Asus has introduced the ROG Xbox Ally series in the Indian market. The latest offerings, namely Asus ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, follow the 2023 ROG Ally lineup. The 2025 Ally models come with significant hardware enhancements, including the ability to run Xbox in full-screen mode, resulting in improved performance for a more seamless gaming experience. These handheld devices are at the forefront of delivering enhanced gaming experiences, making them a noteworthy choice for gamers.
Recognized for its expertise in gaming laptops and components, Asus has established itself as a prominent name in the gaming industry. Arnold Su, the Vice President of Consumer and Gaming PC at Asus India, highlighted the company’s observation that console gamers have distinct preferences compared to PC and mobile gamers. This insight led Asus to venture into the handheld market, culminating in the launch of the original ROG Ally in 2023.
Although the initial ROG Ally garnered success in the gaming sector, it did not penetrate the console market as effectively as anticipated. To address this, Asus aimed to enhance performance significantly with the second-generation devices. Collaboration with Microsoft played a pivotal role in the development of the new devices, emphasizing the delivery of a console gaming experience within the ROG Ally lineup.
One of the primary challenges with Windows-based handheld devices, like the original ROG Ally, is the background power consumption by the Windows operating system, which hampers gaming performance. By partnering with Xbox, Asus overcame this obstacle, introducing the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X with a dedicated Xbox full-screen experience that eliminates background Windows processes, optimizing gaming performance.
The distinguishing features of the ROG Xbox Ally X compared to the ROG Xbox Ally were outlined by Asus’ Associate Technical Product Manager, Shubham Sharma. The Xbox Ally X boasts a more robust AMD Z2 Extreme chipset and an 80Wh battery, offering enhanced capabilities for gaming and other tasks. On the other hand, the Ally model features the Z2 A chipset and a 60Wh battery, catering to users seeking a high-quality gaming experience.
Both devices support Windows programs akin to regular PCs. The standard ROG Xbox Ally targets casual gamers looking for a convenient gaming experience at 720p resolution, while the Ally X provides smoother 1080p gaming performance. The pricing of the ROG Xbox Ally is set at Rs 69,990, while the ROG Xbox Ally X is priced at Rs 1,14,990, with pre-orders currently available and exclusive benefits for the first 100 customers.
Although priced higher than Sony’s PlayStation 5, starting at Rs 44,999, the Xbox Ally series emphasizes portability and dual functionality as portable gaming devices with full PC capabilities, setting them apart in the market.