While we’re all used to seeing just about everything in gaming get more expensive, it’s a rare sight when something actually goes the other way and gets cheaper. And that’s what we’re seeing right now with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, the less powerful Xbox-branded handheld gaming PC currently on the market. Normally priced at $599.99, it’s recently been spotted with a $100 drop, bringing it down to $499.99. Or is it?
I’ve checked multiple retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Asus’s online store, Microsoft’s online store, and even my go-to, Micro Center, and the results are… inconsistent. While Amazon and Best Buy are listing the device at $499.99, everywhere else still has it at the full $599.99. There’s also been no official word from Asus or Microsoft about a permanent price cut.
So, what’s going on? Honestly, your guess is as good as mine. Did Microsoft push a price adjustment, or is this just a temporary sale? To find out, we’ve reached out to Amazon, Best Buy, and Microsoft, and we’re hoping at least one of them can shed some light on the situation. That said, if you’re thinking about jumping in at this lower price, there are a few things you should know first.
I’m not going to try and sell you on the idea that the ROG Xbox Ally is worth the price of admission. Unlike the ROG Xbox Ally X, which is powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, the base ROG Xbox Ally uses the much weaker Ryzen Z2 A. That difference isn’t just on paper, you’ll feel it the moment you start pushing more demanding games. This isn’t a small step down either, it’s a noticeable drop in CPU power and overall headroom. And with games continuing to get more demanding, that gap is only going to become more obvious over time.
Now, to be fair, if you’re mostly playing lighter or less demanding games, the ROG Xbox Ally will still get the job done. But if you’re expecting something that will hold up over the next few years, this probably isn’t it. Even at $499.99, temporary or not, this feels less like a great deal and more like the device finally landing closer to where it should have been all along.
If you are set on picking up a handheld and want better performance without spending a ton more, I’d point you toward the ROG Ally instead. It may not have the Xbox-style grips, but it does pack the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, which is simply the better processor. You can also find them pretty easily on the used market, often for a solid price.
