ASUS’ quietly posted promo that details the Xbox Ally family’s so‑called “Zero Gravity” cooling system has pulled back the curtain on one of the most consequential engineering problems for modern handheld gaming PCs: how to keep a dense, hot APU comfortable and quiet in every orientation while preserving battery life and long‑term reliability.
Microsoft and ASUS introduced the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X as Windows‑based, Xbox‑styled handheld gaming PCs built around AMD’s Z2 family of handheld APUs. The devices promise console‑like ergonomics and a more curated handheld experience on top of Windows 11, but the real engineering test is thermal management: sustained performance, fan noise, surface temperatures and longevity. ASUS has branded its thermal approach Zero Gravity, claiming a set of design changes — anti‑gravity heat pipes, reworked fans and denser heatsinks — that allow the handheld to perform whether it’s held right‑side up, propped vertically, or even inverted. These claims are documented on ASUS’ ROG product pages and echoed in official press materials. (rog.asus.com)
A recently discovered, unlisted promo video — apparently spotted by community members and summarized by outlets — expands on the marketing language with a narrated breakdown of the internals: modified heat pipes with an improved wick, dual fluid‑dynamic‑bearing fans, additional venting and a denser fin stack. That footage gives the first close, OEM‑produced explanation of how ASUS approaches the complex tradeoffs inherent to handheld thermals. Independent coverage and early hands‑on reporting corroborate that the Ally family emphasizes larger batteries, higher blade‑count fans and a redesigned cooling stack compared with earlier handheld generations. (windowscentral.com)
However, two important caveats remain. First, several numeric claims circulating in the community (exact blade counts, specific percentage airflow increases quoted from the unlisted transcript) are not consistently present across ASUS’ official regional materials and independent reviews; they should be treated as provisional until confirmed by formal teardown measurements or an explicit clarification from ASUS. Those details are flagged as needing verification. (rog.asus.com)
Second, real‑world performance depends on firmware, ambient conditions and manufacturing quality. The cooling architecture can be terrific on paper but undercut by inconsistent fan tolerances or aggressive thermal throttling profiles set to preserve surface comfort or battery. Community evidence of earlier fan reliability issues suggests buyers and reviewers should pay attention to long‑term reliability as much as peak performance. (reddit.com)
For anyone watching the handheld market, the Zero Gravity marketing is significant because it signals OEMs are investing in nuanced thermal engineering tailored to handheld use cases. That technical focus, coupled with Microsoft’s software push for a handheld‑aware Windows experience, could raise the bar for what shoppers expect from a Windows handheld — but the payoff will only be clear after instrumented retail reviews, teardown verification and early adopter durability data.
ASUS’ Zero Gravity cooling system is an intriguing, technically sensible response to the orientation problem that has dogged handheld gaming PCs since the category’s inception. The unlisted promo gives enthusiasts and engineers a clearer view of what the company intends to deliver. The promise is real; the proof will be in the data — and in how well ASUS’ manufacturing and firmware choices translate that promising engineering into consistent, long‑term user experience.
Source: Windows Central The Xbox Ally 'zero gravity' cooling system gets detailed in a sexy (and inexplicably hidden) promo video
Background / Overview
Microsoft and ASUS introduced the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X as Windows‑based, Xbox‑styled handheld gaming PCs built around AMD’s Z2 family of handheld APUs. The devices promise console‑like ergonomics and a more curated handheld experience on top of Windows 11, but the real engineering test is thermal management: sustained performance, fan noise, surface temperatures and longevity. ASUS has branded its thermal approach Zero Gravity, claiming a set of design changes — anti‑gravity heat pipes, reworked fans and denser heatsinks — that allow the handheld to perform whether it’s held right‑side up, propped vertically, or even inverted. These claims are documented on ASUS’ ROG product pages and echoed in official press materials. (rog.asus.com)A recently discovered, unlisted promo video — apparently spotted by community members and summarized by outlets — expands on the marketing language with a narrated breakdown of the internals: modified heat pipes with an improved wick, dual fluid‑dynamic‑bearing fans, additional venting and a denser fin stack. That footage gives the first close, OEM‑produced explanation of how ASUS approaches the complex tradeoffs inherent to handheld thermals. Independent coverage and early hands‑on reporting corroborate that the Ally family emphasizes larger batteries, higher blade‑count fans and a redesigned cooling stack compared with earlier handheld generations. (windowscentral.com)
The Zero Gravity pitch: what ASUS says
ASUS frames Zero Gravity as four coordinated engineering moves:- Anti‑gravity/“anti‑orientation” heat pipes with a reengineered wick that raise capillary pressure and keep working even when the device is upside down.
- Dual fans built with fluid dynamic bearings and a new geometry intended to move more air at lower RPMs.
- Redesigned fan shrouds that route a small channel of air between the motherboard and display to reduce touchscreen warmth.
- Ultra‑thin, high‑density heatsink fins and a new third exhaust vent placed on the top of the chassis to move heat away while keeping noise down. (rog.asus.com)
What the unlisted promo shows (and why it matters)
The video — posted but unlisted on YouTube and subsequently reported on by community outlets — gives a concise OEM narrative and a closeup of components. The key takeaways straight from the narration and visuals are:- The heat pipes use an improved capillary wick structure to keep working regardless of orientation.
