There's still time to save on the first official Xbox gaming handheld. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally, released in October with a suggested retail price of $600, is sells for $489 on Amazon And WalmartUS$490 Best buyand 520 US dollars in Target. It's not entirely clear when this deal will end, but it is still available as of December 17th. At $489 on Amazon, it's a record low price for the recently released Windows gaming laptop. Amazon also restocked Official Xbox Ally 2-in-1 Premium Case.
If you buy an Xbox Ally from Amazon, you should also check out some of the third-party accessories available now, including docking station, protective films, travel suitcasesAnd microSD UHS-II cards. Although it is most often sold out on Amazon, Official Xbox Ally 2-in-1 Premium Case currently available for order.
$489 (was $600)
The ROG Xbox Ally is an entry-level Windows gaming laptop that delivers impressive features and performance for its 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 512GB Steam Deck OLED model retails for $549.
Xbox Ally features a 1920 x 1080p IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate and support for VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium. Compared to the Steam Deck's OLED display, Valve's portable features a 7.4-inch OLED display with 1280 x 800p resolution, HDR, and a 90Hz refresh rate. So the Steam Deck wins on panel type and size, but the Xbox Ally wins on resolution and refresh rate. However, to get the best performance on Xbox Ally, you'll often need to lock the resolution to 720p, so Xbox Ally doesn't always take full advantage of its benefits.
The Xbox Ally is perhaps the most convenient Windows gaming laptop on the market today. Asus has taken the PlayStation Portal approach, essentially splitting the Xbox wireless controller in half and connecting one to each side. Along with all the buttons, triggers, and bumpers found on the Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Ally has two remappable back buttons. It also has motion controls and HD haptic support.
One of the main advantages of Xbox Ally is its dedicated console control panel, which is easier to use than the traditional Windows interface. Xbox Ally features a 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, a microSD UHS-II card slot for expanded storage, two USB-C ports, and a headphone jack.
Check out the Xbox Ally specs and features below. If you want to learn more about Xbox Ally and more powerful Xbox Ally X for $1,000check our buying guide and ours Ally X review.
Specifications:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen Z2 A
- RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X-6400
- Storage: 512GB M.2 2280 SSD
- Display:
- 7″ IPS touch screen (Gorilla Glass Victus)
- 1920 x 1080
- 120Hz refresh rate
- VRR support
- AMD FreeSync Premium
- Controller design:
- Contour handles
- Hall effect triggers
- Shoulder bump stops
- ABXY bumpers
- 2 reassignable back buttons
- Analog joysticks with light rings
- 6-axis motion control
- HD haptics
- 5 menu/settings buttons
- Ports:
- 2 USB 3.2 Type C ports
- 3.5mm audio
- microSD: UHS-II reader (UHS-II only)
- Net: Wi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.4
- Battery: 80 Wh
- Battery life: 1.5-5 hours
- Weight: 670g
- Dimensions: 290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7 mm
Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have a built-in library of hundreds of Xbox Ally games. Whether you already have a subscription or not, you should purchase your membership from a major retailer rather than directly through Microsoft. Game Pass Ultimate went up to $30 a month in October, but major retailers are still selling prepaid codes for $20/month.
Docks for Xbox Ally
If you want to play Xbox Ally on your TV or use it like a regular computer—you can switch to the standard Windows OS interface—you'll need a USB-C dock. Official Asus ROG Xbox Ally 100W Charging Dock will set you back $85 (was $100), but there are reliable third-party options that work well and come with a stand. UGREEN 6-in-1 Docking Station on sale for just $30 (was $46) for a limited time. You can go to 9-in-1 model with additional ports for $46 (was $60).
JSAUX Dock and 100W Charger available for $50 (was $70). This is good because it comes with an AC adapter, so you have a second charger. If you don't need an additional charger, you can purchase one. JSAUX 6-in-1 Docking Station for $33.24 (was $40). Another notable option is iVanky 14-in-1 RGB Docking Station for 65 dollars (was 80 dollars). It doesn't come with an AC adapter or USB-C cable, but it does have more ports for accessories and supports a 144Hz refresh rate. All docks in the list below support 4K resolution, but refresh rates vary; We've included the maximum refresh rate when displaying 4K games in parentheses.
Tempered Glass Screen Protectors for Xbox Ally
The Xbox Ally features a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass Victus screen, but it never hurts to add a screen protector on expensive portable devices, even if it's just for your own peace of mind. Plus screen protectors are cheap. You can get 2 packs JSAUX Anti-glare Tempered Glass Screen Protector Film. with alignment frame for $11.59 (was $13). Two of the biggest names in the protective film market, amFilm And iVolerhave 3 packs for $9-$10 without alignment frame.
Xbox Ally Carrying Cases
Official ROG Xbox Ally Carrying Case retails for $70. It has a built-in stand and a removable accessory pouch. On the back is the inscription: “This is an Xbox case.” This is a very good hard case, but if you don't want to spend $70 on a carrying case, there are plenty of third-party options to try.
JSAUX hard travel case is only $25.19 (was $28), and some 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.
Cases and grips for Xbox Ally controllers
The Xbox Ally already has great ergonomics, just like the Steam Deck, and that hasn't stopped players from purchasing ergonomic grips. One of the benefits of the pen case, besides increasing comfort, is that it protects the controller from damage if dropped when it is not in the travel case. For a premium option from a major accessory brand, visit Killswitch travel case from Dbrand for $72 (was $80). Dbrand's Killswitch series is fantastic, and Best Buy recently started selling select Dbrand grip covers. We haven't tested the Xbox Ally Killswitch, but Switch 2 is the best ergonomic grip we've tried for Nintendo's new console. You can also find several inexpensive options from generic brands on Amazon, including this one. popular silicone case with built-in kickstand for $20..
microSD UHS-II cards for Xbox Ally
As mentioned, you can expand your Xbox Ally's storage using microSD cards. Unfortunately, entry-level PDAs are limited to UHS-II cards; The Xbox Ally X can read UHS-I cards, which are cheaper and easier to find with higher capacity. Below we have collected several options. The most accessible is 256GB Kodak microSD card for $45.60.. For 512 GB Gigastone Ultimate Pro this is the cheapest option we've seen at $100.
- microSD Kodak UHS-II (300 MB/s)
- MicroSD Lexar Professional Gold UHS-II (280 MB/s)
- MicroSD Nextorage UHS-II (280 MB/s)
- Gigastone Ultimate Pro UHS-II microSD (280 MB/s)
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