The ROG Xbox Ally X has already garnered a prestigious honor before its October 16 launch, as the upcoming handheld by Asus and Microsoft has been named one of the Best Inventions of 2025 by TIME magazine. The ROG Xbox Ally X made the list due to being a portable Windows-powered device that can run games from a user's PC and Xbox libraries.
Compared to the standard ROG Xbox Ally model, the ROG Xbox Ally X offers more powerful hardware to compensate for its steeper price tag. The ROG Xbox Ally X is powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor and utilizes Windows 11 as its operating system. The ROG Xbox Ally X also includes impulse triggers and has a larger battery capacity than the standard ROG Xbox Ally, at 80Wh compared to 60Wh. However, the ROG Xbox Ally X carries a steep $999 price tag, a pricier MSRP than Microsoft and Asus initially planned, due to the US government's tariffs on goods from countries such as China.
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The ROG Xbox Ally X Is One of TIME's Best Inventions of 2025
Although the ROG Xbox Ally X has ambitious goals, the upcoming handheld from Asus and Microsoft has already garnered a significant honor. The ROG Xbox Ally X was named to TIME's Best Inventions of 2025 list, under the Entertainment and Gaming category. The list was announced one week before the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X hit store shelves. The ROG Xbox Ally X was chosen due to being a handheld that could run a user's Xbox and PC games while on the go. TIME noted that, since the ROG Xbox Ally runs on Windows 11, its ability to run games from third-party storefronts was another reason for its inclusion on the list.
TIME's announcement came at a controversial time for Microsoft, as the company recently increased the price of the Xbox Game Pass service across the board. This included a sharp price hike for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which jumped up to $29.99 per month from the previous mark of $19.99. The Game Pass price jump drew sharp rebukes across the gaming industry, and some users chose to cancel their subscriptions out of protest. So far, Xbox has not backed down from its recent decisions.
The ROG Xbox Ally X is joined by the Nintendo Switch 2 in the Entertainment and Gaming Category of TIME's list. Given that the ROG Xbox Ally X and the Switch 2 will compete for consumers' money this holiday season, it remains to be seen how Asus' new handheld will fare.
- Brand
- Xbox / ROG
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor
- Display
- 7” IPS, 500 nits, 16:9, 120Hz refresh rate, FreeSync Premium, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection
- Resolution
- FHD 1080p
- Original Release Date
- 2025