Asus ROG Xbox Ally X: price, release date, specs and everything you need to know
The Xbox handheld we've been waiting for is being made in collaboration with Asus
Update: Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and Xbox Ally pre-orders went live on Thursday, September 25. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X costs $999.99, an increase on the rumored $899.99, and the Asus ROG Xbox Ally costs $599.99 – $50 more than the rumored $549.99.
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X at Best Buy - $999.99
Asus ROG Xbox Ally at Best Buy - $599.99
Asus ROG Xbox Ally 100W Charger - $99.99
Asus ROG Xbox Ally Case - $69.99
🆕 Microsoft and Asus is releasing two Xbox handhelds, the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally, on October 16, 2025
💰 The ROG Xbox Ally X costs $999, while the ROG Xbox Ally price is $599
💪 The ROG Xbox Ally X features the AMD Ryzen Z2 AI Extreme chip, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and an 80Wh battery, while the ROG Xbox Ally has a Ryzen Z2 A chip, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and a 60Wh battery
😍 Both models share a 7-inch 1080p 120Hz display, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, and run Windows 11 with a handheld-first Xbox interface
After lots of rumors and a couple of convincing leaks, Microsoft and Asus recently unveiled a pair of collaborative Xbox handhelds – the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally.
We've rounded up everything you need to know about the upcoming Xbox handhelds, including the release date and price tags. Of course, once we know more, we’ll update this page, so check back soon.
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X release date
In a recent post on Xbox Wire, Microsoft announced that both the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally handhelds will arrive in the holiday of 2025. However, we now know that the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X release date is October 16, 2025. The white, less powerful ROG Xbox Ally will also release on the same date.
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X at Best Buy - $999.99
Asus ROG Xbox Ally at Best Buy - $599.99
Asus ROG Xbox Ally 100W Charger - $99.99
Asus ROG Xbox Ally Case - $69.99
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X pre-order date was tipped to start on August 20, but went live on Thursday, August 25.
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X price
Speaking of price, Microsoft remained tight-lipped on pricing for the two Xbox handhelds, but it turns out the handhelds are more expensive than we first thought.
According to Best Buy listings, which line up with previous reports, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X price was to be $899.99. That’s $100 more than the Asus ROG Ally X, which launched for $799.99 in July 2024. However, the final price is actually $999.99.
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally is slightly more affordable at $599.99 ($50 more than expected), but that’s still $100 more than the Nintendo Switch 2 with a game. It’s also the same price as the Steam Deck OLED 512GB.
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X specs
Want to know more about the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally specs? Here’s is a detailed comparison table between the two handhelds:
Delving into the numbers, we can see that the ROG Xbox Ally X model has much more powerful internals, with AMD's new flagship Ryzen Z2 AI Extreme chip inside. The SOC has eight cores and 16 threads, and is based on AMD's newest Zen 5 architecture (the same as Ryzen 9000 processors). It also comes with 16 GPU cores on RDNA 3.5 architecture (the same as the iGPUs on AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 laptop chips). Alongside this, the ROG Xbox Ally X comes with 24GB of ultra-fast LPDDR5X-8000 RAM and a 1TB SSD.
By comparison, the Ryzen Z2 A chip inside the ROG Ally Xbox has four Zen 2 cores and eight threads, along with eight RDNA 2 GPU cores. It also has 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 RAM and a smaller 512GB internal SSD. Power wise, it’s similar to Valve’s Steam Deck. However, Valve’s handheld was released almost four years ago now.
Both Xbox Ally models come with the same 7-inch Full HD resolution IPS screen, with an 120Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium variable refresh rate tech. They also both support Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4.
The port configuration between the two is slightly different as well, with the ROG Xbox Ally X model featuring a beefier USB4 Type-C port that benefits from Thunderbolt 4 support, alongside a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, a microSD reader and a headphone jack. By comparison, the ROG Xbox Ally has two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports.
The ROG Xbox Ally X also benefits from a larger 80Wh battery (the same as the ROG Ally X) against the standard one's smaller 60Wh cell. The 80W battery should provide around 2.5 to 8 hours of playtime, depending on the game, while you’re looking at 2 to 5 hours on the ROG Xbox Ally.
The ROG Xbox Ally X also has Microsoft's clever Impulse Triggers inside for trigger-based rumble in supported titles, while both models have Hall Effect analog sticks for more precise inputs, and run Windows 11 Home with Microsoft's new handheld-first Xbox interface for easy navigation into games. The handhelds also feature Xbox controller-inspired grips for a more ergonomic experience.
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X vs Nintendo Switch 2
As for the Switch 2, there are some similarities between Nintendo’s console and the ROG Xbox Ally. Both have a 1080p screen that’s 120Hz and VRR-supported, but the Switch 2's display is nearly an inch larger. The Nintendo Switch 2 also has HDR support as well, while the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and Xbox Ally do not. You can find out more in our Asus ROG Xbox Ally X vs Nintendo Switch 2 comparison.
Performance between the two handhelds is hard to judge, although the Ryzen Z2A chip inside the Xbox Ally is similar to that inside the Steam Deck and looks to be targeting 720p performance. The Nintendo Switch 2 targets 1080p and can also output at 4K when docked, which suggests it’s more powerful. The system will also benefit from better optimized games, something that isn’t possible on PC.
The handhelds are intended for different audiences, though, with the Switch 2 having a lot more appeal to casual and console players, with simple expandable storage via microSD Express, the Joy-Con 2's fun mouse mode and Nintendo's recognizable IP.
By comparison, the ROG Xbox Ally is designed more for PC and Xbox players who wish to take their experience on the go on a dedicated device, similar to the Steam Deck.
Up next: PSP 2: price, expected release date, and everything you need to know
Last updated: September 26, 2025
Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.