Xbox Ally vs ROG Ally: What is the difference between these gaming handhelds?

The ASUS ROG Ally originally released in 2023 as one of the very first Windows gaming handhelds developed by a mainstream OEM (original equipment manufacturer). Now that a couple of years have passed, the ROG Xbox Ally (or Xbox Ally) has shown up (announced during Xbox Games Showcase 2025) as a relatively similar device, but with some key differences.

I've compared and contrasted these gaming handhelds against each other on this page to help you see how they match up. Let's dive in.

By the way, it's worth noting that there is also a more powerful Xbox Ally X that is comparable to the ASUS ROG Ally X. If you want to learn more about those devices, check out my Xbox Ally X vs ROG Ally X comparison.

Xbox Ally vs ROG Ally: Specs

ROG Xbox Ally World Premiere Reveal Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase - YouTube

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I'll dive in and discuss the similarities and differences between the Xbox ROG Ally and the original ASUS ROG Ally, but first, take a look at the known specs of these devices.

Now that you've seen the known specs, continue reading to get a better understanding of what these components and features mean for you as a potential handheld owner.

Xbox Ally vs ROG Ally: Price

PRICE WINNER: It's hard to know for sure since the price and release date for the new Xbox Ally haven't been revealed yet. However, it's very likely that the original ROG Ally will be at a more affordable price.

We learned plenty of specs and information about the Xbox Ally, but the new handheld's price hasn't been made public yet. We do know that it's launching Holiday 2025, though.

Considering that the Xbox Ally is newer and has a new Ryzen Z2 A processor in it, I assume it will cost more than the original ASUS ROG Ally. We'll have to wait and see.

Previously, the ASUS ROG Ally came in two configurations: A Z1 Extreme version that sold for $699 and then later a Z1 (non-Extreme) version with a $599 MSRP.

However, the Z1 (non-Extreme) devices have largely sold out of stock at several retailers and aren't as widely available as they once were, so you're likely only going to be able to buy a Z1 Extreme configuration unless you buy used.

When I last checked, the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme was selling for $649.99 at Best Buy.

This device has also frequently gone on sale during big deal events like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and more. So, you might be able to grab it at a great discount if you buy one at the right time.

Xbox Ally vs ROG Ally: Performance and storage

PERFORMANCE WINNER: It's too early to tell which handheld offers better performance until the Xbox Ally launches and our own testing can be done. That said, it's possible that the ROG Ally will be more powerful than Xbox Ally.

Since the Xbox Ally was only just announced, we haven't been able to run it through benchmarks or test it yet, but we will do that as soon as we can.

Based on their components and specs, it is very likely that the Xbox Ally, with its AMD Z2 A processor, will be less powerful than the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme.

The Ryzen Z2 A in the Xbox Ally is more comparable to the Steam Deck's AMD APU than the ROG Ally's Z1 Extreme. Indeed, both use Zen 2 architecture, with a CPU that has four cores and 8 threads, and 8 GPU cores.

Meanwhile, the ROG Ally's Z1 Extreme uses Zen 4 architecture, has a CPU with six cores and 12 threads, but only has 4 GPU cores.

In my ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) review, I was impressed by how smoothly many PC games ran on this device, but it still cannot handle some more graphically intensive games that haven't been optimized for handhelds.

Both the Xbox ROG Ally and the ASUS ROG Ally offer 512GB SSD with 16GB RAM, so there don't seem to be any memory or storage differences that could affect performance at this point.

However, the new Xbox Ally does have a more common M.2 2280 SSD slot compared to the Ally's M.2 2230 SSD slot, so the new device's storage should be easier to upgrade.

That said, I have installed a larger capacity SSD into my ROG Ally's M.2 2230 slot. There are a few 2230 SSDs to choose from that will serve your needs really well, if you want to go through this process.

Additionally, both handhelds offer microSD card slots in case you want to add additional storage without opening the device.

Xbox Ally vs ROG Ally: Display

DISPLAY WINNER: We have a tie. Both the ROG Ally and the newer Xbox ROG Ally seem to utilize similar, if not the same, 7-inch IPS touchscreens.

Both the Ally and the Xbox Ally have a 7-inch IPS touchscreen that reaches up to FHD resolution, offers up to a 120Hz refresh rate, and supports VRR (variable refresh rate) for smoother gaming.

I know from my own ROG Ally experiences and testing that this handheld's screen doesn't have the very best color gamut, but it does display game visuals with respectable color and crisp detail. As such, I'm expecting the same from the Xbox ROG Ally.

RELATED: IPS LCD vs OLED vs tandem OLED vs QD-OLED vs QLED vs AMOLED vs Mini LED: Which is the best display?

