There’s still time to avoid wasting big on the primary 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 Goal. It’s still not entirely clear when this deal ends, nevertheless 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.
In the event you pick up the Xbox Ally at Amazon, you must also take a look at among the third-party accessories available now, including docking stations, screen protectors, travel cases, and microSD UHS-II cards. Though it’s sold out as a rule 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 value. The Ryzen Z2 A chip is comparable to Steam Deck’s custom AMD APU, and for those who 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. In the event 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, however the Xbox Ally wins in resolution and refresh rate. That said, to get one of the best performance on Xbox Ally, you’ll often need to lock the resolution at 720p, so the Xbox Ally doesn’t all the time take full advantage of its benefits.
The Xbox Ally is arguably probably the most comfortable Windows gaming handheld in the marketplace today. Asus opted for the PlayStation Portal approach by essentially splitting the Xbox Wireless Controller in half and connecting it to all sides. Together with all 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.
Certainly one of the large selling points of the Xbox Ally is the custom, console-inspired dashboard that is simpler to make use of than the normal Windows interface. The Xbox Ally has a 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, a microSD UHS-II card slot to expand storage capability, two USB-C ports, and a headphone jack.
Try the Xbox Ally’s specs and features below. If you desire to read more in regards to the Xbox Ally and the higher-powered $1,000 Xbox Ally X, take a look at our purchasing 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 a whole lot of games for the Xbox Ally. Whether you have already got a subscription or not, you will need to buy your membership from a significant retailer as a substitute of directly through Microsoft. The value 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 desire to play your Xbox Ally in your TV or use it as a daily PC–you can switch to the usual 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 are available with a stand. UGREEN’s 6-in-1 Docking Station is on sale for under $30 (was $46) for a limited time. You possibly can upgrade to a 9-in-1 model with additional ports for $46 (was $60).
The JSAUX Docking Station & 100W Charger is on the market for $50 (was $70). This one is sweet since it also comes with the AC adapter, so you’ll need a second charger. In the event you don’t need an additional charger, you possibly can get the identical JSAUX 6-in-1 Docking Station for $33.24 (was $40). One other 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, nevertheless it has more ports for accessories and is able to 144Hz refresh rate. The entire docks within the list below support 4K resolution but refresh rates vary; we have 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, nevertheless it never hurts so as to add a screen protector to pricey handhelds, even when it’s only for your individual peace of mind. Plus, screen protectors are low-cost. You possibly 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 most important names within 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: “That is an Xbox case.” It’s a really nice hardshell case, but for those who don’t need to spend $70 on a carrying case, there are many third-party options to ascertain out.
JSAUX’s hardshell travel case is simply $25.19 (was $28), and a number of other smaller brands have carrying cases for around $30. Here’s a listing of among 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. Certainly one of the advantages of a grip case beyond enhancing comfort is protecting the hand held from drop damage when outside of a travel case. For a premium option from a significant accessory brand, take a look at Dbrand’s Killswitch Travel Case for $72 (was $80). Dbrand’s Killswitch series is unbelievable, and Best Buy recently began carrying select Dbrand grip cases. We’ve not tested the Xbox Ally Killswitch, however the Switch 2 Killswitch is one of the best ergonomic grip we have tried for Nintendo’s recent console. You can even discover a a number of 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 possibly can expand the Xbox Ally’s storage with microSD cards. Unfortunately, the entry-level handheld is restricted to UHS-II cards; the Xbox Ally X can read UHS-I cards, that are cheaper and easier to seek out in higher capacities. We have rounded up a number of options below. Probably the most inexpensive is Kodak’s 256GB microSD for $45.60. For 512GB, the Gigastone Ultimate Pro is the most cost effective we saw at $100.
- Kodak UHS-II microSD (300MB/s)
- Lexar Skilled Gold UHS-II microSD (280MB/s)
- Nextorage UHS-II microSD (280MB/s)
- Gigastone Ultimate Pro UHS-II microSD (280MB/s)
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