ASUS and Xbox Join Forces for the ROG Xbox Ally Series — The Handheld Wars Just Got Serious
Handheld gaming just got its biggest shake-up since the Steam Deck. ASUS ROG has officially teamed up with Xbox to launch the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, two new Windows-based handhelds designed to bring the full Xbox experience into your hands without giving up PC flexibility. Both models are arriving in the Philippines this October, and they’re looking to make a strong case for being the ultimate portable gaming machines.
A Real Xbox Experience… on a PC Handheld
The original ROG Ally proved that Windows handhelds could be powerful, but they always felt like PCs first and consoles second. This new series flips that. As soon as you power on either device, you’re greeted with a full-screen Xbox interface that feels just like turning on a Series X. Game Bar access, controller navigation, widgets, and seamless integration with Game Pass are all baked in. Underneath is still Windows 11, so if you want to mod Skyrim or run your Steam library, you absolutely can. But the default experience is now focused, console-like, and smooth.
Xbox’s Handheld Compatibility Program also plays a key role here. Thousands of PC titles have been tested for handheld play, and games will now carry “Handheld Optimized” or “Mostly Compatible” badges so you can jump straight in without endless tweaking. Shader preloading technology has also been added, meaning faster load times and better performance right out of the box. This is a big deal—one of the pain points of PC handhelds has always been fiddling with settings, and this partnership aims to solve that.
Redesigned for Real-World Play
ROG didn’t just rebrand the Ally. They rebuilt it. The new chassis is inspired by Xbox controllers, with refined grips, textured surfaces, and better ergonomics across the board. Long sessions won’t feel like a hand workout anymore. The ROG Xbox Ally X takes it even further with impulse triggers, giving supported titles more tactile feedback—something Xbox controller users will immediately appreciate.
Ryzen Z2 Series Power with a Dash of AI
Performance-wise, both models step up significantly. The standard ROG Xbox Ally runs on the AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, focusing on efficiency while still delivering console-class performance at lower power draws. It’s paired with a 60Wh battery, which should make a noticeable difference in endurance compared to the original Ally.
The ROG Xbox Ally X, meanwhile, is packing the big guns: AMD’s Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor with a built-in NPU. It’s designed to handle demanding AAA titles at higher fidelity while enabling upcoming AI features. Starting next year, the Ally X will gain Automatic Super Resolution, which uses the NPU to upscale lower-resolution games to crisp visuals without dev intervention. It will also be able to generate highlight reels of your best in-game moments automatically, a neat trick for streamers and content creators.
Pricing and Availability
The ROG Xbox Ally X will retail at PHP 56,995, while the standard ROG Xbox Ally comes in at PHP 36,995. Both launch officially in the Philippines on October 16, 2025, complete with Game Pass and a 2-year international warranty. Pre-orders run from October 7 to 16, and the first 100 buyers will snag a free ROG Xbox Ally 2-in-1 Premium Case worth PHP 2,995.
The handheld market is heating up fast, and ASUS isn’t just iterating—they’re taking a bold swing. By combining AMD’s latest silicon, Xbox’s ecosystem, and ROG’s design chops, the ROG Xbox Ally Series might just set a new bar for what handheld PC gaming should feel like.
For pre-orders and more info, head over to ROG Philippines.
