ROG Ally vs ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X: All the improvements in the newest ROG gaming handhelds

The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X are the next generation of gaming handhelds. We took everything you loved about the original ROG Ally and made it better: more comfortable ergonomics, better battery life, and of course, better performance for the latest AAA games. And on top of all that, we partnered with Xbox to bring you a seamless, easy-to-navigate interface that puts your games front and centre — while keeping the flexibility that makes Windows gaming so great. Whether you want to play games locally, offline, stream games from the cloud, or remote play from the Xbox in your living room, the ROG Xbox Ally family can do it all: your games, your way.

Handheld gaming has exploded since the release of the original Ally, but we never rest on our laurels at ROG. To take handheld gaming to the next level, we went back to the drawing board and redesigned the ROG Xbox Ally family from the ground up, using your feedback as the basis for everything we do. Here’s a quick glance at how the new ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X compare to the original ROG Ally:

What’s been upgraded in the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X?

To usher in this new era of gaming handhelds, we partnered with AMD to find the ideal specs for both machines. The AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme is the cream of the crop for modern handheld gaming processors, featuring eight Zen 5 cores and 16 threads capable of up to 5GHz boost. Combined with 16 cores of RDNA 3.5 graphics and a built-in NPU capable of 50 TOPS of hardware-accelerated AI performance, this chip is ready for anything you’ll throw at it. More performant and more efficient than the last-generation Z1 Extreme, you can choose between maxed out performance or stretched out battery life, even when playing the latest AAA games. Meanwhile, the AMD Ryzen Z2 A in the ROG Xbox Ally provides incredible efficiency for multi-hour play sessions.

Much of that is also aided by the large batteries in both models: 60Wh on the ROG Xbox Ally and 80Wh on the ROG Xbox Ally X, ensuring that even when playing in Turbo Mode, you’ll get plenty of playtime. And you’ll need it, with up to 1TB of storage for your growing library, though both devices are easily upgradeable with a standard M.2 2280 SSD if you need even more space.

But a powerful handheld also has to fit comfortably in your hands. That’s why the new ROG Xbox Ally family features an all-new chassis with ultra-ergonomic handles. Trust us, you’ve never felt a handheld this comfortable. With perfectly contoured angles and a balanced weight distribution, the ROG Xbox Ally feels light and snug in your hands, while providing the familiar impression of your favourite Xbox controller. That familiarity extends to the joysticks and face buttons, which feature the same Xbox layout with improved feedback and durability — though we also sweetened the deal with two macro buttons on the back of the device, fully remappable and small enough that you won’t hit them accidentally while you game.

With two USB Type-C ports, front-facing speakers powered by Dolby Atmos, and an incredible cooling system inside, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X are the pinnacle of modern handheld gaming. But to truly level up our game, we partnered with Xbox on the software side as well. Like the original Xbox Ally, you get the full power and flexibility of Windows 11, allowing you to play all your games, from any PC gaming storefront. However, when you first turn on the ROG Xbox Ally, you’ll be greeted with the familiar Xbox interface instead, your library front and centre, fully navigable with a controller — and with any unnecessary background processes turned off for maximum performance and efficiency. It’s the freedom of a PC, with the seamless experience of a console, all in one incredible device.