There’s still time to save big on the first official Xbox gaming handheld. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally, which launched in October with a $600 MSRP, is on sale for $489 at Amazon and Walmart, $490 at Best Buy, and $520 at Target. It’s still not entirely clear when this deal ends, but it’s still available as of December 17. The $489 price at Amazon is an all-time low for the recently released Windows gaming handheld. Amazon has also restocked the official Xbox Ally 2-in-1 Premium Case.
If you pick up the Xbox Ally at Amazon, you should also check out some of the third-party accessories available now, including docking stations, screen protectors, travel cases, and microSD UHS-II cards. Though it’s sold out more often than not at Amazon, the official Xbox Ally 2-in-1 Premium Case is currently available to order.
$489 (was $600)
The ROG Xbox Ally is an entry-level Windows gaming handheld with impressive features and performance for the price. The Ryzen Z2 A chip is comparable to Steam Deck’s custom AMD APU, and if you increase the TDP–at the expense of battery life–the Xbox Ally can outperform the Steam Deck OLED. For reference, the Steam Deck OLED 512GB model retails for $549.
The Xbox Ally has a 1920 x 1080p IPS display with 120Hz refresh rate and support for VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium. If you’re comparing to the Steam Deck OLED, Valve’s handheld has a 7.4-inch 1280 x 800p OLED display with HDR and 90Hz refresh rate. So the Steam Deck wins in panel type and size, but the Xbox Ally wins in resolution and refresh rate. That said, to get the best performance on Xbox Ally, you will often want to lock the resolution at 720p, so the Xbox Ally doesn’t always take full advantage of its advantages.
The Xbox Ally is arguably the most comfortable Windows gaming handheld on the market today. Asus opted for the PlayStation Portal approach by essentially splitting the Xbox Wireless Controller in half and connecting it to each side. Along with all of the buttons, triggers, and bumpers found on the Xbox Wireless Controller, the Xbox Ally has two remappable back buttons. It also has motion controls and HD haptics.
One of the big selling points of the Xbox Ally is the custom, console-inspired dashboard that is easier to use than the traditional Windows interface. The Xbox Ally has a 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, a microSD UHS-II card slot to expand storage capacity, two USB-C ports, and a headphone jack.
Check out the Xbox Ally’s specs and features below. If you want to read more about the Xbox Ally and the higher-powered $1,000 Xbox Ally X, check out our buying guide and our review of the Ally X.
Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen Z2 A
- RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X-6400
- Storage: 512GB M.2 2280 SSD
- Display:
- 7″ IPS touchscreen (Gorilla Glass Victus)
- 1920 x 1080
- 120Hz refresh rate
- VRR supported
- AMD FreeSync Premium
- Controller Design:
- Contoured grips
- Hall Effect triggers
- Shoulder bumpers
- ABXY bumpers
- 2 remappable back buttons
- Analog sticks with light rings
- 6-Axis motion controls
- HD haptics
- 5 menu/settings buttons
- Ports:
- 2x USB 3.2 Type-C
- 3.5mm audio
- microSD: UHS-II reader (only UHS-II)
- Network: Wi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.4
- Battery: 80Wh
- Battery life: 1.5-5 hours
- Weight: 670g
- Dimensions: 290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm
Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have a built-in library of hundreds of games for the Xbox Ally. Whether you already have a subscription or not, you’ll want to purchase your membership from a major retailer instead of directly through Microsoft. The price of Game Pass Ultimate increased to $30/month in October, but major retailers still sell prepaid codes for $20/month.
Docking Stations for Xbox Ally
If you want to play your Xbox Ally on your TV or use it as a regular PC–you can switch to the standard Windows OS interface–you’ll need a USB-C docking station. The official Asus ROG Xbox Ally 100W Charger Dock will set you back $85 (was $100), but there are solid third-party options that work well and come with a stand. UGREEN’s 6-in-1 Docking Station is on sale for only $30 (was $46) for a limited time. You can upgrade to a 9-in-1 model with additional ports for $46 (was $60).
The JSAUX Docking Station & 100W Charger is available for $50 (was $70). This one is nice because it also comes with the AC adapter, so you’ll have a second charger. If you don’t need an extra charger, you can get the same JSAUX 6-in-1 Docking Station for $33.24 (was $40). Another notable option is iVanky’s 14-in-1 RGB Docking Station for $65 (was $80). It doesn’t include an AC adapter or USB-C cable, but it has more ports for accessories and is capable of 144Hz refresh rate. All of the docks in the list below support 4K resolution but refresh rates vary; we’ve included max refresh rates when displaying games in 4K in parentheses.
Xbox Ally Tempered Glass Screen Protectors
The Xbox Ally has a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass Victus screen, but it never hurts to add a screen protector to pricey handhelds, even if it’s just for your own peace of mind. Plus, screen protectors are cheap. You can get a 2-pack of JSAUX’s tempered glass anti-glare screen protector with an alignment frame for $11.59 (was $13). Two of the biggest names in the screen protector market, amFilm and iVoler, have 3-packs for $9-$10 without an alignment frame.
Xbox Ally Carrying Cases
The official ROG Xbox Ally carrying case retails for $70. It has a built-in stand and comes with a removable pouch for accessories. On the back are the words: “This is an Xbox case.” It’s a very nice hardshell case, but if you don’t want to spend $70 on a carrying case, there are numerous third-party options to check out.
JSAUX’s hardshell travel case is only $25.19 (was $28), and several smaller brands have carrying cases for around $30. Here’s a list of some of the best-selling ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X cases on Amazon.
Xbox Ally Grip Cases & Thumbstick Grips
The Xbox Ally already has great ergonomics, but so does the Steam Deck, and that hasn’t stopped players from buying ergonomic grips. One of the benefits of a grip case beyond enhancing comfort is protecting the handheld from drop damage when outside of a travel case. For a premium option from a major accessory brand, check out Dbrand’s Killswitch Travel Case for $72 (was $80). Dbrand’s Killswitch series is fantastic, and Best Buy recently started carrying select Dbrand grip cases. We haven’t tested the Xbox Ally Killswitch, but the Switch 2 Killswitch is the best ergonomic grip we’ve tried for Nintendo’s new console. You can also find a a few budget-friendly options from generic brands on Amazon, including this popular $20 silicone grip case with a built-in stand.
microSD UHS-II Cards for Xbox Ally
As mentioned, you can expand the Xbox Ally’s storage with microSD cards. Unfortunately, the entry-level handheld is limited to UHS-II cards; the Xbox Ally X can read UHS-I cards, which are cheaper and easier to find in higher capacities. We’ve rounded up a few options below. The most affordable is Kodak’s 256GB microSD for $45.60. For 512GB, the Gigastone Ultimate Pro is the cheapest we saw at $100.
- Kodak UHS-II microSD (300MB/s)
- Lexar Professional Gold UHS-II microSD (280MB/s)
- Nextorage UHS-II microSD (280MB/s)
- Gigastone Ultimate Pro UHS-II microSD (280MB/s)
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