It feels like fans have been waiting forever for Microsoft to enter the handheld gaming PC fray. The day has finally come: the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are now available – with one caveat. You’ll have no problem getting your hands on the standard Xbox Ally, as it’s widely available. But unless you preordered the more-powerful Xbox Ally X a month ago, you'll have to wait a while. It’s currently sold out at the Microsoft Store and the Asus Store. It’s still available to order at Best Buy, but shipping has been pushed to December 12 at the time of this writing.
Still, if you want the most exciting handheld gaming PC to hit the market since the Steam Deck, you’ll want to place your order now – assuming your budget can accommodate the hefty $999.99 price tag. And if not, it sounds like the Xbox Ally is a worthy handheld in its own right, and for a significantly lower price as well.
Where to Buy Xbox Ally X
- Get it at Best Buy - $999.99
- Get it at ASUS - SOLD OUT
- Get it at MS Store - SOLD OUT
The Xbox Ally X runs on the more powerful AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor. It comes with 24GB RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and an 80Wh battery.
Where to Buy Xbox Ally
- Get it at Walmart - $599.99
- Get it at ASUS - $599.99
- Get it at Best Buy - $599.99
- Get it at MS Store - $599.99
- Get it at Antonline - $599.99
- Get it at Amazon - SOLD OUT
The Xbox Ally X runs on the AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor. It has 16GB RAM, a 512 GB SSD, and a 60Wh battery. Both devices have a 7” FHD (1080p) IPS display, 16:9, capable of 500 nits, 120Hz refresh rate, with FreeSync, Gorilla Glass Victus, and DXC Anti-Reflection.
Despite the Xbox branding, these handheld devices aren’t actually Xbox consoles in any real sense. They’re handheld gaming PCs. They can’t play your entire Xbox library. They can’t play discs at all, so physical games are out, and they can’t play any game that’s not available on PC. Here’s what they can play:
- Digital games labeled “Xbox Play Anywhere”
- Game Pass games (subscription required)
- Xbox Cloud Gaming (subscription required)
- Games on your Xbox Series X|S console via remote play
- Compatible PC games purchased from other storefronts (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, etc.)
That major limitation aside, Xbox Ally devices can play games from a lot more storefronts than an Xbox can. They can run games from Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and any other PC gaming storefront.
Best MicroSD Cards for ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X
The Xbox Ally X is the only one we’ve reviewed so far, so you’ll have to wait to see how the standard Xbox Ally holds up against it. But the Xbox Ally X got a glowing 9/10 review. In it, IGN editor and handheld gaming PC expert Jaqueline Thomas writes: “The Xbox Full Screen Experience alone would probably be enough for me to recommend the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X to anyone looking for a new handheld gaming PC. But the fact that it’s so comfortable to use and performs so well is just icing on the cake. All it really needs now is a couple of software updates to really refine the Full Screen Experience and it will be a device for the history books.”
If you pick up either of these devices, you’ll probably want to peruse the best Xbox Ally X accessories. There, you’ll find all sorts of additional items to upgrade the experience, from microSD cards and screen protectors to cases and docks.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.
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