If you’re reading this, you’ ve known about this project between Microsoft and Asus for some time. So it’s no surprise to see the Rog Xbox Ally arrive… except that we might not have expected them so soon. Another surprise is that there will be two consoles, and above all, Microsoft already seems to have made great strides in the customization of Windows 11, in order to avoid any repetition of the unflattering comparisons with SteamOS. The presentation of the ROG Xbox Ally took place during the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, where several PC and Xbox titles were presented. These consoles will be equipped with the new AMD Ryzen Z2 processors, featuring Zen cores and RDNA graphics to take gaming performance up a notch. This is also an opportunity for AMD to make the details of these new APUs official. The ROG Xbox Ally X will feature the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme APU. For the standard ROG Xbox Ally, we’ll be relying on the Ryzen Z2 A chip. This is similar to the chip used in Valve’s Steam Deck, with RDNA 2 GPU cores and four Zen 2 CPU cores. The Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme is equipped with 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores, eight Zen 5 CPU cores, faster LPDR5-8000 memory.
ROG Xbox Ally consoles: technical details
| Features | ROG Xbox Ally | ROG Xbox Ally X |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen Z2 A (4 cores, 8 threads, Zen 2 architecture) | AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (8 cores, 16 threads, Zen 5 architecture) |
| GPU | 8 cores, RDNA 2 architecture | 16 cores, RDNA 3.5 architecture |
| NPU | Not specified | Up to 50 TOPS |
| AI performance | Not classified as Copilot+ PC | Compatible with Microsoft Copilot+ PC requirements |
| Memory | 16 GB LPDDR5X-6400 RAM | 24 GB LPDDR5X-8000 RAM |
| Storage | 512 GB SSD M.2 NVMe (PCIe 4.0) | 1 TB SSD M.2 NVMe (PCIe 4.0) |
| Display | 7 inch, 1080p, 120 Hz, VRR via Freesync Premium, 500 nits, Gorilla Glass Victus | 7-inch, 1080p, 120 Hz, VRR via Freesync Premium, 500 nits, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Battery | 60 Wh | 80 Wh |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home, with optimized full-screen Xbox experience | Windows 11 Home, with optimized full-screen Xbox experience |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ports | 1x USB-C (3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort support), 1x USB-A, 3.5 mm audio jack | 1x USB-C (3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort support), 1x USB-A, 3.5 mm audio jack |
| Weight | 608 g | 678 g |
| Dimensions | 290.8 mm (width) x 121.5 mm (height) x 50.7 mm (depth) | 290.8 mm (width) x 121.5 mm (height) x 50.7 mm (depth) |
| Targeted gaming resolution | 720p | 900p to 1080p |
| Xbox button | Yes (on black version, replaces Armory Crate button) | Yes (on black version, replaces Armory Crate button) |
| Colors | White | Black |
| Windows optimizations | Reduces Windows 11 idle power consumption by approx. 2/3, automatically shuts down non-gaming processes to free up up to 2 GB RAM | Windows 11 idle power consumption reduced by approx. 2/3, non-gaming processes automatically shut down to free up 2 GB RAM |
| Software compatibility | Windows games via Xbox, Battle.net, GoG, Ubisoft Connect, Steam | Windows games via Xbox, Battle.net, GoG, Ubisoft Connect, Steam |
| Launch date | Late 2025 (holiday season) | Late 2025 (holiday season) |
| Estimated price | around €700 | around €1000 |
Windows customization on ROG Xbox Ally consoles
It’s important to note that Microsoft has already come a long way, and will continue to do so until the launch of these Asus consoles. This Windows will be exclusive to the two Rog consoles for their launch, then generalized to all PCs in 2026. Microsoft presented the changes brought about by this combination of Windows and Xbox, compatible with handheld consoles, to some of the media at a conference earlier this week. This was a demo, and we were obviously unable to judge these elements for ourselves on a console.
The “full-screen” experience.
It’s all about what Microsoft calls the Xbox full-screen experience. This is akin to the compact mode where the Xbox application takes full control of ROG Xbox Ally devices. When the player starts up in full-screen mode, many Windows elements remain inactive. We don’t load the wallpaper, the taskbar or many processes designed for Windows productivity scenarios. This means that many greedy processes, for example, are not launched. Microsoft points out, however, that its Windows remains fully operational for anything other than gaming. You can leave this full-screen mode and launch the full version of the Windows desktop, which will then launch the deactivated processes. But by default, all these elements will be in sleep mode.
The Xbox application.
Here again, the fundamental change had already been leaked. While at launch the Xbox app in full-screen mode doesn’t look fundamentally different from the one that currently exists on Windows, the library is now filled with all your PC games from Steam and other platforms, as well as those from Xbox Play Anywhere and Game Pass.
The Xbox Button
Another new feature of these two Asus consoles is the Xbox Button. Pressing it briefly opens the Game Bar interface. This gives access to device settings such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, to the Asus Command Center interface and even to Microsoft’s new Gaming Copilot. A long press on the Xbox key even brings up a more user-friendly task switcher, allowing you to use the Alt+Tab combination to switch between applications and games using the controller. For the moment, these 3 points are interesting, but seem to focus solely on the functional aspect of Windows (which is no mean feat nonetheless). However, Microsoft is keen to point out that its work goes far beyond the cosmetic modifications of Windows 11. For example, initial tests of full-screen mode with components deactivated in Windows revealed that 2 GB of memory had been “freed up” for games. Autonomy was also mentioned, as here again Microsoft is claiming big changes. If your console boots in full-screen mode, then you put it down and it goes into standby, its energy consumption is three times lower than that of a boot in “classic” Windows desktop mode.
Rolling out these changes
Microsoft has indicated that it will continue to work and that further improvements will be made between now and the official launch of the ROG Xbox Ally, in the last quarter of 2025. As mentioned at the start of this article, Xbox Full Screen Mode will be available on their consoles first. Microsoft will then extend these modifications to the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X consoles already on the market, confirming the close partnership with Asus. Finally, similar full-screen Xbox mode will be deployed on other Windows handheld consoles from next year. Although this has not been officially announced, it seems almost certain that this mode will also run on a conventional PC.
