| Codename | "Project Kennan" |
|---|---|
| Developer | |
| Manufacturer | Asus |
| Product family | ROG, Xbox |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Release date | October 16, 2025 |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen Ally: Z2 A Ally X: AI Z2 Extreme |
| Memory | (Ally: 16 GB LPDDR5 Ally X: 24 GB LPDDR5X) |
| Storage | M.2 SSD Ally: 512 GB Ally X: 1 TB |
| Display | 7” IPS, Full HD (1920x1080 pixels), 500 nits, 120Hz refresh rate |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 290.8*121.5*50.7mm |
| Weight | Ally: 670g Ally X: 715g |
| Predecessor | Asus ROG Ally |
| Website | rog |
The ROG Xbox Ally is a handheld gaming computer and handheld game console [1] co-developed by Asus and Microsoft, and manufactured by Asus as part of the Republic of Gamers (ROG) and Xbox brands. A successor to the Asus ROG Ally, it was released on October 16, 2025. [2]
With the start of pre-orders on September 25, 2025, the prices in the European Union were officially confirmed: €599 (US$599.99) for the standard version (ROG Xbox Ally) and €899 (US$999.99) for the higher-end ROG Xbox Ally X. [3]
Images of the device, then known under the codename "Project Kennan" (and referred to by some outlets as the "Asus ROG Ally 2", under the presumption that it was a Microsoft-branded variant of an ROG Ally successor), were leaked by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in May 2025 as part of its certification process. [4] [5]
The device was officially unveiled during Microsoft's annual Xbox Games Showcase presentation on June 8, 2025. [6] Prior to the announcement, Windows Central reported that Microsoft had allegedly cancelled a planned first-party Xbox handheld console in favor of focusing on "Project Kennan", as well as optimizations to Windows 11 to better support gaming handhelds. [7] [8] The device's marketing featured Hollow Knight: Silksong prominently; the game was available on the device upon launch. [9]
The ROG Xbox Ally was released in two models; both models feature AMD Ryzen Z2 APUs, with the low-end Ally featuring a Ryzen Z2 A (a quad-core processor based on Zen 2 microarchitecture with eight RDNA 2 graphics cores), and the Ally X featuring the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (an octa-core processor based on Zen 5 microarchitecture with sixteen RDNA 3.5 graphics cores and a neural processing unit). [10] The two models feature 16 GB of LPDDR5 and 24 GB of LPDDR5X RAM respectively, and have 512 GB and 1 TB of internal storage respectively. Both models use a 7-inch, 120 Hz 1080p IPS LCD display with variable refresh rate. [11] Use of an OLED screen was considered, but rejected because of concerns for power draw when combined with variable refresh rate. [12]
The devices ship with Windows 11; they are the first Windows devices to support a new mode that boots the system directly into the Xbox app, without loading the full Windows shell by default. The mode provides a console-like experience with less resource and power consumption, with Microsoft estimating savings of up to 2 GB of memory and a two-thirds reduction of idle power consumption. This mode is a timed exclusive to Asus ROG devices on launch, and will be made available to other Windows-based gaming handhelds in 2026. The Windows user interface also received additional features designed to improve navigation on game controllers, including additional system settings available from Game Bar, controller support on the lock screen, and a new task switcher design. [13] [14] [15]
Like the ROG Ally, the ROG Xbox Ally saw experimentation from users seeking to change the operating system. An analysis found that switching from Windows 11 to the Linux distribution Bazzite greatly increased performance, with Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 seeing framerates increase by 32% and increased stability. [16] On Bazzite the device was also faster to wake up from a sleep state. [17]
| Properties | Xbox Ally | Xbox Ally X |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.99 USD/ €599 | $999.99 USD/ €899 |
| Controls | ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R Hall Effect analog triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-Axis IMU | ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R impulse triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-Axis IMU |
| Processors | AMD Ryzen Z2 A [18] | AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme [19] |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 | 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 |
| Storage | 512GB M.2 2280 SSD | 1TB M.2 2280 SSD |
| Display | 7” FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9 120 Hz refresh rate/AMD FreeSync™ Premium (Variable Refresh Rate)/Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection | 7” FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9 120 Hz refresh rate/AMD FreeSync™ Premium (Variable Refresh Rate)/Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection |
| IO Ports | 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort™ 1.4 / Power Delivery 3.0 1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC) 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack | 1x USB4 Type-C with DisplayPort™ 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0, Thunderbolt™ 4 compatible 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort™ 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0 1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC; UHS-I with DDR200 mode) 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack |
| Network and Communication | Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 290.8*121.5*50.7mm, 670g | 290.8*121.5*50.7mm, 715g |
| Battery | 60Wh | 80Wh |
