Asus has been rumored to be working on an ROG Ally 2 for several months now. Not much has appeared about the upcoming handheld beyond the fact that it’s expected to feature a new, more powerful chip and thatXbox will be integrated into the devicein some way. However, thanks to an FCC filing (via@94G8LA,VideoCardz), we now know what the upcoming handheld will likely look like.
The FCC leak includes two models – one with a white body that’s likely the ROG Ally 2 and a black model that’s likely Xbox’s and Asus' “Project Kennan.”
The black model features what looks like a dedicated Xbox button on the upper left side of the handheld (if you look closely, you can see the Xbox logo engraved on it). On the other hand, the white model features a blacked-out Xbox button and the same overall button layout as its black-colored counterpart (it’s unclear what this button will do). The Y, X, A, and B buttons are in Xbox’s notable yellow, blue, green, and red colors, however. The top of the console features a similar button layout to the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X.
How I saved $150 this month on games for my ROG Ally X
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has given me a level of cost-effective gaming freedom I didn’t expect.
The new controller-like grips look way more comfortable
Key spec updates include a faster chip
What’s unique about the design is that the ROG Ally 2 appears to feature controller-like grips on its side. It gives the handheld a somewhat odd-looking profile, but it’s a smart move on Asus' part. One of my key issues with the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X are the handhelds' lack of grip (my hands just don’t wrap around the edges of the handheld in a comfortable way). If this is the ROG Ally 2’s final design, that likely won’t be an issue thanks to the new handles on its sides.
The filing reveals that both handhelds feature a 7-inch 120Hz screen that seems identical to the display in its predecessor, with 64GB LPDDR5X-8533 RAM being confirmed for the black Xbox Model. The Xbox version of the ROG Ally 2 seems to feature a faster 8-core Ryzen Z2 Extreme, compared to the standard 4-core AMD Aeirth Plus. The RAM featured in the white version of the ROG Ally 2 isn’t currently known.
Color and branding
ROG Ally 2 (RC73X1)
ROG Ally 2 (RC73YA)
Black with an Xbox Button
White version with no Xbox branding
7-inch 120Hz
AMD 8-core 63W (Ryzen Z2 Extreme)
AMD 4-core 20W (AMD Aeirth Plus)
64GB LPDDR5X-8533 RAM
While it’s possible Microsoft could unveil the Xbox-powered ROG Ally 2 at Build later this month, it might also appear at Computex on May 20th. The tech giant also has an Xbox Games Showcase planned for June 8. Either way, it’s likely we’ll learn more about the ROG Ally 2 soon given FCC filings typically indicate a device’s release is only a few months away. It’s unclear when either handheld will release.
I wasn’t expecting the ROG Ally X to outshine the Steam Deck quite this much
Both gaming handhelds have specific strengths and weaknesses, but generally, the ROG Ally X reigns supreme.
