ROG Xbox Ally X: Breakthrough Handheld with Ryzen Z2 Extreme & Radeon 890M

The first hands-on benchmarks for the ROG Xbox Ally X suggest ASUS and Microsoft’s high-end handheld may have hit a rare sweet spot: substantial generational GPU gains, sensible power draw, and cooling that keeps temperatures well below what many larger devices produce under stress.

Background​

ASUS and Xbox unveiled the ROG Xbox Ally family earlier this year, positioning two models for the consumer market: the standard ROG Xbox Ally and the premium ROG Xbox Ally X. Both devices are built around AMD’s new Z2-series silicon targeted at handheld gaming, but the Ally X is the marquee model—shipping with the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme APU, expanded memory and storage, and a larger battery. The companies confirmed an on‑shelf date for both devices in mid‑August and set availability for October 16, 2025.
The Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme represents a jump over the earlier Z1 Extreme generation. Key hardware changes include a move to Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores on the CPU side, a substantially bumped iGPU based on RDNA 3.5 (marketed in this product as the Radeon 890M), and an integrated neural processing unit (NPU) promising system-level AI features. In the Ally X, that translates to a configuration with 24GB LPDDR5X‑8000, a 1TB M.2 SSD, and an 80Wh battery inside a 7‑inch, 1080p, 120Hz display chassis.
Early public demonstrations at Gamescom 2025 produced a flurry of hands-on tweets and short clips. One widely circulated snapshot of performance shows Doom: The Dark Ages running with ray tracing enabled, using AMD’s FSR upscaling and frame generation, and hitting roughly 70 frames per second in a representative scene while operating at a modest power envelope. Those numbers are impressive on paper, but the nuance behind them matters—especially when translating short-run demos to everyday gaming on a portable device.

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Overview of the hardware leap​

CPU: Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores​

The Z2 Extreme’s move to Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores is not just marketing. Architectural changes bring higher instructions-per-cycle and improved cache hierarchies, which matters in CPU-bound scenes and when the handheld is multitasking (OS operations, background services, voice/AI processing). The core count remains competitive for a handheld-class APU, but the real benefit here is efficiency—Zen 5’s IPC improvements allow higher single‑thread throughput at similar power levels, which is exactly what handheld gaming needs.

GPU: Radeon 890M and the 33% shader uplift​

On the graphics side, the jump to the Radeon 890M is the headline. Compared with the Z1 Extreme’s iGPU, the 890M increases shader/stream processor counts by roughly 33% (moving from 768 to 1,024 unified shaders), and transitions to a RDNA 3.5 microarchitecture. That core increase, paired with higher boost clocks seen in modern RDNA variants, produces tangible raw throughput gains—benchmarks and synthetic tests show double‑digit percentage improvements across a broad set of workloads.

• Shader count increase: ~33% (768 → 1,024)
• Architecture: RDNA 3.5
• Peak boost frequencies: up to ~2.9 GHz in aggressive implementations
• Ray‑tracing: second‑generation RT support on iGPU

This GPU uplift is what makes titles that were previously borderline playable at low resolution suddenly possible with aggressive upscaling and added frame generation.

NPU and the AI angle​

The inclusion of an NPU (claimed at tens of TOPS in vendor materials) marks a strategic shift: the handheld is not just a raw graphics box but a platform for system‑level AI features. Planned functionality includes Automatic Super Resolution (system upscaling handled transparently by the NPU) and automatic highlight capture and clip creation. These features are compelling for a handheld environment where maximizing perceived frame rate and reducing manual capture work can materially improve the user experience.

Memory, storage and battery​

The Ally X pairs the Z2 Extreme with 24GB of LPDDR5X‑8000, which helps bandwidth‑sensitive upscaling and ML tasks. Storage is a 1TB M.2 2280 unit (user‑upgradable), and the battery pack is a comparatively large 80Wh — larger than many earlier handheld attempts, and a sensible choice given the elevated power floor of the higher‑end APU.

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The early benchmark: what was measured, and how​

A hands‑on demo captured at Gamescom reports Doom: The Dark Ages running on the Ally X with the following parameters:

• Ray tracing enabled (the game uses RT for global lighting and reflections).
• AMD FSR used to upscale from a 540p base render to 1080p output.
• A mix of low and medium in‑game quality presets.
• Frame generation (FSR frame‑gen) active.
• System configured to a roughly 18 W GPU TDP (the demo noted total system draw near ~26–28 W, which aligns with platform-level power vs. APU TDP distinctions).
• Observed performance around 70 FPS in the demo scene.
• The device reported a GPU load of about 97% and a sustained core temperature of ~57°C during the clip.

