Okay, so imagine this: Microsoft and Asus—big tech buddies—have decided to give us something that’s sort of a handheld Xbox. Not entirely, but kinda. They’ve rolled out the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X during the Xbox Games Showcase. Both have grips that scream “Xbox controller!” but are even bigger and comfier. Or at least, that’s what they say.
Asus took some feedback from their older Ally versions and mashed them up with Xbox. We’ve got these impulse triggers now, which—I kid you not—vibrate when you press them. Weirdly satisfying, if you ask me.
Here’s a fun twist: The new models are bulkier and heavier than the old ones and even the Steam Deck. But Asus claims they’re still comfy and immersive. Can something be heavier yet comfier? Don’t know, but that’s their story. Plus, they threw in a new Xbox button, just to mix things up near the joystick. Accessible Game Bar, anyone?
Oh, and timing! AMD just had to drop their own bombshell with a couple of new processors, right when these handhelds debut. Talk about stealing the limelight. The Ally X packs the latest Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme—fancy name, right? It’s loaded with cores and other techy stuff I barely pretend to understand. But it sounds powerful, doesn’t it? More memory, more storage, you get the idea.
Looks like they left some bits untouched though. The I/O ports are mostly unchanged—except for upgrading a USB Type-C to USB 4.0. Battery life? They’ve upped it to 80Wh, supposedly outlasting most rivals.
But let’s talk budget. The base Ally is the cheaper sibling with less flashy specs. It opts for a simpler Ryzen chip—pure nostalgia with some Zen 2 architecture in there. Less memory, smaller battery. It’s not bad, just more budget-friendly.
I also heard—well, read—that their displays didn’t get much love. Same 7-inch screen, high refresh rate, good brightness. Nothing revolutionary, but adequate.
Software-wise, they’re nudging these gizmos into becoming Xbox wizards, but don’t worry, Windows 11 is still under the hood. You’re free to install Steam or other launchers. Asus put in a revamped ROG Armoury Crate edition for a bit of flair.
And pricing? Total mystery! They’re aiming for a holiday release in a bunch of countries. If you’re not on the initial list, patience could be your friend.
Anyway, just a heads-up—keep an eye out on Tom’s Hardware for updates. Maybe they’ll figure out the price soon… or not. Who knows?
