AsusandMicrosofthave finally confirmed the launch date for the highly-anticipated ROG Xbox Ally series of gaming handhelds, and the wait is less than two months away. Gamers can expect both the standard Xbox Ally and the higher-end Xbox Ally X to arrive on store shelves beginning October 16 of this year.
At launch, both ROG Xbox Ally models will be available to purchase in the US, Canada, and the UK, in addition to a number of other countries across Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The standard ROG Xbox Ally is set to arrive in China “early next year,” with no word on whether the higher-end Ally X model will make its way to the nation.
Internally, the ROG Xbox Ally is set to ship with an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of internal SSD storage. The ROG Xbox Ally X, meanwhile, includes the more powerful AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, in addition to 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage space. Both models feature a 7-inch IPS LCD 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate. A more detailed breakdown of hardware specifications can be found onMicrosoft’s Xbox Wire website.
…we now have a much clearer picture when it comes to the new hardware’s launch timing and global availability.
Asus and Microsoft first revealedthe existence of Xbox-branded ROG Ally game consoles at theXbox Games Showcase 2025in early June. At the time, we received confirmation of there being both a base Xbox Ally and a premium Xbox Ally X variant, along with a fairly ambiguous launch window of “holiday 2025 in select markets, with availability to follow for other markets where ROG Ally series are sold today.”
With today’s news, we now have a much clearer picture when it comes to the new hardware’s launch timing and global availability, though neither Asus nor Microsoft have committed to any pricing figures for either model quite yet. According to the press release, additional pricing and pre-order details will follow “in the coming weeks.”
In the meantime, Asus is showcasing both ROG Xbox Ally models to the public at its booth atGamescom 2025, which is taking place in Colgne, Germany from August 20 through 24.
ROG Xbox Ally
ROG Xbox Ally X
The hardware is great, but it’s the software that matters most
The ROG Xbox Ally series is Windows 11’s make-or-break moment in the handheld gaming space
From a hardware standpoint, the ROG Xbox Ally series is shaping up to be a solidhandheld gaming PCoffering. Building off the success of Asus' existingROG AllyandROG Ally Xmodels, which runWindows 11, the all-new Xbox-branded ROG Ally units feature upgraded specifications, a more ergonomic exterior design, and the signature Xbox logo button and face buttons.
Ultimately, the real differentiating factor here comes down to software. Essentially, Microsoft is using the ROG Xbox Ally series as a springboard to launch an upgraded Windows 11 experience that’s custom-designed for gamers with performance and efficiency in mind.
Windows 11 has longproven to be a problematic platformfor handheld PCs, owing to a user interface that isn’t optimized for small displays, a lack of gamepad input support at the shell level, temperamental sleep/wake/hibernate tendencies, and an abundance of background processes that bog down the gaming experience.
…there might be just enough here for Windows 11 to reaffirm its status as a viable platform for gaming.
While we don’t yet have all the details, we do know that the version of Windows 11 running on the ROG Xbox Ally models will feature a bolsteredXbox appthat cuts down on background tasks, kills elements of the desktop interface, and improves battery life and performance. Microsoft has also been busy improving user interface elements within its flagship OS in recent months, too, including by introducinga new gamepad-friendly keyboardand PIN input screen, a better-designed layout for the Xbox app, and the ability to launch PC games from alternative storefronts directly from within said app itself.
With rivals like Valve’sSteam Deckand the LenovoLegion Go Srunning SteamOS now on the market, the handheld gaming scene is becoming more competitive – and it’s doing so in a way that sidesteps Microsoft’s domineering position within the traditional gaming PC industry. If the company can sort out Windows 11’s deficiencies, and if Asus' hardware proves successful enough, there might be just enough here for Windows 11 to reaffirm its status as a viable platform for gaming, both at home and while on the go.