These figures are remarkable in isolation: ray tracing plus frame‑gen at 70 FPS while drawing only a couple dozen watts suggests both a solid silicon uplift and an effective thermal‑power balance. The 57°C sustained temperature is low compared to many 11‑inch or larger handhelds that often operate hotter under similar loads, indicating ASUS’ thermal solution may be efficient.

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Technical analysis — why those numbers are plausible​

Several factors explain how the Ally X hits these seemingly ambitious metrics:

• Aggressive upscaling and frame generation: Rendering at 540p then upscaling to 1080p dramatically reduces GPU rasterization workload. FSR frame generation adds perceptual frame rate without a proportional GPU cost by synthesizing intermediate frames. Combined, they substantially lift perceived and measured frame rates.
• High shader count + RDNA 3.5 improvements: The jump to 1,024 shaders and microarchitectural gains provide more headroom for RT and raster workloads at a given power level.
• Zen 5 CPU efficiency: Lower CPU overhead can help keep frame pacing tight and reduce CPU bottlenecks in scenes where AI, physics, or draw call management previously stalled frame output.
• Thermals and power headroom: The platform’s reported thermal figures suggest ASUS has designed an effective heat path and a power delivery profile that keeps the APU in efficient operating windows without runaway temperatures.

Put together, a 540p internal render with FSR upscaling is an intentionally engineered mode that shifts the performance/perception equation. It’s a valid and increasingly common approach for handhelds because it delivers smooth frames while keeping thermals and battery use manageable.

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Caveats and risks — why a single demo isn’t a full verdict​

The early demo and the accompanying numbers are encouraging, but several important caveats must temper enthusiasm:

• Single‑scene, short‑duration measurement: The 70 FPS snapshot is a demo‑clip, not a sustained, multi‑session benchmark. Thermal throttling or driver stability over longer sessions could lower average frame rates.
• Driver maturity: Handhelds and integrated APUs often require vendor drivers and game patches to reach their full potential. Earlier handheld launches have shown that outdated or unoptimized drivers can produce crashes or inconsistent performance in certain titles. Early performance may improve (or, rarely, regress) as OEM and game developer drivers mature.
• Upscaling and frame generation tradeoffs: FSR and frame‑gen deliver higher frame rates but at the cost of image fidelity and potential visual artifacts. Running at a 540p base render upscaled to 1080p will look noticeably softer than native 1080p in many scenes, and frame generation can introduce interpolation artifacts or ghosting under certain motion conditions.
• Power metrics ambiguity: Reporting an 18 W TDP is useful, but platform vs. APU power can differ: total system draw, battery charge state, USB‑PD input, and display brightness all change real-world power consumption. Some reports note ~26–28 W system draw during the same demo, which aligns but highlights the need to treat TDP as a controlled variable, not the whole story.
• Game variety: Doom uses a modern engine with certain performance characteristics. Other AAA titles—especially CPU‑heavy or open‑world games—may show very different results for frame rate, thermal behavior, and battery life.

Because of these factors, the correct reading of the demo is: it’s an encouraging proof‑of‑concept showing the platform’s potential, not a definitive statement of everyday, long‑play performance.

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Thermals and chassis engineering: a closer look​

The Ally X’s reported 57°C temperature under near‑maximum GPU load is notable. Several design decisions likely contribute:

• Use of efficient vapor chamber or heat pipe arrays scaled to the device’s small footprint.
• Active airflow and fan control tuned to prioritize steady cooling at a low acoustic cost.
• Careful component placement to isolate the battery and input surfaces from the hottest zones.

The combination of effective dissipation and conservative power tuning appears to produce a cooler device than many larger rivals. Cooler operating temperatures improve sustained boost behavior and mean the handheld can maintain higher clocks for longer before thermal throttling sets in.
However, long‑term thermal performance needs verification across a range of loads and ambient conditions. Pocketable devices are often tested in air‑conditioned showrooms; real‑world temperatures during summer travel or under a blanket can push thermal limits and reveal throttling not evident in short demos.