- Fans are specified as fluid‑bearing (fluid dynamic bearings / FDB), designed for low friction and long life.
- Fan geometry and shrouding actively steer a portion of intake air toward the display‑to‑mainboard gap to keep the touchscreen cool and push that warmed air out a dedicated top vent.
- Heatsinks were redesigned with taller ultra‑thin fins to increase dissipation surface area without increasing drag. The collateral describes “90 ultra‑thin fins” in one narration and references to as many as 102 fins elsewhere in ASUS technical copy. (rog.asus.com)
Cross‑checking technical claims: what’s verified and what is disputed
A sound review must separate OEM claims from independently verified facts.- Anti‑gravity heat pipes and wick improvement — ASUS documents this on official pages, stating capillary pressure increases and calling the pipes “anti‑gravity.” That language appears on multiple ASUS regional pages and in press notes, making the claim verifiable as an OEM statement. Whether the claimed % increase in capillary pressure translates into real‑world inverted performance depends on independent testing. (rog.asus.com)
- Fluid‑dynamic‑bearing fans and airflow increases — ASUS explicitly states the fans use fluid bearings and that design choices improve airflow. Independent hands‑on reviews (preview and review sites) and teardown observations confirm dual‑fan layouts and larger batteried, denser cooling stacks on the Ally X. Several outlets also measured surface temperatures and noted improved thermal behavior versus some earlier devices, but the precise numbers (e.g., “15% more air” or exact blade counts) vary across coverage and are not universally identical. Tom’s Hardware’s review measured acceptable surface temperatures and described the exhaust layout, which aligns with ASUS’ claims about airflow directionality. (tomshardware.com)
- Fan geometry specifics — blade counts, blade height, and percentage airflow increases: the unlisted video transcription circulating in community posts asserts specific numbers (for example, 77 blades, 8mm tall fans, 15% more airflow). Those exact figures do not appear consistently on ASUS’ publicly visible product pages, which instead reference blade thinness (0.15mm) and an airflow improvement expressed as a percentage in different terms (ASUS marketing uses figures like “up to 10%” or “up to 24%” in different regional pages). Because the promo is unlisted and the transcript circulated via secondary reporting, those exact numeric claims should be treated as provisional until confirmed by either ASUS’ official specifications or independent teardowns and instrumented airflow tests. Flagged as unverifiable until corroborated by primary documentation or lab testing. (rog.asus.com)
- Heatsink fin counts and thickness — ASUS’ own copy references ultrathin fins at 0.1mm and up to 102 fins in some descriptions. Other outlets’ coverage described slightly different fin counts. The existence of a dense fin array is consistent across sources, but exact counts and geometry vary with phrasing and region, so the overall claim (denser fins that increase dissipation) is corroborated; exact metrics should be validated by teardown photos and measurements. (rog.asus.com)
Why orientation‑agnostic cooling is technically challenging
A short primer helps frame why ASUS’ emphasis on anti‑gravity solutions is more than marketing.- Heat pipes and vapor chambers rely on capillary action and wick structures to return condensed working fluid to the hot interface. Standard wicks assume gravity assists liquid return; inverted operation can starve the evaporator without a robust capillary design.
- Handhelds have tiny internal volumes and strict thickness constraints, so improving capillarity usually means altering wick porosity, geometry and material — changes that increase manufacturing complexity and cost.
- Higher fin density increases surface area but raises airflow resistance; OEMs must balance fan power and RPM against noise and battery life.
- Routing airflow internally (for instance, diverting some air to cool the screen assembly) can help user comfort but must not compromise the primary CPU/GPU heat path.
- Bearings: fluid‑dynamic bearings are quieter and more durable than sleeve bearings but cost more and can still fail under heavy shock or poor manufacturing tolerances.
Real‑world signals and early reporting
Early hands‑on reports and reviews show mixed but promising signs:- Several outlets and hands‑on testers found that the Ally X, in particular, runs cooler on average than some earlier handhelds under short‑duration loads and that the top‑mounted exhaust keeps palm surfaces relatively manageable. These are consistent with ASUS’ top‑vent design and display cooling channel. (tomshardware.com)
- Independent community posts and support forums have documented fan failures or odd noises on earlier Ally models, which highlights a real risk area for any fan‑heavy design and underlines the importance of quality control and RMA processes. Those community issues are a caution that manufacturing variability can negate good design if execution is poor. (reddit.com)
- Marketing numbers such as “up to 6°C cooler touchscreen” and airflow improvements are presented by ASUS as measured in its test conditions. Those are useful directional metrics but should not be read as universally achievable in every real‑world scenario — ambient temperature, firmware fan curves, and workload matter a great deal. (rog.asus.com)
Competitive context: where the Ally fits in the handheld market
The handheld Windows PC market is now crowded: Valve’s Steam Deck variants, Lenovo’s Legion Go 2 and other boutique Windows handhelds have set a baseline for price/performance and software experience. The Ally family is positioning itself as a more mainstream, Xbox‑friendly Windows alternative with:- A full Windows 11 experience tuned into an Xbox‑style launcher.
