After a long wait, the prices for the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X handheld gaming PCs have finally been announced. The standard white ROG Ally is available for pre-order at Antonline for $599.99, while the higher-end black ROG Ally X can be pre-ordered at Best Buy for $999.99.
I’ve heard that retailers are expecting both of these devices to sell out fast, so if you’re interested, I’d recommend preordering as soon as possible. They’re officially hitting stores on October 16, 2025.
If you’d like extra protection for your ASUS ROG Ally or another handheld gaming device, you can purchase a premium case from ASUS ROG for $69.99. It will be available at the same time as the handhelds themselves.
You can now pre-order in 38 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.
As many online have already seen, an Argos employee in the UK accidentally revealed the price and pre-order date for the ROG Ally gaming handheld (thanks to Tom’s Guide for the heads-up).
The leaked price was £499.99, which converts to around $672. However, the good news is the US price will be $599.99 – a bit lower!
The new Xbox Ally is priced the same as the original, base-model ROG Ally (the Z1 version that wasn’t the ‘Extreme’ model). The original model is now hard to find in stores, so the new Xbox Ally essentially replaces it.
The Xbox Ally X costs $100 more than the base ROG Ally X, which is reasonable considering its improved grip and more powerful processor.
Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X specs
Choosing between these handheld devices can be tricky, so here’s a comparison of their features to help you choose. Keep in mind they’re likely to sell quickly, so it’s best not to delay your decision.
| Xbox Ally (white) | Xbox Ally X (black) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.99 / £499.99 / €599.99 (ERP) | $999.99 / £799 / €899 (ERP) |
| Release date | Oct. 16, 2025 | Oct. 16, 2025 |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen Z2 A | AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme w/ NPU up to 50 TOPS (15-35W TDP) |
| Storage | 512GB M.2 2280 SSD | 512GB PCle 4.0 M.2 2230 NVMe SSD |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR5X-6400 | 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 MHz RAM |
| Display | 7-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS touchscreen, 120Hz, 500 nits | 7-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS touchscreen, 120Hz, 500 nits |
| VRR | Yes | Yes |
| Ports | 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x UHS-II microSD card reader, 1x audiojack | 1x USB4 Type-C, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x UHS-II microSD card reader, 1x audio jack |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 11.44 x 4.78 x 1.98 (290.8 x 121.5 x 50.4mm) | 11.45 x 4.78 x 1.99 inches (290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm) |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (670g) | 1.57 lbs (715g) |
| Battery life | 60Whr (65W AC adapter) | 80Whr (65W AC adapter) |
How does the Xbox Ally compare against other handheld gaming PCs?
The Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are competing with several other popular handheld gaming PCs, including the Steam Deck, various ROG Ally models, the Legion Go and its updated versions, and the MSI Claw 8 AI+.
While not directly competing with handheld gaming PCs, the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is still a contender for gamers’ money as a hybrid console.
For casual gaming on the go, the Xbox Ally is a great choice. If you’re looking to play more advanced and visually impressive games, the Xbox Ally X is the better option.
Handheld gaming PCs like the Xbox Ally and Ally X are essentially compact gaming laptops. They trade in a traditional keyboard for built-in joysticks and comfortable grips. The good news is that most of these devices work seamlessly with popular PC gaming platforms, including Xbox Game Pass, Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Battle.net, giving you access to a wide variety of games.
The Xbox Ally and Ally X are designed with comfortable, chunky grips modeled after the standard Xbox Controller. This makes them a good choice for gamers who find their hands get tired or cramped during long gaming sessions on handheld devices.
Plus, Xbox teamed up with ROG to make these accessories. They even include an official Xbox button, making it easy to use and navigate the system.
Microsoft is working on a new gaming mode for Windows 11 designed to make it better for handheld gaming devices. Windows hasn’t always been ideal for these devices – it can feel a bit awkward compared to systems like SteamOS. This new mode aims to fix that and provide a smoother, more optimized experience for gamers using handheld PCs.
Should I get the Xbox Ally or the Xbox Ally X?
The team at Windows Central is excited to thoroughly test the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X with a range of benchmarks as soon as we receive them. Right now, we’re still learning about exactly what these devices can do.
Based on the technical details, the white Xbox Ally appears to offer performance comparable to the Steam Deck. This is because it’s powered by an AMD Ryzen Z2 A chip, which shares the same core technology – the Zen 2 processor and RDNA2 graphics – as the customized chip inside the Steam Deck.
The Steam Deck is a popular device, but it’s starting to show its limitations. I’ve noticed it struggles with some newer, more powerful games that run well on other handheld PCs.
So, if you’re like me and mostly love playing 2D platformers or games that don’t need a super powerful computer, and you’re okay with performance similar to the Steam Deck, then I think the Xbox Ally would be great for you. It really seems like it hits that sweet spot for those kinds of games!
If you’re looking for a device that can handle demanding, modern games, the high-end Xbox Ally X will offer a much better experience.
The Xbox Ally X features a more powerful processor, the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme. Compared to the original Ally’s Z2 A chip, it has twice the processing cores and utilizes a newer, more efficient Zen 5 architecture with an upgraded RDNA 3.5 graphics processor. It’s also an AI-focused chip, including a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) capable of up to 50 TOPS. This NPU helps the device run smoother and more efficiently by assisting the main processor and graphics chip with certain tasks.
The Xbox Ally X also boasts increased memory and storage, making it well-suited for gaming. While some believe AI chips aren’t ideal for gaming, my testing of the MSI Claw 8 AI+ showed a surprisingly effective AI processor in a handheld device. I’m optimistic the Xbox Ally X will deliver similar performance improvements.
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2025-09-26 03:12