Asus ROG Ally X at a Glance — Why This Handheld Matters
Asus shook up portable PC gaming in 2023; two years later the ROG Ally X looks ready to do it again. Think AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, 24 GB LPDDR5X RAM, a roomy 1 TB NVMe SSD, and an 80 Wh battery that doubles playtime over the first-gen Ally — all wrapped in a stealth-black shell that finally feels purpose-built for marathon sessions.
Release Date & Pricing
- Pre-orders: August 2025
- Launch window: Second half of October (“Holiday 2025” in Microsoft’s wording)
- Europe (leaked): €899 for the Ally X (black)
- US (rumoured): about $799
- Standard Ally (white): €599 / ~$699
Early-bird bundles are expected to toss in a three-month Game Pass Ultimate code and a carry case.
Specs Overview
| Component | ROG Ally X | Standard ROG Ally |
|---|---|---|
| APU | Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (4.2 GHz boost) | Ryzen Z2 A |
| GPU | 12 CUs RDNA 4 | 10 CUs RDNA 4 |
| Memory | 24 GB LPDDR5X-8000 | 16 GB LPDDR5X-6400 |
| Storage | 1 TB M.2 2280 (user-swappable) | 512 GB |
| Display | 7″ 1080 p IPS · 120 Hz · FreeSync Premium | Same |
| Battery | 80 Wh · 65 W USB-C charging | 60 Wh |
| Ports | 2× USB-C (1 × USB-4), microSD, ROG XG Mobile | 1× USB-C, microSD, ROG XG Mobile |
| Weight | 715 g | 670 g |
| OS | Windows 11 Home (ROG Armoury Crate SE) | Windows 11 Home |
Design, Cooling & Battery Life
A gentle palm swell makes the Ally X easier to grip than the first model, and revised vent geometry pushes 15 % more air across the vapor chamber. Asus touts 3 hours of AAA gaming or 11 hours streaming/indie time on the new 80 Wh pack, and both USB-C ports can fast-charge at 65 W — so you can play while topping up or hook up an external GPU without dongles.
Windows & Xbox Integration
Because it runs full Windows 11, you get Steam, Epic, Battle.net, GoG, Ubisoft Connect and, of course, the Xbox app with Cloud Gaming and Game Pass PC titles. Microsoft’s new “Xbox Full-Screen Experience” boots straight into a controller-friendly dashboard the moment you power on.
Game Library & Ecosystem
With RDNA 4 graphics and 24 GB of shared memory, the Ally X targets 60 fps at 1080 p in titles like Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077 on Medium–High settings. Plugging into the ROG XG Mobile eGPU dock unleashes desktop-class frames on a 4K monitor, turning the handheld into a legit mini-gaming-rig.
Early Verdict
If the leaks hold, the ROG Ally X will cost a bit more than the Steam Deck 2 but undercut most gaming laptops with similar silicon — all while offering true Windows flexibility. Between the bigger battery, extra RAM, and dual USB-C, Asus seems to have listened to every early-adopter complaint.
Your move: Are you waiting for October, or does the Steam Deck 2 still tempt you? Sound off below!