The ROG Xbox Ally, Microsoft’s first handheld gaming PC with the Xbox branding, is back down to record-low pricing, thanks to a huge Amazon deal. You can save $110 on this Asus-manufactured handheld right now and, with the Steam Deck out of stock for the moment, it might be one of the cheapest ways to be able to start gaming on-the-go right now.
Down to just $489.99, this entry-level sibling to the ROG Xbox Ally X is itself a refreshed and upgraded version of Asus’ earlier non-Xbox branded ROG Ally. This new release features an updated design that integrates the familiar contoured handgrips from an Xbox controller, along with one of AMD’s latest handheld Ryzen processors.
This base model ships with the AMD Ryzen Z2 A, a Zen 2-based APU featuring four cores and eight threads on the CPU side, while also integrated with an RDNA 2 GPU with eight cores, a boost clock speed of 3.8 GHz, and a thermal design power (TDP) range of between 6W and 20W. The TDP range gives you the flexibility to prioritise performance over battery life, depending on the game you’re playing, with different preset modes to switch between.
|
Specifications |
ROG Xbox Ally |
ROG Xbox Ally X |
|---|---|---|
|
Display |
7-inch (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9 120Hz refresh rate FreeSync Premium Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection |
7-inch (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9 120Hz refresh rate FreeSync Premium Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection |
|
CPU |
AMD Ryzen Z2 A |
AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme |
|
Memory |
16GB LPDDR5X-6400 |
24GB LPDDR5X-8000 |
|
Storage |
512GB M.2 2280 SSD |
1TB M.2 2280 SSD |
|
I/O |
-2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0 |
-1x USB4 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0, Thunderbolt 4 compatible -1x UHS-II microSD card reader -1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack |
|
Wireless connectivity |
Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4 |
Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4 |
|
Battery |
60Wh |
80Wh |
|
Operating system |
Windows 11 Home |
Windows 11 Home |
|
Weight |
670g |
715g |
It also features 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 RAM, along with a 512GB M.2 2280 SSD and a 60 Wh battery. As far as gaming performance goes, keep your expectations in check – this is a budget-conscious device and you’ll need to find the right power and graphics settings to get the best performance, depending on the demands of the game.
One area that remains consistent across the entire ROG Xbox range is the screen, however. Both models use a 7-inch IPS touchscreen display that’s capable of hitting 1080p, with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 16:9 aspect ratio, and support for VRR. It’s the same display you’ll see in the more-expensive ROG Xbox Ally X, too, and while it isn’t an OLED, our testing found it still looks pretty good, as you’ll see in our ROG Xbox Ally X review. It can reach 500 nits of brightness and even supports AMD FreeSync Premium, which will eliminate screen tearing entirely in games that support it.
Unlike the Steam Deck, which runs Valve’s Linux-based SteamOS, the ROG Xbox Ally runs Windows 11. That’s not as big of a disadvantage as it was a year or two ago, however, with Microsoft’s new Xbox Full Screen Experience for Windows giving handheld users a much simpler home screen interface to navigate. The Xbox app-style screen gives you a one-stop shop to your games library, device settings, and quick access to other platforms like Steam and Epic Games.
The $489.99 sale price on this ROG Xbox Ally makes this entry-level handheld gaming PC one of the most affordable options for a would-be gamer. The $110 saving brings it back down to record lows and, given Valve’s stock issues with the Steam Deck, you might struggle to find a cheaper alternative for some time yet.
If you’re looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Gaming Chair, Best Wi-Fi Routers, Best Motherboard, or CPU Deals pages.