Microsoft is bringing its Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) technology out of preview, giving ROG Xbox Ally X owners a way to sharpen their games and improve performance without having to fiddle with resolution settings.
The AI-powered upscaling feature, which Microsoft began testing back in April, is now rolling out to the ROG Xbox Ally X, ROG Xbox Ally X20 and select AMD Ryzen-powered Copilot+ PCs. More importantly, it now works in handheld mode, rather than being restricted to a docked setup as it was during the preview.
Auto SR works by rendering games at a lower resolution before using AI to upscale the image, aiming to deliver sharper visuals without the same performance demands as running at a higher native resolution.
It’s Microsoft’s answer to technologies such as Nvidia’s DLSS, although Auto SR takes a more system-level approach rather than requiring developers to build support into individual games.
When connected to a larger display, Microsoft says the technology can deliver 1440p-like detail while maintaining smooth frame rates. That’s particularly useful for a handheld gaming PC, where pushing higher resolutions can quickly eat into performance. The addition of handheld support should make a difference too, especially when playing more demanding games away from a monitor or television.
Microsoft has also removed one of the more awkward limitations of the preview version. Auto SR now works with games running at their default 1080p resolution, whereas users previously had to lower the resolution manually before upscaling would kick in. It’s a small change on paper, but one that makes the feature considerably easier to use.
There is a trade-off, however. Microsoft warns that performance at 1080p in handheld mode may not be as good as with other configurations, even if the image looks sharper. Older games could see particularly noticeable visual improvements, although the results will still depend on the title and settings.
There are further upgrades on the way, including a new Performance Mode that raises the supported frame rate from the preview’s 60–75fps range to up to 120fps. That should be especially useful for fast-paced games such as shooters, where smoother motion can matter more than squeezing out extra visual detail.
HDR support is also planned, with both additions due to arrive through future Windows updates.
For Ally X owners, the biggest improvement is arguably how little effort Auto SR now requires. Being able to use upscaling at the default resolution, whether docked or playing on the move, makes it a more practical feature than the preview suggested, even if the full performance upgrades are still to come.
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