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Xbox ROG Ally X: Everything You Need to Know

Are you ready for a new way to play Xbox games on the go? The Xbox ROG Ally X might be what you're looking for. It's a new handheld console made by Microsoft and ASUS ROG. It's designed to let you play your favorite games anywhere.

What is the Xbox ROG Ally X?

The Xbox ROG Ally X is not exactly an Xbox. It's more like an Xbox-branded PC handheld. It runs on Windows, so it can play PC games. But it also has some special Xbox features.

It's important to know that this device cannot play every Xbox game. It can only play games that have a PC version. So, if a game is only available on Xbox consoles, it won't work on the Ally X. Think of it as a PC that can play some Xbox games, not a portable Xbox Series S.

Rumors say that Microsoft canceled its own plans for an Xbox handheld. The ROG Ally X is what they decided to do instead.

Who is it for?

If you mostly play games on PC, this might not matter to you. But if you're a long-time Xbox fan, the branding might be confusing. It has "Xbox" in the name, but it can't play all Xbox games.

What to Expect

The Xbox ROG Ally X is a portable gaming PC. It's similar to the Steam Deck. It has an Xbox user interface (UI), which is Microsoft's version of Big Picture Mode on Steam.

Xbox UI

The Xbox UI is designed to make Windows better for gaming on a handheld device. It turns off some Windows features to save memory. Microsoft says it saves 2GB of memory. This can help games run better.

Microsoft plans to bring the Xbox UI to other handheld devices in 2026, even ones that are not Xbox-branded.

What it Looks and Feels Like

The Xbox ROG Ally X looks like an Xbox handheld. It has the same A, X, Y, and B buttons. The triggers and grips are similar to an Xbox controller. It feels good to hold.

Buttons and Features

• Full-size analog sticks
• D-pad
• Hall effect triggers
• Haptic feedback
• Xbox button
• Menu button
• Command center button
• Library button
• Customizable back buttons

All the buttons can be customized. The devices also have a touch screen. The added grips make it more comfortable to hold than other handhelds.

Power and Performance

The Xbox ROG Ally X comes with different processors, depending on the model.

• Cheaper Model: AMD Ryzen Z2
• More Expensive Model: AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme

The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme is more powerful. It can run games like Cyberpunk 2077 at medium settings, 1080p, at around 45 frames per second. It can also run Returnal at around 35 frames per second at medium settings, 1080p. This is about the same as the Steam Deck.

The ROG Ally X may not be a huge leap in power compared to other handhelds. But it should still offer good performance.

Storage

• Standard ROG Ally: 512GB SSD
• ROG Ally X: 1TB SSD

Both models use M.2 2280 SSDs. You can replace them if you want. They also have a micro SD card slot for up to 1TB of extra storage. A terabyte isn't that much space now, especially if you play big games.

Xbox Features

Even though it's not a true Xbox, the ROG Ally X supports modern Xbox features.

• Game Pass streaming with Xbox Cloud Gaming
• Xbox Play Anywhere
• Remote Play (stream games from your console to the handheld)

Screen and Memory

Both versions have a 7-inch, 120Hz screen with 1080p resolution. The ROG Ally X has 24GB of memory, while the standard version has less.

Battery Life

The ROG Ally X has a more powerful battery. It has 80 watts of battery life, compared to 60 watts on the standard version. This can give you about 5 hours of playtime with demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 on low power mode. The standard version might get you around 6 hours.

Even an extra half hour of battery life can make a big difference.