Latest news with #XboxHandheld
Gizmodo
22-07-2025
- Gizmodo
Leaked Lenovo Legion Go 2 Will Make You Mad at Xbox and Nintendo
If you're on the fence about whether to snatch up a $450 Nintendo Switch 2, or if you're still hemming and hawing about that upcoming Xbox handheld made by Asus, there's one more device that looks set to make your wallet scream bloody murder. We haven't seen hide nor hair of Lenovo's Legion Go 2 for about six months now, but leaks suggest it could be the sequel handheld you were actually looking for, thanks to a major screen upgrade that neither Nintendo nor Xbox is offering for its current-gen handhelds. The story goes back to several posts on Reddit, where some users claimed there were a slew of leaked Legion Go 2 models available through China-centric prototype and aftermarket reseller Xianyu. While Gizmodo could not confirm there were Legion Go 2 units changing hands, Videocardz claims to have seen models up for sale on these Chinese sites. Either way, some users have already pushed out videos allegedly showing the ins and outs of Lenovo's upcoming sequel handheld. One, posted by YouTuber in yo, shows off a prototype with its 8.8-inch OLED display. It's still running regular old Windows, just like the original Legion Go S released earlier this year. Lenovo later unleashed its same handheld with SteamOS, which offered a major boost in performance. The prototype shown in that video is reminiscent of early prototypes we saw last year. Despite this being an early model, the 1200p OLED display at 144Hz and VRR—AKA variable refresh rate—is still the real star of the show. We don't mind the Switch 2's 7.9-inch display despite ghosting issues that leave some games—especially fast-paced sidescrollers—looking blurry. Nor did we have many complaints about the Asus ROG Ally X's smaller screen, save for its relatively low brightness. Let's face it, OLED still wins every day. The Steam Deck OLED has a 720p display, and yet we still prefer it to most handhelds we've used that are still beholden to IPS LCD. Lenovo is likely waiting for Microsoft to release its version of Windows built specifically for handhelds. It essentially uses the Xbox app as the front-end user interface for accessing all your games on Xbox as well as third-party launchers like Steam and Epic Games Store. Like SteamOS, it will also dual-boot with a regular version of Windows for users to access all their regular apps. Microsoft hasn't offered a release date for that Windows version, but it could arrive later this year and would have backward support for all previous Windows-based handhelds. I first went hands-on with the Legion Go 2 at CES back in January. The device was still just a prototype, but AMD had the machine running with its upcoming Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, which is supposed to be the next big thing for handheld performance. I didn't have any time to test its overall performance or to get a feel for its improved ergonomics with its detachable controllers. The videos of leaked Legion Go 2 models show off how you can still detach each side of the device to go controllers akimbo. The right-side control stick can still act as a mouse cursor for playing FPS or RTS games, though we'd have to test whether it's as smooth and accurate as Nintendo's Switch 2 mouse controls proved to be. The YouTuber did include an internal specs sheet for the device. This version of the Legion Go 2 apparently didn't house a Z2 Extreme chipset but a regular Z2. The higher-end AMD APU—or accelerated processing unit with graphics capabilities—isn't using AMD's latest chip microarchitecture, Zen 5. It's still a Zen 4 chip, which will likely be closest in performance to the previous gen's Ryzen Z1 Extreme. This indicates there will likely be a lower-cost version of the Legion Go 2 to accompany a pricier model. This version also included 32GB of LPPDR5 7,500MHz RAM, which would put it in the higher echelons of gaming handhelds where memory is concerned. Lenovo hasn't given any indication on how much the Legion Go 2 would cost. Let's put any dewy-eyed hope to rest—it's not going to be cheap. The ROG Xbox Ally was already tipped to cost a pretty penny. If the Xbox Ally X with Z2 Extreme demands $1,000 or more, it almost guarantees the Legion Go 2 will be nearly as pricey with its larger and better-looking display. Look what happened to the MSI Claw 8 AI+, which went from $900 to $1,000, likely due to Trump tariffs. Getting the best display on the most powerful handheld will inevitably demand more from your wallet.
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."
Digital Trends
07-05-2025
- Digital Trends
Asus' upcoming ROG Ally 2 could be the Xbox handheld we've all been waiting for
It seems that the Xbox handheld might be less of a dream and more of a reality, given the latest leaks. We just got new leaked images of the Asus ROG Ally 2, which will rival some of the best gaming handhelds, and there's a major surprise in there for Xbox fans. We've been hearing about Microsoft's upcoming Xbox-branded handheld for months, but this is the first concrete proof that the device actually exists. The big reveal here is that the handheld might come in the form of a next-gen Asus ROG Ally. Images of the handheld in two variations leaked due to regulatory listings, which gives us a good idea of what they'll look like. Recommended Videos First spotted by 91mobiles and VideoCardz, the listings reveal the Asus ROG Ally 2 — which is the official name spotted in the documentation — in its full glory. The handhelds, available in black and white, have seen slight design changes. We're seeing molded controller grips, which make the ROG Ally 2 look quite bulky, and two USB-C ports at the top edge of the handheld. While the grips will likely stay the same as in these photos, I could imagine the ports being moved to a more convenient location, although it's hard to say right now. Other than the color, the most important change between the two ROG Ally devices is that the black version features a dedicated Xbox button. This implies that it might not be a Windows-based handheld like the previous models; it could run on Xbox OS. Equally, it could still run on Windows while being deeply integrated with the Xbox ecosystem. One way or another, something's happening, and it's exciting. The two handhelds are also said to vary a lot in terms of specs, at least if the leaked listings are to be believed. The black model with the Xbox button, also referred to as the ROG Ally 2 RC73X1, comes with AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme CPU (eight cores, 36W), a 7-inch 120Hz display, and 64GB of LPDDR5X-8533 memory. Meanwhile, the non-Xbox model seems to be a huge step down, with the AMD Aerith Plus (four cores, 20W) CPU. Leaks aside, it's very possible that we'll learn more about these two devices in the coming weeks. Computex 2025 is right around the corner, so by the end of this month, we might know more about the Asus ROG Ally 2 and the Xbox handheld. Please enable Javascript to view this content
