It’s safe to say that Valve’s Steam Deck remains the most popular PC handheld on the market, but competition from Windows-based devices like the ASUS ROG Ally and Ally X has been a threat to the Deck. And now, leaks for the ‘ROG Ally 2’ have surfaced online, giving us a much closer look at the next generation.

Fans have already been reacting to the news, and many are already branding it “ugly.” It looks like it prioritizes ergonomics over style, which is probably for the best in our opinion. The leaks suggest that there will be two versions of the Ally 2, one reserved for Xbox branding, which lines up with ASUS’ recent Xbox handheld teaser.

ASUS ROG Ally pictured with black and white models

Images of the device posted by @94G8LA on X reveal two different models: black and white. While this may seem like a simple color palette swap, leaks suggest that the black model is actually Xbox-focused. Although hard to distinguish much difference between the two, it is said that the blank button on the black model will be an ‘Xbox button’.

Similar to the Steam button on the Legion Go S SteamOS model, we can speculate it is reserved for launching the Xbox app on Windows, or to go a step further, suggests that the handheld will offer more integration with the Xbox ecosystem.

From first glance, the redesign looks to implement a larger screen, expected to be between 7.4″ and 8″, and more ergonomic controller-like grips. Information on the back of the device, however, suggests the same 7″ FHD 120Hz display design as the existing ROG Ally models.

This information comes from 91mobiles, sourced from entries for the device at the Indonesian certificiation office. This linked them to a U.S. FCC listing. Based on the limited amount of specs leaks, we can see that the black model will be the higher-end option, using the Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip with 8 cores and 36W TDP. This is in contrast to the 4-core 20W design of the white model.

Fans called it “ugly” but accept it looks more ergonomic

In a recent Reddit thread discussing the leaks, everyone seems focused on the new-look design. One person says that it “has to be the ugliest handheld I've ever seen” and it’s immediately clear that many people share this sentiment. However, despite many people labeling it “ugly,” the apparant functionality is being praised. Another fan notes that the “Thing screams ergonomics” and is “probably EXTREMELY comfortable to hold” despite its looks.

Overall, there’s still much to learn about the ROG Ally 2, especially since ASUS is yet to official reveal it. It’s likely that we’re looking at prototype models in these new leaked photos, so be sure to take current information with a grain of salt until all the details are offcially confirmed by ASUS.

About the Author

Charlie Noon

Charlie is the Affiliate manager for PC Guide. He has a vast understanding of most PC hardware and consumer essentials, using his knowledge to provide the best products and the biggest deals.