Ready for a $1,000 handheld gaming PC? Asus’ ROG Xbox Ally X set to find out.

Asus and Microsoft have finally lifted the veil on their highly anticipated ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming PC, which was first introduced in June. After months of speculation, the companies confirmed that preorders will commence on October 16, with a starting price of $599.99 for the entry-level model and a staggering $999.99 for the advanced ROG Xbox Ally X. These pricing tiers position the base model of the ROG Xbox Ally competitively alongside other popular handhelds such as Valve's Steam Deck OLED, Lenovo's Legion Go S, and Nintendo's forthcoming Switch 2. However, the premium ROG Xbox Ally X stands out with its hefty price tag, primarily due to its high-performance components, including a Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor and an NPU. Asus claims that these features will prepare gamers for a future where AI enhancements are increasingly integrated into new titles. While some might question the necessity of such advanced specifications—especially when many Steam Deck users enjoy casual games like Vampire Survivors and Hades—Asus emphasizes the capabilities of the ROG Xbox Ally X. Pre-release tests indicate that this high-end handheld can achieve a remarkable performance boost of up to 30% compared to the standard ROG Ally X, particularly with demanding games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Additionally, it boasts double the battery life on titles such as Hollow Knight: Silksong, making it a formidable contender in the handheld gaming market.