Microsoft Auto SR leaves preview on ROG Xbox Ally X and now works in handheld mode
A new Performance Mode lifts the cap to 120 fps and Auto HDR now works with it, but those two arrive later through Windows updates rather than today.
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Microsoft's Automatic Super Resolution, or Auto SR, is out of preview on the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally X20 handhelds. Microsoft announced the full release on its DirectX Developer Blog on November 10, 2026. Auto SR now works in handheld mode on battery, supports games running at 1080p, and gains a Performance Mode that can reach up to 120 fps.
Some features are live now and others arrive later through Windows updates, so not every handheld will see everything at once.
What's confirmed
Available now. Microsoft says handheld play (undocked and on battery), support for games running at 1080p, and support on select Copilot+ PCs with AMD Ryzen chips roll out first. To get them, Microsoft says to update Game Bar and install the latest Windows 11 updates.
Coming through Windows updates. The new Performance Mode and compatibility with Auto HDR are rolling out more slowly, so they may take time to reach each device.
Performance Mode. Before this release, Auto SR topped out at around 60 to 75 fps. Performance Mode raises the ceiling to up to 120 fps, and players can switch between modes in Game Bar. Microsoft's own example is Rocket League on the Ally X at 720p with high settings: about 70 fps on average in Quality Mode and about 115 fps in Performance Mode. These are Microsoft's figures, not independent tests.
1080p and docking. During the preview, players had to lower a game's resolution before Auto SR would switch on. It now accepts games running at 1080p, and when docked to a higher-resolution TV or monitor it can upscale up to 1440p. Microsoft warns that 1080p in handheld mode on the built-in screen "may not be as optimal" for performance, though older games should still look better.
Auto HDR together. Auto SR and Auto HDR previously could not run at the same time. Now they can, which matters most on the X20's OLED screen.
How it works. PC Gamer explains that Auto SR uses the handheld's NPU for upscaling instead of the GPU, so it works with games that do not have their own upscaler built in. The Verge describes it as Microsoft's answer to Nvidia's DLSS.
Background
Auto SR first appeared in 2024 on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ laptops. The Verge says Microsoft began testing it on the Xbox Ally X in April 2026, but only while docked. Microsoft says it started there because that is where the feature made the biggest difference: sharper detail on large screens.
Upscaling on handhelds is not new. The Steam Deck has used AMD's FSR since 2022, and many games now ship with FSR, DLSS or XeSS built in. PC Gamer's advice is to keep using a game's own FSR when it is available and well implemented, because it tends to look closer to the intended image. Auto SR is for games that have no upscaler, or a poor one. PC Gamer also notes the Ally X currently sells for about US$1,000.
My take: what it means for players
I like this update because it finally makes the NPU earn its place in a handheld. Most handheld buyers have been paying for AI silicon that did very little in games. An upscaler that works on almost any title, including older ones with no FSR option, is a sensible job for it.
Microsoft's own Rocket League numbers, roughly 70 fps to 115 fps when moving from Quality to Performance Mode, are the kind of jump that turns a decent handheld session into a smooth one. But they are vendor numbers from one light game. What I want to see is how much battery life the NPU costs and whether heavier games hold up. On a handheld, sustained performance and battery matter more than a peak fps figure.
Compared with the Steam Deck's FSR in 2022, this is a more flexible tool but a less proven one. If you own an Ally X or X20, update Game Bar and try it on games without their own upscaler. If you're shopping for a handheld in Malaysia, I wouldn't pay extra for an NPU on the strength of Auto SR alone until independent tests show the real-world gains.
What we don't know yet
- Battery cost. Microsoft has not published figures for how much extra power Auto SR uses in handheld mode.
- Rollout timing. Performance Mode and Auto HDR arrive with Windows updates, with no fixed date.
- Which Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft says "select" AMD Ryzen Copilot+ PCs but has not published the full list.
- Other handhelds. There is no word on support for other Windows handhelds with NPUs.
Quick facts
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Feature | Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) |
| Announced | November 10, 2026, DirectX Developer Blog |
| Devices | ROG Xbox Ally X, ROG Xbox Ally X20, select AMD Ryzen Copilot+ PCs |
| New now | Handheld mode on battery, 1080p games, more Copilot+ PCs |
| Rolling out | Performance Mode (up to 120 fps), Auto HDR support |
| Old limit | About 60 to 75 fps |
| Docked output | Upscales up to 1440p |
FAQ
What is Auto SR on the Xbox Ally X?
Microsoft's system-level upscaler. It runs on the handheld's NPU and can sharpen and speed up games that have no upscaler of their own.
Does Auto SR work in handheld mode now?
Yes. Since November 10, 2026 it works undocked and on battery on the ROG Xbox Ally X and X20.
How fast is Auto SR Performance Mode?
Microsoft says up to 120 fps, compared with about 60 to 75 fps before. Its Rocket League example averaged about 115 fps.
Should I use Auto SR or FSR?
PC Gamer recommends a game's own FSR when it is available and works well. Auto SR is best for games without one.
More: Steam now shows average Steam Deck framerates before you buy.
Sources: Microsoft DirectX Developer Blog; The Verge; PC Gamer. Image: PC Gamer feed image.
