Asus and Microsoft’s Xbox handhelds arrive October 16, but pricing remains a mystery

Asus and Microsoft are gearing up for the release of their ROG Xbox Ally series of handheld gaming PCs, which will hit the market on October 16. This new lineup is an Xbox-branded adaptation of Asus' existing ROG Ally handheld series, featuring both the standard ROG Xbox Ally and the upgraded ROG Xbox Ally X. These devices operate on a specially tailored version of Windows 11 Home, designed to prioritize a controller-friendly interface reminiscent of the Xbox experience. The aim of this redesign is to maximize game compatibility across various platforms, including Microsoft's own storefront, Valve's Steam, and the Epic Games Store, while minimizing unnecessary desktop functions that could drain system resources. It’s important to note that despite the Xbox branding, these handhelds will run Windows PC games rather than Xbox titles. While the announcement of these handhelds was first made in June, Microsoft has yet to disclose pricing details, leaving potential buyers curious about how these devices will compare to competitors like the Steam Deck, which starts at $399, the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 priced at $450, and previous models from Asus such as the ROG Ally X retailing at $800. Both the Xbox Ally and Ally X boast a 7-inch, 1080p IPS display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, alongside support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4. However, the specifications under the hood differ significantly. The base model, the Xbox Ally, is powered by an AMD Ryzen Z2 A chip featuring a 4-core Zen 2 CPU, an eight-core RDNA2 GPU, 512GB of storage, and 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 memory—similar to the specs found in Valve's aging Steam Deck. On the other hand, the Xbox Ally X is equipped with a more advanced Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip, which includes an 8-core Zen 5 CPU, a 16-core RDNA3.5 GPU, a generous 1TB of storage, and 24GB of LPDDR5X-8000 memory, along with a built-in neural processing unit (NPU). The enhanced hardware in the Ally X also necessitates a larger battery, rated at 80 WHr, compared to the 60 WHr battery in the standard Ally, resulting in a slight weight increase of around 0.1 pounds (45 grams).