Microsoft and Asus have teamed up to launch their latest gaming devices, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. Preorders for these handhelds are now open in the United States, with prices set at $599 and $999, respectively. The devices will also be available in various other regions, including Canada, Europe, the UK, and Australia, with varying prices based on local currencies. Shipments are expected to begin on October 16th.
The pricing of these new Xbox handhelds has sparked discussion, especially when compared to traditional console pricing. For example, even the more affordable white Xbox Ally is priced $150 higher than the widely debated Switch 2 and $100 more than the initial cost of the Xbox Series X at launch in the US. In Europe and the UK, the base Ally is priced similarly to the Xbox Series X.
While these prices may seem steep for console gamers, PC gamers might find the offering appealing. These handhelds will feature a unique version of Windows that aims to streamline gaming performance by hiding the desktop and Explorer shell, allowing players to navigate using only a controller.
It’s worth noting that high-end handheld devices have experienced a price increase over time, bringing them in line with gaming laptops. The Xbox Ally X’s $999 price tag is comparable to the $999 MSI Claw 8 AI Plus or the $1,349 Lenovo Legion Go 2. The devices are powered by the same AMD Z2 Extreme chip and have been praised for their ergonomic design.
Potential buyers of the $599 Ally should be aware that it’s equipped with a newly developed processor, the Ryzen Z2 A, which shares similarities with the Steam Deck’s chip. It features 4 Zen 2 CPU cores and 8 RDNA 2 GPU cores, operating within a lower power range for less demanding gaming experiences.
Microsoft plans to release the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X in several countries, including most major markets like Australia, the EU, and the US, with an extended rollout to markets like Brazil, China, and India.
Excitement surrounds these new devices, as they promise to provide a more versatile gaming experience with their portability and PC gaming capability, bridging the gap between traditional console gaming and mobile play. As the market awaits their release, reviews will soon emerge to provide more insights into their performance and value.