Leaker Reveals 'Final Prices' For ROG Xbox Ally Handheld In The US

Critics of the price often fail to consider that these platforms are open and don't have the revenue guarantees common with home consoles. This perspective sheds light on the pricing for the series follow-up if it genuinely functions as an open platform.

Easy skip. I have zero interest in mobile.

As a technology lover I would love to have one but I know for sure it is 10 minutes pure fun before I let it collect dust for the rest of its life. Happened before with the Atari Lynx to the switch and every handheld in between.

@InterceptorAlpha Mobile?

@Medic_alert On the flipside one could argue that Microsoft is finally doing what they should have eons ago and working to make gaming on Windows not the Absolute worst using Xbox. Xbox has been natively a PC storefront and PC brand since like 2016 and Microsoft's gaming endeavors predate the Xbox console. Windows is by far a bigger gaming platform than any console. That it's taken Microsoft this long to leverage their gaming experiences across platforms to benefit Windows Gaming is the only issue I have here. Valve somehow did it first despite Xbox always having being built on a fork of windows. I don't see this as them devaluing the console brand. I see it as Microsoft finally leveraging their strengths to make provide more value both platforms. This push into Xbox on PC has already led to a greater push for Xbox play anywhere and Xbox finally delivering on owned cloud games. Let Xbox PC OEMs grow in the markerts Xbox consoles struggle in, which are a lot because Microsoft is is trash at marketing (you speak of devaluing the brand when the reality is many people in countries outside the USA barely know Xbox exists outside of jokes made at Xbox's expense). And it all adds value to the console as Microsoft moves forward with a unified ecosystem. I'd get your concern if we weren't seeing more developers support Xbox consoles than ever and I'll join you with pitchforks if the next Xbox console doesn't have backwards compatibility as promised. But what I see is Xbox finally waking up and realizing they ARE NOT Playstation or Nintendo. Xbox's strength has always been being built on Windows and Microsoft has always been a software company. I don't think the traditional console will cease, it still makes a lot of money and has a dedicated user base that's consistently showing more play hours and increased spending. But I also think Xbox is making the right move in evolving beyond consoles. They're finally taking advantage of what they can leverage that no competitor can. And really what risk of devaluing the brand? It's already unfairly shat on or completely ignored outside of Xbox oriented sites and forums like this. Xbox as a brand won't exist at all if they don't make forward thinking moves like this. The console market has stalled and Xbox is in third place. They're the first to face the brunt of the fire. The fact that even Sony has moved to releasing on PC with increased frequency (and now Xbox) should tell you how dire things are.

I'm going to be honest, I won't believe any price, even one officially announced by ASUS and Xbox, because prices have been changing so much these past several months, really these past several years. How many regional price increases did the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles get this generation? This year alone saw the Xbox Series consoles have a crazy price increase due to the tarrifs. Even Nintendo raised prices on their LAST GENERATION Switch consoles. ASUS and AMD specifically would be heavily impacted by tarrifs, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say they aren't manufacturing the device in the states. Price has become really fickle these days.

@kmtrain83 Graphics are a bit misleading. This is a far more powerful machine than the Switch 2 and would have access to far more games. It's a PC. You have infinite possibilities but less of a catered experience. If you're comparing to a Switch 2, I'd look at what you WANT to play on a handheld.

Though in general a notebook PC, I'm assuming that's for productivity, just sounds more useful. I mean you're on this website and forum. I feel like I can assume you have "a" current gen console. It's not like you wouldn't be able to game at all without this device, right?

@kmtrain83 How can you say it has 'lesser' graphics than the Switch 2 when the Switch 2 doesn't have many of the same games. I don't think Indiana Jones when that releases on Switch 2 will look/run better.

Switch 2 is locked to Nintendo so Only games Nintendo are willing to have released on their Hardware, their own games too make up a decent chunk, but most AAA games won't release on Switch 2, at least not the same day as PC. PC also has a much larger Library and the vast majority will run very well because they were built to run on older hardware. In terms of Cost/library size, the Switch 2 is far more expensive.

That 'difference' in cost is negligible if not worth paying if you want to play modern AAA games as not all will release on Switch 2, let alone day/date. You may have to wait a year for a dedicated port.

I'm not saying you shouldn't consider a Switch 2, but its not the same thing. Switch 2 maybe cheaper, but requires a Sub fee for certain features/games so ends up costing more over time for the 'full' functionality/features and playable games (some games require a Sub to play) but PC's don't so could work out cheaper over time!

This i fully what i expected it to be. People thought it was going to be $1050 with the price conversion? No way. When that preorder goes up I'm copping.

Happy just to keep using my Rog Ally with those price points got the more expensive model of the OG one for the a lower price than the cheaper model of this.

