The same thing that makes Windows gaming handhelds desirable also holds them back.
It's never been the hardware. The designs aren't perfect in a lot of the devices -- even the best of the lot, the Asus ROG Ally and ROG Ally X, which are the basis of the forthcoming ROG Xbox Ally -- but they're generally playable.
The culprit has always been Windows. It simply isn't an operating system designed for a dedicated gaming handheld, and that needs to change.
Of course, we'd all love the Xbox Ally to be cheap, somewhere in the range of the Nintendo Switch 2's $450. But while we don't yet know the real pricing, $600-plus seems more likely given the specs. With the exception of the processor, which is designed with handhelds in mind, the specs are the same as what you may find in a full Windows laptop.
Specifications
ROG Xbox Ally ROG Xbox Ally X Operating system Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Home Processor AMD Ryzen Z2A AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Memory 16GB LPDDR5X-6400 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 Storage 512GB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade 1TB M.2 2280 SSD Display 7 in. FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9; 120Hz FreeSync Premium 7 in. FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9; 120Hz FreeSync Premium I/O Ports 2x USB-C (2 x DP 2.1, PD 3.0), 1 x microSD, 1 x analog audio 2x USB-C (1 x USB4, 1 x USB 3.2 both w/ DP 2.1, PD 3.0), 1 x microSD, 1 x analog audio Network and communication Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4 Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4 Dimensions 29.1x12.2x5.1 cm 29.1x12.2x5.1 cm Weight 670g 715g Battery 60Wh 80Wh
I can't vouch for the lower-end model of the Ally -- I've only tested the higher-end one -- but on the last-gen hardware, many games run well, at least at 1080p, and people have been known to output as high as 4K with an optional docking station.
But Windows has a lot more to overcome.
Windows annoyances, writ small
There are a lot of chunks of the operating system that serve as a useful base -- many of which it shares with the Xbox -- and which make it possible to run games from any game store on Windows, one of the big reasons we want the handheld. Those parts also make connections to peripherals and communications possible, as well as supply an architecture for incorporating AI (where it makes sense) for games.
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