Images of what appear to be the upcoming Asus ROG Ally 2 have leaked online courtesy of the US FCC, and if you squint past the dusky fingerprints, one thing is immediately clear: this thing looks significantly more ergonomic. Say what you like about first-gen Ally’s power, but let’s be honest, it’s never been quite as comfortable as Valve’s chonky-yet-charming Steam Deck. Thin grips and a flatter design made for wrist-ache territory during longer sessions.
Sourced from 91mobiles, the images have since spread like wildfire, not least because they also show what could be Microsoft’s Project Kennan – the rumoured Xbox-branded handheld. The hint comes from a new dedicated Xbox button on the black model nestled next to the view and command centre buttons on the left, etched with a distinct ‘X’ shape.
Whether this suggests a co-branded effort with Microsoft remains to be seen, but we do know the company is working closely with several manufacturers to make Windows 11 handhelds more palatable. If nothing else, it indicates deeper integration with Game Pass and Windows-based Xbox features. All I could ask for is a better menu and navigation.
Coming in two listings, there are the RC73XA Black and RC73YA White versions, suggesting Asus might separate the true Asus ROG Ally 2 successor from its partnership with Xbox. According to X user Huang514613, the darker variant reportedly packs an eight-core processor with a 36W power draw, which sounds eeriely similar to Ryzen Z2 Extreme, alongside 32GB of LPDDR5X-8533 memory. The white model, on the other hand, runs a four-core and 20W model likened to AMD Aerith Plus.
Aside from an extra button and bulbous handles reminiscent of a GameCube controller, ROG Ally 2 looks rather similar to its predecessor with a 7in 120Hz screen. A second USB-C stacked up top akin to ROG Ally X is welcome, although the sheer thickness of the side profile leaves a lot to be desires. It’s possible that it’s just a prototype that’s subject to change, but with all eyes on a potential Computex 2025 reveal, that doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room to make sweeping adjustments.