@Medic_alert I can understand the concern, but I really don't think it's quite that bleak or quite that black and white.

Xbox in its last podcast announced double digit growth for first party transactions AND third party transactions citing greater game support than ever and more engagement on console platforms (which is what they keep saying in legally binding contracts; less new users but greater engagement from existing console users). Xbox is growing as a publisher while also growing as a console platform holder. They wouldn't be emphasizing the latter if they didn't intend to keep supporting that space. Just in general I think Xbox users are too valuable for Microsoft to completely abandon them or abandon the ways they can make money off of them, especially when they consistently report higher spending from Xbox console users.

But I also don't have a crystal ball. I'm not concerned for Xbox, but who really knows? The Xbox One had all the right ideas and all the worst execution after all. So it wouldn't be the first time Xbox strikes out when they could've hit a grand slam. Though to the general worry of Xbox going away, I will say that I don't think consoles were ever incredibly sustainable. I mean they're so different from anything else right? It's not just dedicated hardware, but dedicated software. I can pop a movie dvd into any dvd player, but I can't play my Xbox discs on my PS5. Consoles are a big reason why game preservation is such an ongoing topic. And we're currently not seeing a positive trend of growth in the console market for brand new gamers. Eventually all platforms will die off, but Xbox is the only one with a clear endgame. But regardless of what the future of Xbox is, we don't have to rush to follow them. Last gen held on, really is still holding on, and the Xbox series consoles have reason to hold on even longer.

@bazchillin That's actually a very good point to be fair and certainly not something I'd have even thought of.

@kmtrain83 And all the RoG Ally models come with a 1080p 120hz VRR display too. 720p is basically the same as 1440p on a 4k display is and BOTH will upscale to fill the Screen so I still don't understand why you think it will have 'lesser' graphics when it may well be running at higher res and graphical settings than the Switch 2. Both may have a 1080p Screen, the X version may target 1080p whilst the basic Xbox Ally is targeting 720p but Switch 2 (in handheld mode) is 600p and lower graphical settings, its certainly not going to look 'better' on their 1080p screen.

@Medic_alert I get that. Capitalism sucks. In part I blame consoles for how they chose to compete personally. The walled gardens didn't make a environment that was friendly to new consumers. Walled gardens persisted even within the same ecosystem.. Literally just last gen it was "mormal" that your entire library got nuked and made incompatible. Console gaming never supported each other which limited the entire market and limited the consoles appeal.

And speaking of how terrible capitalism is, we're already seeing consoles encroach on gaming PC prices all while lacking any of the benefits PC offers. The Nintendo Switch 2 costs more than the baseline steam deck. The PS5 Pro launched at $700 without a stand or disc drive.

I'm not too worried about console sales because despite covid, despite cross-gen support holding on this long, despite "no Xbox console required" cloud gaming, despite same day PC since last gen, despite multiplatform releases, despite barely any marketing and poor regional support, and despite the terrible pricing the series consoles have actually sold pretty good. The estimates are between 25 million & 40 million in 5 years. That's not terrible. It's better than most consoles historically. It's better than most Nintendo home consoles. Like for comparison the game cube sold 20 million in five years and the WiiU like 13 million in that same time. Xbox hasn't had a MASSIVE decline. They just haven't had any significant growth. Again, no crystal ball, but to me I expect the audience of Xbox console buyers to remain just not grow. And that's where the PC and cloud push comes in and where all of Xbox could benefit from it.

Again, no crystal ball. On the one hand we could get an Xbox that feels like a traditional console while having more benefits (like free paid games multiplayer) and overall value through the more unified ecosystem. On the other hand we could get a PC that barely feels like an Xbox. I lean towards the former personally. I see Xbox consoles as a mature product. That's part of the problem, but that also means it's a cash cow that Microsoft would be incentivized not to disrupt too much. I think where Microsoft needs to do the most work is in bringing Xbox PC and Xbox Cloud in line with Xbox consoles (making the former feel as good playing as the latter and all of them feel familiar). I think the console audience will mostly remain the same with steady upgrades and until we start to see them age out of gaming entirely.

@kmtrain83 No comparison to the Switch 2 really works for this device. It's the difference between a PC and Console. It quickly becomes rather moot. Also, if all you're looking for is a 1080p resolution for games then there's cheaper options than this device that deliver that for PC handhelds. I have a Lenovo Legion Go which sports a beautiful screen. There's also a OLED Steam Deck. Z1E devices in general will remain very capable and already outclass the switch 2. I'm not sure it's coming across well, but the literal only similarity between this device and the switch 2 is that the they can both be played in your hand. The difference in game support are "Nintendo games + ports" vs "literally every game that launches" (I'm not exaggerating; I have a legion go, things are only off limit if I'm lazy and not willing to mess with settings). There's multiple storefronts, universal free cloud saves, no paid multiplayer at all (for free or paid games), and tons of free games.

