Hey, I just stumbled upon something that’s floated around for ages but finally has a bit more shape now. You know, Microsoft’s mystery project—Kennan, ringing any bells? Yep, that one. Seems like it’s popping up in some reports, they’re saying it takes the form of an ROG Ally 2 variant, at least that’s what 91mobiles and some guy named Huang514613 on X claim. Guess Asus is whipping up two flavors: a sleek black version with a funky Xbox Button and a white one that’s a tad more… let’s say, everyday person-friendly.
This whole Kennan thing, it’s been sort of official-ish for a bit, but nobody really had the 411 on what exactly it involves. Until now, I mean. Some model ID numbers showed up, and—surprise—they matched up with some listings over at the US FCC. Honestly, it’s like they were hiding in plain sight. I mean, why do that, right? Anyway, so the big differences—like whether it’s packing AMD’s Z1 with 4 CUs or the beefier Z1 Extreme with a dozen CUs. And yeah, there’s about a hundred bucks difference in what it’ll cost you. Yet, Asus seems determined to keep this thing tied to x86 tech. It’s like they’re saying, “We gotta keep compatible with all your old games,” which is sorta considerate, I guess.
Now, the Xbox Button on the black one kind of screams “Hey, I’m Kennan!” Like, could it be more obvious? Even amid the fanfare, don’t expect it to not run Windows 11. It’s not some tailor-made OS for handhelds, that’s for sure. Oh, and that button? Basically another way to launch the Game Bar. Exactly like on a PC. But hey, maybe Microsoft’s got something else up their sleeve. Keep an eye out for the official stuff.
So, if I understand this, underneath it all, Kennan’s supposedly sporting AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip. That’s eight cores, which is a pretty decent mix of 3x Zen 5 and 5x Zen 5c or some such thing, total 16 threads. Like AMD Ryzen AI 7 Pro 360—except juicier. Has a robust 16 Compute Unit iGPU, or at least that’s how it’s pitched. And it’s not shy on memory, with a whoppin’ 64GB of LPDDR5x-8533. Plus a 2TB NVMe SSD and rapid 100W charging. And a 7-inch LCD touch display, 120 Hz? Swanky!
Now, about the less flashy white version. Oh, this one’s got a sci-fi sounding APU from AMD—code name: “100-000001835.” Ha, bet that was rolled off the tongue at parties. Anyway, it’s packing 16GB RAM, and, similarly, there’s that 7-inch 120 Hz screen along with 65W charging support. Current buzz states the APU’s nickname is Aerith Plus—sounds cryptic, yet kinda cool. It’s reportedly a spruced-up Von Gogh from Steam Deck lore.
This “Ryzen Z2 A” in the white one supposedly boasts a four-core setup. A 6W-20W TDP, though the finer details remain shrouded in mystery. Who knows? But more info’s probably incoming from AMD or Asus when Computex rolls around.
If tech’s your thing, following Tom’s Hardware on Google News might keep you in the loop. Hit that “Follow” button. Or not. No pressure.
