What Makes the ROG Xbox Ally Different From the Original ROG Ally?

If you aren’t sure what makes the ROG Xbox Ally different from the regular ROG Ally, you aren’t alone. This article explains all the differences.

Picture of ROG Xbox Ally vs Regular ROG Ally — ROG Xbox Ally vs Regular ROG Ally (Image via XBOX | ASUS)

The newly announced ROG Xbox Ally is making a lot of buzz, but gamers aren’t sure if it’s a small upgrade or a big successor to the original. At first glance, it looks like a brand-new handheld device. Microsoft also announced a special version of Windows for this handheld, but what else is new? What really makes the ROG Xbox Ally different from the original ROG Ally? Well, that’s exactly what we plan to answer today.

In this article, we will compare the new ROG Xbox Ally and the original ROG Ally to find out what makes the new Ally better than the old one.

Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and reflect the writer’s opinions.

ROG Xbox Ally vs Original ROG Ally

The ROG Xbox Ally is both an upgrade and a downgrade compared to the original ROG Ally. Before we go into details, let’s look at their specs first to get a better understanding of what each handheld is capable of. The specs list is provided below:

Features	ROG Xbox Ally	ROG Ally
Display	7-inch FHD LCD display with 120Hz refresh rate	7-inch FHD LCD display with 120Hz refresh rate
Processor	AMD Ryzen Z2	AMD Ryzen Z1 or Z1 Extreme
RAM and Storage	512 GB	512 GB
OS	Custom Windows 11 with Xbox UI	Windows 11
Battery	60Wh	40Wh
Dimension and Weight	290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm and 670 grams	280 x 111 x 21.22mm and 608 grams

Looking at the specs, you would think the new ROG Xbox Ally is clearly the better choice. However, the specs only tell half the story, and there’s a lot more to it.

Design and Ergonomic Comparison

Picture of ROG Xbox Ally — ROG Xbox Ally (Image via XBOX)

The design is where you will see the big difference between the two handhelds. The Xbox Ally is larger and heavier than the original Ally. However, the Xbox model is designed to mimic the feel of an Xbox controller, which makes it more comfortable to hold compared to the regular Ally. The corners and edges of the Xbox model’s body are also more rounded, which further enhances long-term comfort. Therefore, the ROG Xbox Ally is the better choice in terms of design, ergonomics, and comfort.

Performance and Software Comparison

The performance is one area where the new ROG Xbox Ally disappoints. It is equipped with the Ryzen Z2 A chip, which is more like a downgrade compared to the original Ally. That’s because this chip has only four CPU cores based on the older Zen 2 architecture. As for the GPU, it has eight RDNA 2 cores.

In comparison, the original ROG Ally has two options for the chipset: Ryzen Z1 and Z1 Extreme. They both had the newer Zen 4 CPU architecture and RDNA 3 GPU architecture. As for core configuration, the Ryzen Z1 has six CPU cores and four GPU cores, while the Ryzen Z1 Extreme has eight CPU cores and 12 GPU cores.

The Ryzen Z2 A is a clear downgrade compared to the Ryzen Z1 Extreme. However, the Ryzen Z2 A could be slightly faster than the regular Ryzen Z1 on the GPU side but a definite downgrade on the CPU side. Given that the original ROG Ally with the Ryzen Z1 is regularly available for around $599, the new Xbox Ally certainly appears to be a bad choice for those looking to get a bit more performance from a handheld machine.

As for the software, the ROG Xbox Ally will have a special Windows 11 with a custom Xbox UI. Microsoft says it will consume 2GB less RAM and have significantly fewer background processes compared to regular Windows 11. This should result in better performance. Also, the Xbox model will boot straight into a custom Xbox UI instead of a Windows desktop, which should provide a better user experience. However, Microsoft also announced that this custom Windows 11 will also arrive on other Windows handhelds, so the ROG Xbox Ally doesn’t really have an advantage here.

Battery Comparison

Picture of ASUS ROG Ally — ASUS ROG Ally (Image via ASUS)

The ROG Xbox Ally is equipped with a 60Wh battery, while the original Ally has a 40Wh battery. The former is also equipped with a lower TDP chipset, which, combined with the larger battery, will deliver a much higher battery life.

Price Comparison

The pricing of the ROG Xbox Ally is not available at the moment, so we cannot comment on it yet. We will provide an update when pricing is announced.

Which One Should You Buy: ROG Xbox Ally or Regular ROG Ally?

If comfort, user interface/experience, and battery life are more important, then it could be worth waiting for the new ROG Xbox Ally. However, if you only want raw performance and don’t care about design, ergonomics, or a better UI/UX, then the regular ROG Ally with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme is the better choice. Besides, you can also have a better experience on the original ROG Ally if you install SteamOS, which has been released for it.

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What Makes the ROG Xbox Ally Different From the Original ROG Ally?