld Xbox consoles, as they're still running Windows 11. However, Microsoft says it's made plenty of changes to the software experience. This is good news, as the UI and software experience have long been the biggest issues with Windows-based handhelds. Major software changes For starters, Microsoft says the Xbox ROG Ally handhelds will boot directly into the 'Xbox full screen experience' for a more intuitive and efficient handheld environment. 'With new modifications that minimize background activity and defer non-essential tasks, more system resources are dedicated specifically to gameplay,' Microsoft added. A Microsoft executive told The Verge that it managed to claw back 2GB of RAM by turning off the desktop wallpaper, taskbar, and a 'bunch' of other Windows processes. However, users can still jump into the traditional Windows environment if they'd like to do so. These handhelds also offer an Xbox button to summon the Game Bar overlay, which includes ASUS Armory Crate integration. Finally, Microsoft notes that it's also optimized the lock screen and task switcher for controller input (better late than never, I guess). Otherwise, you can still access other stores on the device, including Steam. Xbox ROG Ally: What about hardware? The two Xbox ROG Ally models share several features, namely a 7-inch 120Hz IPS LCD screen (1080p, Gorilla Glass Victus), microSD expansion, M.2 2280 SSDs that can be swapped out, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 6E, and 65W charging. The standard Xbox ROG Ally has an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, a 60Wh battery (up from 40Wh in the original Ally), 16GB of RAM, 512GB of internal storage, and two USB-C ports (USB 3.2 Gen 2 with DisplayPort 2.1). However, the Xbox ROG Ally X model ups the ante with an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip (an upgrade from the vanilla ASUS ROG Ally X), an 80Wh battery, 24GB of RAM, 1TB of internal storage, and a USB-C port (USB 4.0 with Thunderbolt 4 compatibility). Interestingly, ASUS claims that playing in Silent Mode on the Xbox ROG Ally X will 'feel like' playing in Performance Mode on the previous Ally X while still offering more battery life. Unfortunately, the company isn't dishing out specific battery life figures just yet. Microsoft and ASUS haven't revealed pricing just yet, either, while only confirming that the handhelds will be available this holiday season. Expect to find the Xbox ROG Ally line in a variety of markets, including Australia, Europe, Japan, the Middle East, the UK, and the US. However, Microsoft adds that the handhelds will eventually be available in other markets where ROG Ally models are already sold. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
CNET
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
I Played With the Xbox ROG Ally, the Upcoming Xbox Handheld
Microsoft revealed its long-rumored Xbox handheld console running Windows 11 during the Xbox Games Showcase -- two models called the Xbox ROG Ally and Xbox ROG Ally X -- and I spent a short time playing around with one soon after. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to take any pictures or videos of the demo, since the hardware we got to test wasn't final. That became evident when our designated guide had HDMI connection issues with the unit. I was able to play around with the Xbox full- screen experience, the various settings menus and played the beginning minutes of Gears of War Reloaded, which comes out this summer. Watch this: Everything Announced at the Xbox Games Showcase in 16 Minutes 16:18 The device is quite comfortable to hold, with slightly textured grips. The face buttons, triggers, and analog sticks all felt familiar, very similar to what I'm used to on an Xbox controller. What's really exciting is that you can download your games, remote play from your Xbox, or stream from the cloud, making this more useful than PlayStation's Portal, which can only stream and play remotely. That's one of the major benefits of being inside Xbox's ecosystem: You can play a game on any of its devices, regardless of where you bought it, whether that be Xbox consoles, PC, cloud or this new handheld. This more open-platform approach makes the Xbox Ally closer in spirit to a Steam Deck compared to a Nintendo Switch, which can only run Nintendo games. When it ships -- expected in time for the winter holidays -- you'll be able to navigate via a full-screen Xbox app, which combines your Xbox game library with installed games from several other marketplaces into a single Xbox experience. The company specifically mentioned Xbox, Game Pass, (owned by Microsoft), and "other leading PC storefronts," which I'm hoping includes Steam. Much like on an Xbox, each game has icons depicting which platform they're from. In my demo, the only example of a different storefront was Hearthstone, which had a icon. Microsoft/Screenshot by CNET The Xbox Ally consoles use the Game Bar, and if you've used the Xbox app on PC then you'll find it familiar. In fact, pressing the new Xbox button opens an almost identical version of the guide when playing Xbox games on PC. However, there's also a new Command Center tab on the far left to adjust settings for power consumption and performance, similar to what we've seen on Steam Deck. In Game Bar you can quickly jump to the home screen, your library, launch games, open apps, chat with friends, adjust settings and more. And this Game Bar works alongside Asus's Armoury Crate overlay. This is a little worrisome, as Armoury Crate has usually felt more like unnecessary bloatware, but when we get to test the device later this year we'll see if Asus has stripped it down to the relevant functions rather than just added more on top. Since it's a Windows 11 device, you'll also be able to launch and use apps like Discord and Twitch and access game mods. The Xbox Ally boots directly into the "Xbox full screen experience" similar to how a Steam Deck launches into Big Picture mode. The full-screen experience is optimized specifically for handheld gaming, and Xbox told me the device minimizes background activity and allocates more system resources to gameplay like Game Mode does on Windows. This means more memory and potentially higher framerates for your games. Xbox The ROG Ally and Ally X have been out for a bit now, but the Xbox models have some unique features. In addition to the Xbox button, the Xbox ROG Ally also has larger, contoured grips. The previous ROG Ally is more rectangular; the Xbox Ally is closer to the design of the PlayStation Portal, with dedicated, slightly separated hand grips that mimic the look and feel of a standard game controller. They also have upgraded components over the Asus versions. The handheld comes in two options, a white Xbox Ally and the more powerful Xbox Ally X which comes in black. The lower-end Ally is powered by a AMD Ryzen Z2A processor, comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, weighs 23.6 oz/670g, and has a 60Wh battery. The Ally X has a AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 24GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, weighs a bit more at 25.2 oz/715g, and has a 80Wh battery. Both models are equipped with a 7-inch,120Hz 1080p screen, the same as on the original Asus versions of the devices. They also have RGB lights surrounding the analog sticks, something I hope I'll be able to turn off when I spend some real time playing on the device. The Ally X did feel on the heavier side, but then again the recently released Switch 2 and my Steam Deck OLED are also pretty heavy so I think that's just what handhelds weigh these days. Xbox hasn't yet revealed the pricing or release date, aside from "this holiday."
