The long-running fantasy of a true Xbox handheld still hasn’t been fulfilled by Microsoft itself, but that hasn’t stopped the idea from taking shape. Asus, partnering closely with Microsoft, has delivered something that comes as close as we’re going to get for the time being. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally isn’t a traditional console. It’s a portable handheld gaming PC dressed in Xbox design language—but for many players, that distinction may not matter all that much.
What does stand out immediately is the price shift. The device launched roughly five months ago at $600, a figure that felt in line with other premium handheld PCs. Now it’s dropped to $500, shaving off $100 in a way that feels almost out of sync with current hardware trends. Recent years have conditioned buyers to expect price hikes on gaming consoles, not discounts—especially this soon after release. For anyone who has been hovering on the fence, that discount adjustment alone makes the Asus ROG Xbox Ally all the more tempting.
Great Performance on the Go
Under the hood, Asus has equipped the device with AMD’s Ryzen Z2 A processor, offering a noticeable bump in both performance and efficiency compared to the earlier iterations without the Xbox branding. Pair that with 16GB of dual-channel RAM and a 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD, and you’re looking at a system that handles modern games with confidence while keeping load times short. Storage is also expandable, which you may find a necessity given how quickly game libraries balloon.
The customized Windows-based interface is built with controller navigation in mind, making menus and app switching far less awkward than what players may be used to. It’s a quieter improvement, but an important one—less friction between you and your games is always a win.
Flexibility remains one of the ROG Xbox Ally’s biggest advantages. It doesn’t lock you into a single storefront or subscription. Xbox titles are front and center, but support extends to Steam, the Epic Games Store, and other PC platforms. The Xbox App ties everything together, letting players jump into their library, stream from a console, or access cloud gaming without much hassle. A dedicated Xbox button adds a familiar shortcut, pulling up the Game Bar just like on a standard controller hooked up to an actual Xbox or PC.
Feels Great to Play
On the physical side, the 7-inch display runs at 1080p with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering smooth, crisp visuals that hold up across genres. The device weighs just under 1.5 pounds, striking a balance between portability and sturdiness. Asus has also leaned into comfort with an Xbox controller-inspired design, giving the grips a shape that supports longer sessions without killing your hands over time.
Battery life is powered by a 60Wh cell, with fast charging that can bring it back to 50% in about half an hour. Dual USB-C ports allow easy connections to external displays when it’s time to shift from handheld play to a larger screen.
Microsoft may still be taking its time with a first-party handheld, but thanks to Asus, the wait doesn’t feel quite as necessary anymore. Get your Asus ROG Xbox Ally for a clean $100 off for a limited time.