Microsoft finally reveals its handheld console, but will it beat the Nintendo Switch 2?

Microsoft has recently unveiled its handheld consoles, the ROG Xbox Ally and the Xbox Ally X, which users have anticipated for years.

The consoles, which will be released at the end of 2025, were made in collaboration with the Taiwanese hardware and electronics company ASUS.

Microsoft’s ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X are more like companion consoles that allow users to play their favorite games on the go.

“Both handhelds allow players to play natively, via the cloud, or remotely with their Xbox console in another room,” Microsoft said.

Xbox Ally's new features and specs

These consoles come with a host of new features, including an “immersive Xbox full-screen experience” and an “aggregated gaming library with access to installed games from leading PC storefronts,” Microsoft said in a recent announcement.

The Game Bar allows users to return home with ease, browse their gaming library, launch or quit games, talk with friends, and much more.

As the consoles run on Microsoft Windows, users have access to a wide variety of games, run apps like Discord, and access Twitch.

When users boot up the console, they’ll be automatically in the “Xbox full screen experience.”

This new feature allows users to focus on gaming by minimizing background activity and deferring non-essential tasks, so more of the system is dedicated to gameplay.

“That means more memory, higher framerates, and a fully immersive experience for players – all made possible by the versatility and freedom of Windows, the Microsoft press release reads.

Both consoles will have a 7-inch screen with 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate and operate on Windows 11 Home.

The basic Xbox Ally will have 16GB of memory, whereas the Xbox Ally X will have 24GB of memory

The Xbox Ally X will have more storage (1TB as opposed to 512GB), more processing power, and a larger battery.

Long-awaited reveal of Microsoft’s handheld

After years of rumours and speculation surrounding the release of its new device, Microsoft has finally done it.

The BBC reports that Microsoft has been threatening to release a handheld console for more than a decade, with the company beginning the process but discarding iterations over the years.

Microsoft revealed its handheld console just a few days after the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, which has become Nintendo’s most popular and best-selling console ever.

However, despite being both handheld devices, there are distinct differences between the Nintendo Switch 2 and Microsoft’s Xbox Ally – with both being used for different purposes.