Preorders Now Open for Microsoft and Asus ROG Xbox Ally Handhelds
Microsoft and Asus have officially launched preorders for two of their highly anticipated handheld gaming devices, the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X, priced at $599 and $999 respectively in the United States. Customers in Canada will pay $799 CAD and $1299 CAD, while prices in Europe are set at €599 and €899. The devices are priced at £499 and £799 in the United Kingdom, and at $799 AUD and $1599 AUD in Australia. Both models are scheduled to ship on October 16.
Pricing Analysis and Market Comparison
When comparing these prices to traditional gaming consoles, the entry-level ROG Xbox Ally is notably expensive. It costs $150 more than the expected price of the Switch 2, which has faced its own pricing critiques. Furthermore, the Ally retails for $100 more than the launch price of the more powerful Xbox Series X in the U.S., even considering Microsoft’s recent price adjustments on the Xbox line. In certain European markets, the less powerful Ally is priced similarly to an Xbox Series X, emphasizing the cost competitiveness in the handheld segment.
Advantages for Gamers
Despite the pricing, the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds are designed with a unique advantage for gamers who prefer mobility. These devices will introduce an optimized version of Windows that conceals the traditional desktop interface, aiming to enhance gaming performance by freeing up significant memory. This new operating system design, which allows navigation solely through the controller, could make these handhelds a appealing choice for gaming on the go.
Competitive Landscape
The trend of escalating prices in the handheld gaming market has made flagship devices comparable to gaming laptops. At $999, the ROG Xbox Ally X competes well against the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus and the Lenovo Legion Go 2, both of which feature the AMD Z2 Extreme chip. The comfort and ergonomic design of the new Allys have already been noted positively among early reviewers, contributing to their market attractiveness.
Performance Specifications
Prospective buyers should carefully consider the specifications between the two models. The ROG Xbox Ally at $599 features the new Ryzen Z2 A processor, sharing similarities with the chip found in the Steam Deck. While it includes 4 Zen 2 CPU cores and 8 RDNA 2 GPU cores suited for lower power consumption (6-20 watts), the ROG Xbox Ally X boasts a more powerful hardware configuration with 8 Zen 5 CPU cores and 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores designed to run between 15 and 35 watts.
Availability
Microsoft has announced that the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X will be available in numerous regions, including Australia, Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, and Japan, among others. In addition, the devices are expected to reach markets in Brazil, China, India, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Switzerland in the near future.
Stay tuned for upcoming reviews of the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, providing deeper insights into their performance and overall value in the evolving handheld gaming landscape.
