It's Official – a Handheld Xbox is Coming This Fall
Microsoft'slong-rumored entry intohandheld gamingfinally has a release window: holiday 2025. The tech giant today unveiled two new devices – theROG Xbox AllyandROG Xbox Ally X– developed in partnership withASUSand created with both casual and more serious gamers in mind.
The upcomingXboxhandhelds have been 'built from the ground up,' according to ASUS, with Microsoft adding that it has 'dedicated years' to get to this point. Designed with Xbox players in mind they feature contoured grips 'inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers' that should feel instantly familiar in-hand, together with ergonomics the brands promise will provide 'all-day comfort.'
They share a 7-inch, 16:9, 1080p touchscreen IPS display with FreeSync Premium and a 120Hz refresh rate. They also both feature Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4, the same button layout and overall dimensions, but the similarities end there.
TheROG Xbox Ally– the cheaper of the two, though final pricing isn't confirmed – runs on AMD's 'Ryzen Z2 A' processor, has 16GB RAM and a 512GB internal storage, and though capable of outputting 1080p, Microsoft says this model is targeted at 720p gaming owing to its less powerful specs. It includes a 60Wh battery and two USB 3.2 Type-C ports.
Meanwhile, the more powerfulROG Xbox Ally Xruns on AMD's improved 'Ryzen Z2 Extreme' processor, features 8GB more RAM (24GB in total) and double the internal storage with a 1TB SSD. It also includes a larger 80Wh battery and one of its Type-C ports is the faster USB 4 kind. Both models, however, feature microSD card readers, allowing users to upgrade their storage easily.
Like ASUS' originalROG AllyandROG Ally Xbefore them, the newly announcedROG Xbox AllyandROG Xbox Ally Xare still – technically speaking –gaming PCsrunning Windows under the hood. But unlike the originals, they're set to launch with a completely new front-end developed specifically for handheld gaming. In other words, instead of booting into the standard, not-so-gamer-friendly Windows interface like a regular PC, the new devices will launch into a custom interface designed by Xbox's own engineers – a 'full-screen [Xbox] experience' that Microsoft says has been 'optimized specifically for handheld gaming.'
The updated user interface (UI) isn't just a visual refresh, though, and it's not only about improving user experience (UX). Instead, the software tweaks – subtle on the surface – are designed to help the system better leverage its hardware for improved performance across the board: by stripping out some of the backend processes typical of a standard Windows machine, the new Xbox handhelds will have more RAM and other computing power at their disposal.
Microsoft and ASUS have not confirmed a release date or final pricing as of yet, but stay tuned for more information as we get it. In the meantime, check out the official trailer below.
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