- A stronger emphasis on ergonomics and controller‑first input design.
- Larger battery options (60Wh for base Ally, 80Wh for Ally X) and higher‑end Z2 Extreme silicon on the X model. (windowscentral.com)
Practical implications for buyers
- Expect two important metrics from full reviews: sustained frame rates (30‑ to 60‑minute workloads at a set performance mode) and surface temperature mapping across the chassis. These determine the real ergonomics of prolonged play.
- Firmware will matter. ASUS’ default fan curves and performance profiles (Performance / Balanced / Quiet) will define how effective Zero Gravity is in practice. Users often customize these, and the real test is the retail firmware, not the preview units.
- Build quality and fan longevity are real considerations. Community threads show that fan issues have occurred on prior devices — a reminder to check warranty terms, RMA turnaround and retailer policies if you’ll rely on the device heavily. (reddit.com)
- Pricing will govern adoption. The Ally’s technical promise is only compelling if the price aligns with the performance and software integration buyers expect. Leaked and reported price bands have circulated; treat them as provisional until ASUS and Microsoft publish final MSRP.
Strengths, risks and what to watch in independent reviews
Strengths- Holistic engineering approach: the combination of wick redesign, dedicated venting and airflow diversion shows OEMs are thinking beyond single‑component fixes.
- Larger batteries and the possibility of sustained performance headroom on the Ally X make it attractive for users who prioritize longer local play sessions.
- Software initiatives (Handheld Compatibility Program, Xbox shell on Windows 11) reduce friction for older PC libraries on small screens and could be a major UX advantage. (rog.asus.com)
- OEM claims vs. retail reality: marketing numbers are measured in controlled conditions and can be optimistic compared with hot, real‑world usage (e.g., in planes or summer travel).
- Manufacturing and QA: community reports of fan failures in earlier Ally devices remind that design is half the problem — execution is the other half.
- Cost and competition: if pricing approaches premium handheld territory without delivering a clear advantage in thermals and battery life, buyers may favor Linux‑centric alternatives or the Steam Deck ecosystem, which emphasizes value and compatibility. (reddit.com)
- Instrumented thermal graphs for the APU package and surface temperatures across orientations (flat, vertical, inverted).
- Fan noise in decibels at 1m and subjective comfort at hand contact points.
- Sustained frame‑rate testing in real games (not only short benchmarks) across the performance modes.
- Long‑term durability signals: how many reviewers get devices back for servicing and the RMA process experience. (tomshardware.com)
Final assessment
The promotional video and ASUS’ public collateral paint a believable picture: a serious attempt to solve orientation‑dependent cooling for high‑performance handhelds by combining wick refinements, improved fans, denser fins and targeted airflow routing. Those are the right levers to pull in principle. ASUS’ public spec pages and early reviews corroborate the direction and indicate real improvements versus previous handheld designs. (rog.asus.com)However, two important caveats remain. First, several numeric claims circulating in the community (exact blade counts, specific percentage airflow increases quoted from the unlisted transcript) are not consistently present across ASUS’ official regional materials and independent reviews; they should be treated as provisional until confirmed by formal teardown measurements or an explicit clarification from ASUS. Those details are flagged as needing verification. (rog.asus.com)
Second, real‑world performance depends on firmware, ambient conditions and manufacturing quality. The cooling architecture can be terrific on paper but undercut by inconsistent fan tolerances or aggressive thermal throttling profiles set to preserve surface comfort or battery. Community evidence of earlier fan reliability issues suggests buyers and reviewers should pay attention to long‑term reliability as much as peak performance. (reddit.com)
For anyone watching the handheld market, the Zero Gravity marketing is significant because it signals OEMs are investing in nuanced thermal engineering tailored to handheld use cases. That technical focus, coupled with Microsoft’s software push for a handheld‑aware Windows experience, could raise the bar for what shoppers expect from a Windows handheld — but the payoff will only be clear after instrumented retail reviews, teardown verification and early adopter durability data.
Quick checklist for buyers waiting on reviews
- Wait for independent sustained‑load thermal and noise tests before we rate the Ally family on performance/price.
- Compare the Ally X’s real sustained frame rates and battery life to current alternatives at similar price points.
- Check retailer return policies and warranty service reputations for ASUS in your region.
- Look for verified teardown photos to confirm fin counts, fan geometry and heat‑pipe construction if small numeric claims matter to you.
- Monitor community reports of early reliability issues during the first months of retail availability.
ASUS’ Zero Gravity cooling system is an intriguing, technically sensible response to the orientation problem that has dogged handheld gaming PCs since the category’s inception. The unlisted promo gives enthusiasts and engineers a clearer view of what the company intends to deliver. The promise is real; the proof will be in the data — and in how well ASUS’ manufacturing and firmware choices translate that promising engineering into consistent, long‑term user experience.
Source: Windows Central The Xbox Ally 'zero gravity' cooling system gets detailed in a sexy (and inexplicably hidden) promo video