ASUS has announced its new handheld PC, the “ROG XBOX Ally X20.” In this article, we’ll cover the product launch event held to mark the announcement, as well as the device’s performance.
A new model with upgrades across the board compared to its predecessor
The new “ROG XBOX Ally X20” marks the 20th anniversary of ASUS’s “ROG” brand.
While retaining the silhouette of its predecessor, it features a black-and-gold color scheme that “expresses gratitude for ROG’s 20th anniversary and reaffirms our commitment to the brand.”
The display features a 7.4-inch OLED panel with a 0.2ms response time and supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The screen size has increased compared to the previous model, and the bezels have been reduced by 60%.
When I actually tried it out, I was able to experience the incredibly detailed graphics of *Final Fantasy VII Reverse* right in my hands.
It weighs approximately 756g. When I actually held it with both hands, perhaps due to the balance of its center of gravity, it didn’t feel as heavy as I expected.
Additionally, the grip area features an embossed rubber texture, so there’s no need to worry about it slipping.
The joystick uses a TMR joystick, which uses magnetism to detect stick movement. It’s a welcome feature that it’s less prone to drift, a common issue with joystick malfunctions.
Furthermore, the use of the TMR joystick reportedly reduces power consumption by as much as 75% when operating the joystick.
A new, adjustable D-pad has been added to the bottom of the left stick.
It’s an interesting feature: by pulling the D-pad out and rotating it, the four corners recede, allowing you to switch to a layout that’s easier to use as a directional pad.
The corners of the D-pad are designed so your fingers can catch on them, allowing you to simply pull and rotate it.
This switches the layout, as shown in the photo below.
The Xbox button, which has been included since the previous model, remains. It provides quick access to features such as screen captures and in-app chat on Xbox.
Additionally, there’s an “Xbox Mode” that lets you access games without using the Windows OS. This mode appears to offer benefits such as reduced memory usage compared to running Windows.
The top-mounted ports and buttons are shown in the photo below. A microSD card reader compatible with microSD Express is included, enabling high-speed access to even large games without worrying about storage capacity.
It is equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor featuring an 8-core/16-thread CPU and Radeon graphics.
It comes with 24GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD connected via PCI Express 4.0 x4.
At the launch event, we were able to play Capcom’s sword-fighting action game *Onimusha: Way of the Sword*, which was just released recently; the frame rate never dropped below 60 fps, and the gameplay felt consistently smooth.
In addition, the “ROG XBOX Ally X20 Bundle,” a commemorative set celebrating ROG’s 20th anniversary, has been released.
In addition to the main unit, the “ROG Xbox Ally X20,” the bundle includes the “ROG XREAL R1 Edition 20” AR glasses, developed in collaboration with XREAL,a Pelican protective case, a dbrand Killswitch protective case to safeguard the device itself, and a travel hard cover to protect the display during transport—making for a truly lavish package.
Including a Pelican product—known for its excellent waterproof, dustproof, and shock-resistant properties—in the protective case shows they’re really serious about this.
The interior of the protective case is designed so that power cables are stored on the left, while the device itself fits in the bottom compartment. Additionally, the top features a pocket that can hold the AR glasses in their case, as well as a pocket for including your favorite controller.
Also making an appearance is the “ROG Bulwark Dock DG310,” scheduled for release in late October or later. When used, it expands the device’s range of interfaces, allowing you to set up a desktop-like environment with a monitor, mouse, and keyboard.
Examples of desktop setups were also on display at the venue. These were top-notch setups featuring ROG-series keyboards, mice, and mouse pads.
Below are the specifications for the “ROG Xbox Ally X20.”
OS: Windows 11 Home 64-bit
CPU: AMD Ryzen™ AI Z2 Extreme 8-core/16-thread processor
Main Memory: 24GB LPDDR5X-8000
SSD: 1TB (PCI Express 4.0 x4 NVMe/M.2)
Display: 7.4-inch OLED (organic EL) / 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (120 Hz) /
Touchscreen AMD Radeon™ Graphics (integrated into the CPU)Connectivity: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6E), Bluetooth® 5.4
Dimensions: Width 300.0 mm × Depth 121.0 mm × Height 27.5–51.3 mm
Weight: Approx. 756 g
Check out the actual products at the Tokyo Game Show!
These products will be on display at the Tokyo Game Show 2026, held at Makuhari Messe from September 17 to September 21. If you want to be among the first to check out these new products, why not stop by?
The “ROG Xbox Ally X20,” which lets you enjoy a high-performance gaming experience both at home and on the go, is scheduled for release on October 16. The “ROG Xbox Ally X20 Bundle,” part of the ROG 20th Anniversary Collection, is also scheduled for release on the same day. Pre-orders are set to begin on September 17.
The price for the “ROG Xbox Ally X20” is 258,800 yen (tax included), and the “ROG Xbox Ally X20 Bundle” is 442,800 yen (tax included).
In addition, the AR glasses “ROG XREAL R1 Edition 20” are scheduled to go on sale separately on the same day, priced at 119,980 yen (tax included).
