Hear from developers about the key features of the ROG Xbox ALLY—focused on reducing power consumption and enhancing usability, this latest handheld gaming PC sets a new standard.
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/047/G004755/20251014035/
Editorial Department: Daisuke Chiba | 2025/10/14 11:31 (UTC)
The release date for ASUS’s portable gaming PC, the “[ROG Xbox ALLY]” series, is drawing near. This product features significant changes not only in internal components such as its onboard SoC (System on a Chip), but also in its exterior—particularly in the distinctive grip design—compared to the previous generation model, the “[ROG ALLY].”
Upper-tier model of the ROG Xbox ALLY series: ROG Xbox ALLY X Thumbnail image for Image Gallery No. 001 / Developer Interview on Key Points of “ROG Xbox ALLY”: Focus on Power Reduction and Usability in Latest Portable Gaming PC
This time, we spoke with Gabriel Meng, Director of ROG Product Management at ASUS headquarters, who was involved in developing the ROG Xbox ALLY series. We focused our conversation on key hardware aspects of this product.
Additionally, an interview article about the customized Windows 11 included in the ROG Xbox ALLY series is also available—please check it out as well.
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Could ASUS’s Custom Windows 11 for “ROG Xbox ALLY” Be Offered to Other PC Manufacturers? We Asked the Xbox VP at TGS2025
Just before the opening of TGS 2025, we had the opportunity to conduct a joint interview with Jason Ronald, who was involved in developing the “ROG Xbox ALLY” at Microsoft. We asked what Microsoft aimed for in this project and whether there’s any possibility of expanding the customized Windows 11 to other manufacturers.
[September 28, 2025, 3:18 PM]
- Keywords:
- HARDWARE:Republic of Gamers
- HARDWARE
- ASUSTeK Computer
- Interview
- PC Unit
- Notebook & Portable Gaming PC
- Editor: Toshiaki Konishi
- TGS 2025
- Tokyo Game Show
4Gamer:
At the launch event for ROG ALLY in 2023, it was memorable how key figures from ASUS, Microsoft, and AMD all appeared together to introduce its features. Was the development of this next-generation model—complete with customized Windows—already underway at that stage?
Gabriel Meng [Thumbnail image for Image Gallery No. 002 / Developer Interview on Key Points of “ROG Xbox ALLY”: Focus on Power Reduction and Usability in Latest Portable Gaming PC]
Gabriel Meng (hereinafter, Meng):
Two years ago, creating a portable gaming PC with Windows was still an entirely new endeavor, so we focused heavily on that aspect. At the time, some games weren’t playable smoothly, and there were challenges related to gamepad operation. However, thanks to tremendous effort in making ROG ALLY successful, this inspired us to improve it even further—leading directly to our current product.
4Gamer:
The design of the ROG Xbox ALLY has changed significantly from the original ROG ALLY, featuring a larger grip on the back. What prompted this redesign?
Meng:
ROG ALLY users don’t always hold the device in an ideal posture. For example, they might sit deeply into a sofa or carry it using only one side of the body—adopting various positions and angles. In such cases, having a grip makes holding the device much more comfortable. This is one of the major design improvements in the ROG Xbox ALLY.
Backside grip inspired by the “Xbox Wireless Controller” Thumbnail image for Image Gallery No. 003 / Developer Interview on Key Points of “ROG Xbox ALLY”: Focus on Power Reduction and Usability in Latest Portable Gaming PC
4Gamer:
The ROG Xbox ALLY series offers two models: the standard “ROG Xbox ALLY” and the higher-end “ROG Xbox ALLY X,” tailored to different needs. The SoC isn’t the only difference—battery capacity also varies.
Meng:
The ROG Xbox ALLY comes with a 60Wh battery, while the ROG Xbox ALLY X features an 80Wh battery. In addition, due to its high-performance cooling system, the ROG Xbox ALLY X is about 45g heavier. Moreover, the CPU in the ROG Xbox ALLY X—the “Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme”—includes an NPU, enabling faster AI processing.
4Gamer:
Let’s talk about the display. The ROG Xbox ALLY uses a 7-inch LCD screen, just like the original ROG ALLY. While some portable gaming PCs come with larger screens—8 or even 10 inches—why did you continue using a 7-inch display?
Meng:
The size of the device body is crucial for portable gaming PCs. The ROG Xbox ALLY measures 290mm in width, and still some users find it large. Making it any larger would make it harder to hold and heavier—something we wanted to avoid.
4Gamer:
ASUS has actively adopted OLED panels in its gaming PCs and monitors. Was there consideration for using an OLED display on the ROG Xbox ALLY?
Meng:
We fully understand that many users desire OLED displays. However, beyond cost concerns, power consumption is a significant challenge with OLED panels—especially when displaying bright white content, which drastically increases power usage.
For typical gaming PCs, performance is paramount—but for portable gaming PCs, minimizing power use is essential. Even if the device has high performance, it’s useless without battery life. So our focus was on maximizing gameplay time without sacrificing performance.
That said, there are limits to battery capacity and trade-offs with size and weight—so we carefully balance these factors during development. We will continue researching OLED panel integration in future models.
4Gamer:
Let’s discuss the software. The “Full-Screen Experience” on the ROG Xbox ALLY looks at first glance like an app launcher, but what specific features does it offer?
Meng:
The Full-Screen Experience is a new user interface designed specifically for portable gaming PCs. It’s optimized to work seamlessly with gamepads—some buttons on the on-screen keyboard are even mapped to gamepad inputs. Of course, it also functions as an app launcher, and we’ve put special emphasis on enabling users to access games as quickly as possible.
Full-Screen Experience Thumbnail image for Image Gallery No. 004 / Developer Interview on Key Points of “ROG Xbox ALLY”: Focus on Power Reduction and Usability in Latest Portable Gaming PC
4Gamer:
The customized Windows 11 on the ROG Xbox ALLY reportedly reduces memory usage by about 2GB compared to standard Windows 11. What specific optimizations are behind this?
Meng:
It comes down to process-level optimizations—though I can’t disclose specifics like which processes are terminated. But it’s true that we’ve managed to reduce memory consumption by approximately 2GB.
When using the Full-Screen Experience, only essential Windows components needed for gameplay run. When switching back to the standard Windows desktop environment, the rest of the system loads in.
A key aspect of the ROG Xbox ALLY is its ability to switch smoothly from the Full-Screen Experience to the regular Windows desktop without requiring a reboot.
(※Editor’s note: Returning from the Windows desktop to the Full-Screen Experience prompts a message encouraging a restart for optimal performance—but it’s not mandatory.)
4Gamer:
After the ROG Xbox ALLY launch, there was mention of offering customized Windows 11 and the Full-Screen Experience to existing ROG ALLY users. When might this be available?
Meng:
Several challenges remain, so some time will be needed before we can provide these updates. I can’t specify an exact timeline at this point. However, we are committed to continuing support and updates for ROG ALLY users, and we’re actively exploring ways to enable them to use the customized Windows 11 and Full-Screen Experience.