I haven't been very nice to the white ROG Xbox Ally. On many occasions, I've mocked it for its lower-spec AMD Ryzen Z2 chipset, compared it to the best gaming handheld contenders from a few years ago, and, perhaps justifiably, been a little mean. It's finally time for the Windows gizmo to stick it to me, though, as it's now the affordable portable PC to watch.
Unlike most of its handheld gaming PC counterparts, the base Xbox Ally has managed to weather RAMageddon. Even the once heralded Steam Deck OLED, my previous price-conscious pick, now comes in at just under a grand for the 1TB model, and premium newcomers like the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ (catchy name, huh?) are closer to $2,000.
Meanwhile, the ROG Xbox Ally is still sitting pretty for $599.99 at Best Buy. No, it doesn't provide the same performance as the mighty ROG Xbox Ally X, as the black version is rocking a Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU, but if Prime Day gaming deals have an influence on its already "cheaper" MSRP, we could be looking at a true Steam Deck stand-in.
I'll underline the point here by saying if you want a handheld gaming PC at a "normal" price, the ROG Xbox Ally is it. That's not to say I think it offers particularly great value compared to the OG Asus ROG Ally, especially since that model offered a punchier last-gen Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, the same 1080p 120Hz 7-inch display, and 512GB of storage, albeit at a higher initial $700 MSRP.
Don't be fooled by that latter price tag, as the OG ROG Ally rarely ever reached full price. In fact, it consistently dipped under $500 during the sales, occasionally challenging the LCD Steam Deck by reaching $400. Sadly, it's now firmly discontinued and MIA outside of a few open-box listings for under $450 (consider one of those if it's available). But, rather than dwelling on past variants, I'd focus your attention on its, perhaps lacklustre for 2026, successor to avoid feeling the premium handheld price beast.
As for what you'll actually get for your $600, you will end up with a comfortable, performant handheld. The trick is to resist comparing the Xbox Ally to anything that came before it, as if you ignore the fact that it feels like half a step backwards, it's still a pretty solid Steam Deck alternative with elevated controller-grip ergonomics, and wide game and storefront compatibility via Windows 11.
Those of you in the market for a portable PC gaming machine should keep the ROG Xbox Ally at the forefront of your mind. Part of me does want to advise not touching any handhelds, or by extension tech, until AI demand stops making pricing bananas, but I know some of you won't want to put your gaming ambitions on hold.
All I'll say is that with Prime Day on the horizon, we might be treated to a rare discount on the white model. Keep in mind that Microsoft's next handheld release, the ROG Xbox Ally X20, is firmly focused on providing premium elements like a 7.4-inch OLED display, not to mention it'll only be available as a bundle with pricey ROG XREAL R1 Edition 20 AR glasses. So, investing in the base Xbox Ally instead may help signal that most of us want something affordable rather than flamboyant.
- Xbox Ally handhelds at Best Buy
- Gaming handhelds at Amazon
Prefer to play the classics? Swing by the best retro handhelds for emulation devices that can handle history's greatest consoles.
