So, just how much will the Xbox Ally cost? Here’s what we know so far.

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This holiday season, both the standard Xbox Buddy and its pricier version, the Xbox Buddy X, will be available at lower prices.

At the Xbox Showcase in June, 2025, Microsoft introduced the Xbox Ally series, and so far, feedback has been very positive. The Xbox Ally X, powered by AMD’s Z2 range, is said to smoothly run Gears of War: Reloaded at a consistent 1080p, 60 frames per second when used as a PC gaming handheld with Windows 11. With its built-in NPU, advanced technologies such as AI frame generation may potentially enhance this performance even more.

But, fancy new tech and high-end performance, naturally, comes at a cost.

Microsoft has not disclosed the pricing details for these upcoming gadgets as of now. There’s a buzz regarding the potential costs of the Xbox Alloy, and I’d like to share my thoughts along with some insights I’ve gathered on what we might be looking at in terms of cost.

One of the world’s most powerful gaming handhelds ever will most likely come at a powerful premium

According to Xbox leaker, Extasis, Microsoft might be pricing the standard Xbox Ally at $499 and the more advanced model, Xbox Ally X, at $799. These prices are proposed for an October launch window, which we can tentatively confirm for late October. However, our current information indicates that Microsoft hasn’t definitively set a price yet. Given the reliability of multiple sources regarding the October release, it seems plausible that Extasis’ suggested prices could be what Microsoft is aiming for, although they may not have made a firm commitment just yet. Could this pricing be overly optimistic?

Inside, the absence of an official price commitment is likely due to the anticipated factors – the ongoing unpredictability of the trade and tariff issues in the United States. Given that U.S. trade policy is prone to frequent and sudden changes, making a price pledge at this moment could be an unwise decision.

In collaboration with the Taiwanese company ASUS, the Xbox Ally is being constructed. While many of ASUS’s products are made in Taiwan, China, Mexico, and Czechia, they also have factories in these countries. The U.S. has implemented tariffs on all these nations to varying extents, and ASUS has cautioned its investors that the trade dispute could result in increased prices.

Presently, you can purchase the ASUS ROG Ally X for $799 directly from the ASUS website. The base model of the Z1E is priced at $649, while the standard ASUS ROG Ally Z1 retails for $499.

Considering the Xbox Ally X is rumored to retail at around $799, and with its new state-of-the-art components, is it reasonable to anticipate that its price will remain the same?

Is the Xbox Ally $799 price expectancy too optimistic?

During an interview for the Xbox Two Podcast, Cary Golomb – a systems engineer and expert in PC gaming handhelds – shared his predictions that the Z2E handheld would cost between $899 and $999, while the base Z2A Xbox Ally model might retail between $499 and $599. Despite the speculations circulating, I find Cary’s insights convincing. Microsoft has emphasized that the Xbox Ally X offers a “premium” experience, not merely referring to its APU but also other aspects such as an upgraded battery and additional enhancements. However, it seems the standard Xbox Ally could have a different price point.

It’s hard to believe that the Z2 Extreme AI Xbox Ally X would sell for $799 without some form of subsidy from Microsoft. The Xbox PC app being prominently featured might suggest that Microsoft is banking on profits from software and Game Pass service sales. However, if users opt to purchase games via Steam instead, Microsoft will miss out on potential revenue since they receive no cut from those transactions. Given that the Xbox Ally essentially functions as a Windows PC, this could make hardware margins crucial for profitability. Traditionally, console manufacturers accept lower upfront costs because their systems are exclusive to one store.

The standard version of Xbox Ally employs a Z2A APU that, theoretically, matches the performance level of an OLED model Steam Deck, which costs $549. Given this comparison, it’s more plausible to expect the suggested price of $499 for Xbox Ally. However, due to the efficiency of gaming-optimized SteamOS running on the Steam Deck, you might not experience the same real-world performance with Windows 11 on the Xbox Ally.

Microsoft aims to enhance Windows 11 for PC gaming in handheld settings, but it’s unlikely that this optimization will close the performance gap compared to SteamOS. However, the Xbox Ally should still perform well for 2D games, especially with features like Xbox Play Anywhere and PC Game Pass, which aren’t natively supported on the Steam Deck at present.

Are you interested in the Xbox Ally?

For a frequent user of Microsoft’s Xbox platform on both console and PC, the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X seem tailor-made for my needs. Currently, I use the Lenovo Legion Go, but the ergonomic and technological improvements make the Xbox Ally extremely attractive.

At least, that’s how I feel before I’ve seen the sticker price.

Microsoft’s innovative approach for Xbox involves two key elements: first-party Xbox consoles, along with “Designed for Xbox” hardware from established Windows OEMs like ASUS in the third-party category. This setup offers great promise, but it needs acceptance from users and game developers on PC to truly thrive. Both aspects are essential for its success, as one cannot prosper without the other.

What do you think? What’s the right price for you? Sound off in our comments.

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2025-06-17 13:09