I do think you should wait for reviews and breakdowns, because if you're only viewing this from a perspective of a Switch, then you're missing a lot with it. I'll let the other technical savy commentors talk about screen resolution and I'll also say that if this device interests you at all and the one worry is screen resolution than you have a whole host of other options from other PC manufacturers. And I'll also say that judging purely by the comments I see on both sides whenever screen resolution gets brought up, yeah I think there's tons of people who don't care. I mean heck, speaking of the original switch was a 1280x720 LCD screen in 2017 and it sold tons.

@kmtrain83 all I wassaying is that both devices have a1080p screen but neither will likely target a full 1080p in the newest AAA games. Like the Series S 'targets' 1440p where the X targets 4k, hat doesn't mean either will play EVERY game at those resolutions. The same goes for Switch but as these devices should have NO issue playing older games at the full 1080p. All have the same Screen so it just comes down how well they each run the games and I doubt the Switch 2 will run games at 'higher' res than these - although soon we'll have Indiana Jones to compare on Switch 2 and these Handhelds.

The cheaper handheld is like the Series S so targeting lower res. The X is like the Series X - offers a bit more power and features, but at a premium price. The more affordable model is expected, like the Series S, to be the more popular choice because its more affordable but can't match the 'X' version. The Switch 2 has a 1080p screen but I doubt you'll be getting more than 720p from Indy for example.

Screen resolution and the Resolution a game runs at are two different things. As they all have a 1080p screen but different Hardware inside, that will lead to differences in the quality of the Graphics.

@Medic_alert This generation was the first I skipped PS and Nintendo (Switch 2). I don't see myself changing that because I'm having more fun than ever. And this is after I always owned every single console out out by all three growing up (from N64 hand me downs to the ps4pro). But I started to dislike what those platforms were doing, how framengted my own gaming was, and in general found myself having less fun. What I've seen from all three platforms this generation has only affirmed me in my decision.

All gaming is is entertainment (fun). If Xbox is causing you to feel negative then drop it lack a sack of dusty potatoes. And the sooner the better if you want to build up your library on another platform or if you have the other platforms and just want to make sure you don't buy anymore games on Xbox. And if PC gaming isn't fun for you then don't go to PC. I'm optimistic for Xbox's future and increasingly pleased with their present. The Xbox 360 was the first console that was MINE (in my room) and not the family's, and I have nostalgia for it, but honestly if you turned back the clock I'd be incredibly disappointed in the value it offered me compared to my current Series S and X. That's me. I can explain why I feel optimistic for Xbox's future and why I'm having more fun, and I'll always push back on the doom & gloom. But in reality the wider conversation doesn't matter. It's all a personal experience. If Xbox is giving you bad mojo jojo or otherwise impeding your ability to feel like you're having fun while gaming then don't give a **** about what me or anyone else has to say. Smash it with a baseball bat if that's cathartic for you.

$899? You could get, and I'd much rather get a 4060 laptop for that price.

@VeganH but you can't play your laptop on a plane, train, or long car ride. Every PC handheld is in this price range.

@Medic_alert MS just needs to raise the price by windows by one cent for each respective currency and keep Xbox proprietary for another generation. Xbox isn’t a stand alone gaming entity like SEGA whom had to leave the console market nor like Nintendo. I do hope we can get another console generation from Xbox that is an Xbox. With the ethos from the Xbox 360 era. This is what I really want. As competition is what pushes innovation and MS had people whom loved gaming in charge during the X360 era. Which forced Nintendo and Sony to be innovative too. MS can do it they have the leverage and many talented engineers.

Ain't nobody buying these, bruh

£800 for 1080p on a brand new microsoft system in 2025 is crazy.

I can’t even begin to say how that price equals into Canadian dollars yet… I am in wrong hobby … I need to get into race horses or yachts … much cheaper

Have a Switch 2 and a Deck so these seem extremely redundant. If we had OLED screen 120hz screen and powerful enough to run 1080p120hz with VRR for about $749 I'd have considered. But the problem is we just aren't there yet for handheld performance/price either.

Easy skip until 3-5 more years when a premium product will be here in a handheld for sub $800.

The mental gymnastics to justify why this is a great price and device is lunacy. It’s got an Xbox logo on it which is enough for some.

It’s not an Xbox. It does and won’t attempt to play your Xbox games. The point of a handheld is to be able to play portably. Yes a lot of people will also use on their sofa - but this is only an Xbox when you have a good (or very good internet connection).

It’s a windows handheld device. This is not new.

It’ll be a great device. People love these sorts of devices. For me a steamdeck does for me. In a few years I’ll upgrade from a steamdeck and assess the best device at the time, I want a nice interface that works as a handheld