//# sourceMappingURL=newsletterForm.js.map window.sliceComponents.newsletterForm = newsletterForm; var triggerHydrate = function() { window.sliceComponents.newsletterForm.hydrate(data, componentContainer); } if (window.lazyObserveElement) { window.lazyObserveElement(componentContainer, triggerHydrate); } else { triggerHydrate(); } } }).catch(err => console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','Hydration Script has failed for newsletterForm-exitIntent Slice', err)); }).catch(err => console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','Externals script failed to load', err));

'This is the Ally 2, 100%': Asus says the ROG Xbox Ally is a bona fide successor to the first two handhelds, but the originals will still get new Xbox features

News
By published

Out with the old, in with the new.

Hands-on with an ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming PC
(Image credit: Future)

My recent hands-on time with the ROG Xbox Ally, Asus and Microsoft's joint handheld gaming PC, had me impressed. So it might not be all bad news that Asus is considering this handheld to be the ROG Ally 2 that many have been asking and waiting for. Though given we don't know pricing, yet, I can't say for sure.

Earlier, I spoke with Whitson Gordon, Senior Manager of Content Marketing at Asus. He confirmed that the new Xbox-collab handheld is the real McCoy, the successor to the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X:

Article continues below

"Now we're not leaving Ally and Ally X users out in the cold, if you already have those devices. We'll eventually be bringing some of those Xbox experiences to those devices … They're not going to roll out at the exact same time, but they will come to those devices soon. So those devices will still get updates, they'll still be supported, they'll even get some of the newest features, but the Xbox Ally X is the way forward."

Hands-on with an ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming PC What to read next

Hands-on with an ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming PC

(Image credit: Future)

Gordon says Asus recognises efficiency as being particularly important to handheld PC gamers, and he reckons the ROG Xbox Ally meets this user desire:

"So the ROG Xbox Ally has a 60 watt-hour battery, which is bigger than the original Ally, and the ROG Xbox Ally X has an 80 watt-hour battery. And then both of those chips are really efficient, especially at lower wattages."

That's certainly been the prevailing impression of the Ryzen Z2 Extreme so far: Not revolutionary, but good for ekeing out more performance at more moderate wattages, even if memory bandwidth might be an issue. Or, of course, matching Z1 Extreme (for example) performance with the Z2 Extreme at a lower wattage than the former.

We'll have to see how it all pans out, and as I say, much will depend on those price tags. Comfy design, a more powerful top-end model, and a new OS are all great, but they mean little if the price isn't right. It'll certainly affect whether I think this is a successor worthy of sacrificing the original ROG Ally X for.

Legion Go S SteamOS edition
Best handheld PC 2025

👉Check out our full guide👈

1. Best overall:
Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS ed.

2. Best budget:
Steam Deck

3. Best Windows:
MSI Claw 8 AI+

4. Best big screen:
Lenovo Legion Go

5. Best compact:
Ayaneo Flip DS

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.