Microsoft seems to be blurring the lines between Xbox and PC gaming with its new device. The upcoming Xbox Ally X is essentially a handheld gaming PC, created with ASUS ROG and designed to feel like a standard Xbox Series X|S controller. Microsoft is positioning it as an Xbox, despite its PC capabilities.
So, the new handheld is from the same team at ASUS ROG that made the fantastic ROG Ally – and the upgraded ROG Ally X. That’s why it keeps the ‘ROG Ally’ name, but gets an extra ‘X’ to clearly signal its Xbox focus. It’s a bit weird though, because the white version of the original Ally, which is Xbox themed, *isn’t* called the ‘Ally S’ – go figure!
Xbox console names are getting increasingly complicated, but at least they follow a pattern. Now, SanDisk is advertising special solid-state drives (SSDs) and microSD cards that are “officially licensed” for Xbox. These drives feature the WD_BLACK brand (which SanDisk now owns) and some Xbox logos. The question is, are these drives actually different from the ones you can buy anywhere? Here’s a breakdown of what I’ve found.
The latest drives are available in two versions. One is the WD_BLACK SN7100X NVMe SSD for ROG Xbox Ally (X) & PC, a standard M.2-2280 SSD with similar specifications to the existing WD_BLACK SN7100 PCIe Gen 4 drive.
The SanDisk microSD Card designed for the ROG Xbox Ally (X) performs similarly to other SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I cards, offering read speeds of up to 200MB/s.
Rapid load times for big AAA titles and smooth in-game performance with up to 200MB/s read speeds.
Sandisk, microSD Card for ROG Xbox Ally (X)
The fine print on the microSD card explains that to get speeds faster than 104MB/s, you need a device that can actually handle those speeds. Specifically, you’ll need a card reader with Sandisk “QuickFlow” technology, like the one found in the Xbox Ally.
This isn’t the same as the new microSD Express technology that Nintendo’s Switch 2 introduced. The Xbox Ally X won’t be the first handheld PC to use it. It seems more like a simple marketing effort to help everyday customers choose the correct storage upgrade for their device, provided the cost is reasonable.
Pricing is crucial for drives like this. If production numbers are low, they’ll likely cost more than similar drives from brands like Sandisk and others. For the WD_BLACK SN7100X specifically, it will be difficult to convince customers to buy it if competing PCIe 4.0 drives with the same features are available for a lower price.
After you install an M.2 SSD, you generally don’t think about it again. However, Sandisk sometimes includes a one-month free trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with certain drives. This bonus could make it the better choice if a competing drive costs about the same as a month of the subscription – especially since the price of Game Pass is going up soon.
| SANDISK microSD Card for ROG Xbox Ally | WD_BLACK SN7100X NVMe SSD for ROG Xbox Ally (X) & PC | |
|---|---|---|
| 512GB | $69.99 | N/A |
| 1TB | $149.99 | N/A |
| 2TB | $299.99 | $159.99 |
| 4TB | N/A | $279.99 |
I need to test the Xbox Ally X with a real-world example before I can say these drives are a must-have. However, if they remain available and stay reasonably priced – similar to what I’ve seen with Sandisk Extreme SSDs and microSD cards over the years – I don’t think anyone should hesitate to buy one of these official models.
As an analyst, I already feel the Xbox Ally X is reasonably priced, especially here in the UK. What’s really appealing is the idea of having SSD upgrades readily available. That said, I personally don’t usually max out the storage on my 1TB desktop, and the same goes for handheld devices, so it’s not a huge concern for me personally.
Do I need a microSD card if I buy an Xbox Ally X?
You don’t need a microSD card to use the new Xbox Ally or Xbox Ally X. While these cards let you add more storage for games and apps, they’re just extra – the handheld already has built-in storage.
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2025-10-01 17:40