It's a little disappointing that the Xbox Ally screen isn't an OLED, but keeping it as an IPS display does keep the cost of the device down.

Xbox Ally vs ROG Ally: Buttons, joysticks, and grip

CONTROLS AND GRIPS WINNER: The Xbox Ally has the same overally button layout, but also has far more pronounced built-in grips, which should make the device easier to hold than the original ROG Ally.

It was already easy to compare the original ROG Ally layout to the Xbox controller, due to its large ABXY buttons, offset joysticks, bumpers, triggers, menu, and view button.

Now, the new Xbox Ally has a very similar layout to the Ally, only with a dedicated Xbox button in place of the ASUS Armoury Crate button.

Despite the grips not looking as ergonomic as the Xbox controller, the original ROG Ally is still one of the most comfortable gaming handhelds to hold due to the grip shape.

That said, the new Xbox Ally has far more pronounced grips that will likely make it far more comfortable and convenient to hold for long gaming sessions.

Unlike some other gaming handhelds like Nintendo Switch 2 and Lenovo Legion Go, both the ROG Ally and Xbox ROG Ally do not have detachable controllers, nor do they have built-in kickstands.

Xbox Ally vs ROG Ally: Compatible games & Operating system

SOFTWARE WINNER: The Xbox Ally has an edge because of its ability to reduce Windows tasks in the background to make the device more efficient.

It's important to note that both the ASUS ROG Ally and the new Xbox Ally run Windows 11, so they are capable of accessing the same programs and services that a gaming laptop can.

This means you can easily go to Steam, Xbox app, Epic Games Store, Battle.net, and many more.

One of the key differences between these handhelds is that the ROG Ally has an Armoury Crate button while the Xbox Ally has an Xbox button. Both programs can be used to launch games, adjust settings, and more.

However, the Xbox Ally has a new Xbox full-screen experience that turns off or reduces Windows background tasks so the handheld can run more efficiently while you play your games.

Xbox states that this leads to "more memory, higher framerates, and a fully immersive experience for players—all made possible by the versatility and freedom of Windows 11."

The Xbox button on the new Xbox Ally quickly gives players access to an enhanced Game Bar overlay that makes it easy to open programs, chat, or adjust settings and accessibility features.

It's hard to say exactly how this Xbox experience compares to using Armoury Crate on the original Ally, but we'll update after we've gotten our hands on this new device.

I can say that I have a love-hate relationship with the original ROG Ally's Armoury Crate.

On the one hand, the program is somewhat clunky and doesn't always offer all of the settings adjustments that I want. For instance, I have to open AMD Software if I want to enable certain AMD features.

That all said, of the many gaming handhelds I've tested and used, ROG Ally's Armoury Crate does provide the most customization options to help me set up the handheld just the way I want it.

If the Xbox Ally interface is as good as I hope it is, then it could solve many of the problems I have with using Windows on a handheld.

Xbox Ally vs ROG Ally: Battery life

BATTERY WINNER: The new Xbox Ally likely offers longer battery life since it has a larger 60Whr battery capacity than the original Ally's 40Whr battery and has new energy-saving features. But we'll double-check when we get our hands on this device.

The ROG Ally has a 40Whr battery that is capable of lasting up to four hours on low settings when playing less demanding games. However, it tends to run out of juice in less than an hour if it's playing more graphically intensive titles and on max TDP (thermal design power).

Meanwhile, Xbox Ally has a larger 60Whr battery capacity. We don't know yet how long it lasts for, but considering it's 20% larger than the ROG Ally battery and the Xbox Ally has new Windows reducing capabilities, it seems very likely that it will offer longer battery life.

That said, many gaming handhelds really don't have very long battery life, so it might be in your best interest to get a power bank for ROG Ally or play your device while it is charging and docked to a TV.

Xbox Ally vs ROG Ally: Which should I buy?

BEST OVERALL: At this point in time, it's a lot harder to find the original ROG Ally selling brand new, but even so, the better-designed grips and battery-saving features of the Xbox Ally make it the more compelling option.

Both the ROG Ally and Xbox Ally are good devices, but there are a few tradeoffs between them. It's very possible that the original ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) is more powerful than the Xbox ROG Ally with its Z2 A processor.

However, the Xbox ROG Ally theoretically will have better battery life due to its ability to save power by turning off certain Windows 11 features in its Xbox mode.

I also cannot argue with the improved grips on the Xbox Ally, which should make this device easier to hold during gaming sessions.

If you're going to get one of these handhelds, the Xbox Ally might be the better option. But if you can't wait until it launches then you can always get an ROG Ally right now.