Xbox Handhelds — ROG Xbox Ally Buyer's Guide
Compare the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X — specs, performance, battery life, and where to buy. The complete Xbox handheld guide, updated monthly.
Updated April 2026Xbox Goes Portable
In October 2025, Microsoft partnered with ASUS to launch the ROG Xbox Ally — the first official Xbox handheld. It runs Windows 11 with a dedicated Xbox Full Screen Experience that boots straight into a console-like interface, giving you access to Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic, and your full PC game library.
There are two models: the ROG Xbox Ally (entry-level) and the ROG Xbox Ally X (premium). Both feature 7-inch 1080p displays at 120Hz, Xbox-style controls, and contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers.
ROG Xbox Ally (Standard)
The entry point to Xbox handheld gaming. Powered by the AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor — a quad-core chip based on Zen 2 architecture with RDNA 2 graphics. It handles indie games, older AAA titles, and cloud gaming brilliantly. Newer AAA games will need settings turned down.
ROG Xbox Ally — 512GB
~£499 / $599- CPU: AMD Ryzen Z2 A (Quad-core Zen 2)
- GPU: AMD RDNA 2 (8 cores)
- RAM: 16GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD
- Display: 7" IPS FHD 1080p, 120Hz, FreeSync Premium
- Battery: 60Wh
- Weight: 1.47 lbs / 668g
- Includes: 3 months Xbox Game Pass Premium
ROG Xbox Ally X (Premium)
The full-fat option. The Ally X uses the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme — an octa-core Zen 5 chip with RDNA 3.5 graphics and a built-in NPU for AI features. Significantly more powerful, with a bigger battery, more RAM, and double the storage.
ROG Xbox Ally X — 1TB
~£799 / $999- CPU: AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (Octa-core Zen 5)
- GPU: AMD RDNA 3.5 (16 cores)
- RAM: 24GB LPDDR5X
- Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD
- Display: 7" IPS FHD 1080p, 120Hz, FreeSync Premium
- Battery: 80Wh
- Weight: ~1.54 lbs / 700g
- Extras: Impulse triggers, NPU for AI features
- Includes: 3 months Xbox Game Pass Premium
Ally vs Ally X — Quick Comparison
| ROG Xbox Ally | ROG Xbox Ally X | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Ryzen Z2 A (Zen 2, 4-core) | Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (Zen 5, 8-core) |
| GPU | RDNA 2 (8 cores) | RDNA 3.5 (16 cores) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 | 24GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 512GB SSD | 1TB SSD |
| Battery | 60Wh | 80Wh |
| Display | 7" 1080p 120Hz | 7" 1080p 120Hz |
| Impulse Triggers | ❌ | ✅ |
| NPU (AI) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Price | ~£499 / $599 | ~£799 / $999 |
Which One Should You Get?
Get the Ally if you mainly want cloud gaming, Game Pass streaming, indie games, and lighter titles. It’s a solid machine at a more accessible price.
Get the Ally X if you want to play AAA games natively at decent settings, want longer battery life, or plan to use it as a portable PC replacement. The Zen 5 chip and extra RAM make a real difference in demanding games.
What Can You Play?
Both handhelds run Windows 11, so you get access to everything:
- Xbox Game Pass — hundreds of games, day-one releases
- Steam — your full library
- Epic Games Store — including freebies
- Xbox Play Anywhere — buy once, play on console and handheld
- Remote Play — stream games from your Xbox Series X|S
- Backwards compatible Xbox games via the Xbox app
The Xbox Full Screen Experience boots directly when you power on — no navigating the Windows desktop. It feels like a console, not a PC.
Accessories Worth Grabbing
A few accessories that pair well with the Xbox Ally handhelds:
JSAUX ModCase for ROG Xbox Ally X
Check price- Hard PC-ABS shell with TPU shock-absorbing edges
- Built-in metal kickstand
- Modular back slider for power bank or cooling fan attachment
- Detachable front cover with microSD card slots
What About a First-Party Xbox Handheld?
Microsoft reportedly cancelled plans for a dedicated first-party Xbox handheld in favour of partnering with ASUS on the ROG Xbox Ally. The upcoming Project Helix console is expected to play both console and PC games, but it’s a home console, not a portable.
For now, the ROG Xbox Ally is the official Xbox handheld experience.