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Battery life and real‑world expectations​

An 80Wh battery on an 80W‑class device sounds generous, but expectations must be grounded in use cases:

• In light or cloud gaming scenarios (streaming xCloud/GeForce Now), the Ally X could see several hours of continuous play since the APU is not driving heavy local rendering.
• In local AAA gaming with the Z2 Extreme at medium/high settings and using FSR, battery life will be highly variable—likely 1.5–3 hours depending on power mode, frame rate cap, display brightness, and whether frame generation or aggressive upscaling is used.
• Battery life advantages for the Ally X versus lower‑end models will be offset by the higher sustained performance and additional power drawn by the NPU during certain AI tasks.

Expect battery reports from full reviews to be the most reliable indicator; manufacturer claims and short demos tend to overstate endurance for typical play patterns.

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Software ecosystem and the Xbox partnership​

The Xbox collaboration brings two major advantages for the device’s launch window:

• A Handheld Compatibility Program to label and prioritize titles that are expected to perform well on the Ally family. That helps set user expectations and reduces the discovery friction typical of general-purpose Windows handhelds.
• System-level Xbox integration that simplifies navigation, account sign‑in, and storefront access—features that make the handheld feel more like a dedicated gaming device rather than a laptop with controllers stuck on the sides.

On the software front, the presence of an NPU points to potential future features—Auto SR upscaling and AI-assisted highlight capture are two use cases already announced for the platform. These system-level AI capabilities will require ongoing OS, driver, and firmware updates to reach their full potential. Timely coordination between Microsoft, ASUS, AMD, and game developers will be crucial.

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Competition and market position​

The Ally X enters a crowded handheld market that now includes:

• Valve’s Steam Deck (and its variants),
• Lenovo’s Legion Go (and rumored follow‑ups),
• A range of Windows‑based handhelds from boutique vendors,
• High‑end Android alternatives that focus on emulation and mobile gaming.

The Ally X differentiates itself through:

• A high‑performance AMD APU tuned for handheld power budgets,
• Tight Xbox ecosystem integration and handheld certification,
• A larger battery and premium memory/storage configuration,
• On‑device NPU for emergent AI features.

These strengths position it as a premium offering for gamers who want a Windows ecosystem and high fps in a portable form factor. Pricing, however, will be decisive; early price estimates and retail rumors suggest a premium tag, which may constrain adoption against cheaper, less ambitious devices.

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What to watch before passing final judgment​

• Full independent reviews that test sustained performance across multiple games and long sessions.
• Driver maturity and firmware updates from ASUS/AMD, particularly how quickly and reliably they fix early stability or performance regressions.
• Battery life tests under realistic play cycles, including streaming, light gaming, and local AAA gaming.
• Image quality analysis with different FSR/frame‑gen settings to judge the tradeoffs between smoothness and visual fidelity.
• Thermal benchmarking under varying ambient temperatures to confirm real‑world comfort and performance.
• Price and availability in key markets—premium hardware only succeeds if price anchors to value relative to competitors.

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Conclusion​

The early Ally X demo is a credible indicator that AMD’s Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme and ASUS’ system engineering have collectively produced a meaningful step forward for high‑end handheld gaming. The Radeon 890M iGPU’s shader uplift, combined with Zen 5 core efficiency and an integrated NPU, creates a platform that can exploit modern upscaling and AI-driven frame synthesis to deliver smooth gameplay at low to moderate power levels.
That said, the headline numbers come with substantial caveats. The compelling 70 FPS clip was a short, controlled demo using aggressive upscaling and frame‑generation techniques in a single game. Real‑world performance will vary by title, driver state, and user settings, while long sessions may expose throttling, battery limitations, or visual artifacts not visible in a brief hands‑on footage.
As such, the ROG Xbox Ally X should be treated as a promising early entrant that demonstrates what next‑generation handheld silicon and thoughtful thermal design can accomplish—but one that still needs the scrutiny of full reviews, broad game testing, and driver maturation before it can be declared a definitive leap for portable PC gaming. The October on‑shelf date will bring those comprehensive tests into the public domain; until then, the Ally X remains a highly interesting and potentially game‑changing piece of hardware that deserves close attention and cautious optimism.

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Source: Windows Report ROG Xbox Ally X Shows Off Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Power in an Early Benchmark Test