ASUS and Microsoft officially opened pre-orders yesterday for their ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming consoles, marking the first Xbox-branded portable gaming devices with starting prices of $599.99 and $999.99. These systems, powered by AMD’s new Ryzen Z2 processors, ship globally on October 16 after months of anticipation in the rapidly expanding handheld gaming market.

Performance Gains Justify Premium Positioning

The flagship ROG Xbox Ally X at $999.99 delivers up to 30% more gaming performance compared to its predecessor when running demanding titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Doom: The Dark Ages. According to ASUS, the device also achieves double the battery endurance in select games thanks to the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor featuring eight Zen 5 cores paired with 24GB of high-speed LPDDR5X memory.

The entry-level ROG Xbox Ally, starting at $599.99, incorporates the AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor and provides up to 20% performance improvement over the previous-generation ROG Ally while extending battery life by 110%. Both configurations include 7-inch 1080p displays running at 120Hz with AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution support capable of pushing frame rates to 60fps.

“ROG Xbox Ally X features the new AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme for the ideal balance between performance and battery life,” ASUS stated. The collaboration represents Microsoft’s strategic entry into portable gaming hardware, leveraging ASUS’s engineering expertise developed through the original ROG Ally lineup.

Worldwide Availability Expands Portable Gaming Reach

Pre-orders went live at 5:00 PM Pacific on September 25 across 38 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Germany, and Australia. Additional markets like Egypt, Indonesia, and South Africa join the roster by the October 16 launch date. Devices are available through Microsoft Store, ASUS eShop, and major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.

The launch comes amid substantial growth in the handheld gaming PC market. Analytics firm Omdia projects 2.3 million units will sell globally in 2025, representing 32% growth from the 1.7 million devices sold in 2024. By 2029, annual sales are expected to reach 4.7 million units.

Xbox Integration Differentiates New Handhelds

ROG Xbox Ally devices feature deep Xbox integration including a full-screen Xbox interface built on Windows 11 and enhanced Game Bar overlay functionality. The systems support Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Play Anywhere titles, and provide access to over 1,000 compatible games across console, PC, and portable platforms. Each device includes three months of Xbox Game Pass subscription.

“Whether you prefer to play on PC, console, or stream your games on the go, Xbox Ally unlocks new ways to access your Xbox library,” Microsoft explained in their announcement. The partnership forms part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to unify Xbox and Windows gaming experiences across different device types.

Real-World Performance Considerations

The 30% performance increase on the Ally X model addresses a common complaint about first-generation portable gaming PCs—they often struggled to maintain smooth frame rates in AAA titles at native resolution. That improvement, combined with doubled battery life, suggests ASUS and Microsoft learned from early adopter feedback about the original ROG Ally’s limitations.

Battery endurance has historically been the Achilles heel of x86-based portable gaming devices. Claims of 110% improvement on the base model and double the longevity on the Ally X sound impressive, though real-world results will vary dramatically based on game demands and display brightness settings. Running Cyberpunk 2077 at maximum settings will drain batteries far faster than playing indie titles or older games.

The 7-inch 1080p 120Hz displays represent solid specifications for portable gaming, though the resolution creates interesting trade-offs. Native 1080p gaming taxes the processors heavily, while using AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution to upscale from lower resolutions can deliver better frame rates at the cost of image sharpness. Users will need to experiment with settings to find their preferred balance between visual quality and performance.

Pricing positions these devices in different market segments. The $599.99 base model competes directly with Steam Deck and other mid-range portables, while the $999.99 Ally X targets enthusiasts willing to pay premium prices for maximum performance. That $400 gap is substantial—potential buyers need to carefully consider whether the performance delta justifies the cost difference for their specific gaming preferences.

The Windows 11 foundation gives these devices access to a massive game library beyond Xbox ecosystem titles, including Steam, Epic Games Store, and other PC platforms. This flexibility differentiates ROG Xbox Ally from closed-ecosystem competitors, though Windows’ traditional interface challenges on small touchscreens persist. The custom Xbox interface aims to address this by providing controller-optimized navigation, but switching between Xbox mode and standard Windows desktop introduces friction.

Three months of Game Pass inclusion adds value, particularly for new subscribers, though the subscription’s ongoing $16.99 monthly cost after the trial period becomes a consideration for budget-conscious gamers. The service’s rotating catalog model means favorite games might leave the platform, while purchased titles remain accessible indefinitely.

ASUS’s hardware reputation suggests these devices should deliver solid build quality and thermal performance—critical factors for portable gaming systems that pack desktop-class processors into compact form factors. The original ROG Ally received mixed reviews regarding ergonomics and button placement, so improvements in these areas could significantly impact user experience.

The October 16 launch timing positions ROG Xbox Ally ahead of the holiday shopping season, giving Microsoft and ASUS a window to capture early adopter sales before competitors release refreshed hardware. Whether these devices gain significant market traction depends on factors beyond specifications—software polish, game compatibility, customer support quality, and whether the Xbox integration delivers meaningful advantages over Windows-only alternatives all influence purchasing decisions.