Get Your ROG Xbox Ally Handheld Immediately!
Exciting news for portable gaming enthusiasts! Both the ROG Xbox Ally and the more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X are officially available starting October 16th. What’s even better is that Best Buy has updated its listings for the ROG Xbox Ally X, announcing immediate shipping. This comes as a pleasant surprise, as earlier in the week (October 14th), Best Buy had projected new orders wouldn’t ship until as late as December 12th. It seems they’ve managed to secure additional launch units, so orders placed today could arrive as early as tomorrow.
For those interested in the more budget-friendly ROG Xbox Ally, it’s currently in stock at Walmart, Best Buy, and Asus. Amazon, however, has sold out of its initial units. These innovative handheld devices are a collaborative effort with Asus, a leading PC hardware manufacturer known for its popular Windows portable gaming systems.
Let’s dive into the specifications for both the ROG Xbox Ally X and the standard ROG Xbox Ally:
ROG Xbox Ally X Gaming Handheld ($1,000)
The premium ROG Xbox Ally X packs a punch with an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor (featuring Zen 5 architecture, an 8-core, 16-thread CPU, and a 16-core RDNA 3.5 GPU). It boasts a generous 24GB of LPDDR5X-8000 RAM and a speedy 1TB M.2 2280 SSD. The device sports a vibrant 7-inch FHD IPS display with Gorilla Glass Victus protection, a 120Hz refresh rate, and AMD FreeSync Premium for smooth visuals.
Its controller design takes cues from the Xbox Wireless Controller, offering contoured grips, Impulse Triggers, shoulder bumpers, ABXY buttons, two remappable back buttons, analog sticks with light rings, 6-Axis motion controls, HD haptics, and five dedicated menu/settings buttons. Connectivity includes a USB4 Type-C port, a USB 3.2 Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Uniquely, its UHS-II microSD card reader also supports UHS-I cards. Wireless capabilities feature Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4, powered by an 80Wh battery. The device weighs 715g and measures 290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm.
ROG Xbox Ally Gaming Handheld ($599)
The standard ROG Xbox Ally comes with an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor (Zen 4 architecture, 4 CPU cores, 8 threads, and an 8-core RDNA 2 GPU), placing its performance in a similar league to the Steam Deck OLED. It includes 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 RAM and a 512GB M.2 2280 SSD. Like its premium counterpart, it features a 7-inch FHD IPS display with Gorilla Glass Victus, a 120Hz refresh rate, and AMD FreeSync Premium.
The controller design mirrors the Ally X with contoured grips, shoulder bumpers, ABXY buttons, remappable back buttons, analog sticks with light rings, 6-Axis motion controls, HD haptics, and menu/settings buttons. A notable difference is the inclusion of Hall Effect triggers instead of Impulse Triggers. It offers two USB 3.2 Type-C ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. The microSD card reader, however, only supports UHS-II cards. It shares the same Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, 80Wh battery, dimensions (290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm), but is slightly lighter at 670g.
Pricing and Market Comparisons
The $600 and $1,000 price points for these devices, while perhaps higher than some anticipated, are not entirely unexpected, especially after Best Buy briefly listed lower prices before correcting them. The broader tech landscape has seen price increases for gaming hardware in 2025, a trend that has affected PlayStation, Nintendo, and even Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S, which saw new price adjustments on October 3rd.
It’s crucial to understand that despite the ‘Xbox’ branding, these are fundamentally Windows PCs. They run a custom UI reminiscent of the Xbox experience, but at their core, they execute Windows versions of games. This means you’re not limited to Microsoft’s ecosystem; you can seamlessly enjoy titles from Steam, GOG, the Epic Games Store, and more. Furthermore, these versatile handhelds can transform into a regular desktop PC when connected to a portable docking station and monitor, making them viable laptop replacements.
Their pricing aligns more closely with other portable Windows gaming PCs like the original Asus ROG Ally handhelds, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw. The $600 Xbox Ally is competitively priced among entry-level Windows handhelds, while the Xbox Ally X is slightly pricier than some Legion Go S and Asus ROG Ally X models, yet more affordable than the upcoming Legion Go 2.
When compared to the Steam Deck, the ROG Xbox Ally sits between the 512GB OLED ($549) and 1TB OLED ($649) models. While the portable-focused Xbox UI’s user experience compared to SteamOS remains to be fully seen, Windows offers significant benefits in game compatibility. The Xbox Ally can natively run PC Game Pass and other games from the Microsoft Store, a feature only available via streaming on the Steam Deck. It also supports multiplayer games with anti-cheat protocols (like Destiny 2 and Grand Theft Auto V Online) that are currently blocked on SteamOS. Installing other PC game clients like Epic Games Store, GOG Galaxy, and Amazon Games is also a more straightforward process on Windows.
Essential ROG Xbox Ally Accessories
Asus has also released a couple of official accessories:
- ROG Xbox Ally 100W Charger Dock: Priced at $100, this dock is currently sold out. It functions as an AC adapter with a built-in HDMI 2.0 port and two USB 2.0 ports, perfect for connecting your Ally to a monitor or TV.
- ROG Xbox Ally 2-in-1 Premium Case: Available for $70, this hardshell carrying case includes a built-in stand and a separate mesh bag for smaller accessories. It’s back in stock at Amazon and Best Buy, with third-party options also emerging on Amazon.
Expand Your ROG Xbox Ally Storage
For expanding storage with a microSD card, pay close attention to compatibility. The original ROG Xbox Ally strictly requires UHS-II cards, according to Xbox’s specifications. The Ally X, however, is more flexible, also supporting UHS-I cards. This is a crucial detail, as UHS-II cards are currently quite niche and can be more expensive than even the faster microSD Express Cards used by devices like the Nintendo Switch 2. Despite the cost, UHS-II cards deliver impressive speeds, up to three times faster than UHS-I cards.
Several UHS-II microSD card options are available, including:
- Lexar Professional Gold UHS-II microSD (280MB/s): 128GB ($30, originally $35) and 256GB ($50, originally $65).
- Gigastone Ultimate Pro UHS-II microSD (280MB/s): 128GB ($30, originally $40).
- Kodak UHS-II microSD (300MB/s): 128GB ($33, originally $40) and 256GB ($44.81).
- Nextorage UHS-II microSD (280MB/s): 128GB ($40), 256GB ($70), and 512GB ($140).
- ProGrade Digital UHS-II microSD (250MB/s): 128GB ($41, originally $46) and 512GB ($141) (256GB is currently sold out).
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