Microsoft, ASUS announce prices for Xbox Ally -- and it could run you up to $999
It is extremely expensive compared to the other handhelds on the market.
Microsoft and ASUS ROG have recently announced that preorders are open today for the brand new Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X. The regular Xbox Ally is supposed to be the more casual handheld, with Microsoft claiming it is the "essential handheld for everyone from the casual player to the avid enthusiast." It will be available for $599 on launch, and you can preorder it now.
The Xbox Ally X is what has had the internet swirling for the past day, since it starts and is only at an eye-watering price of $999. For that price, you get 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM clocked at 8000 MT/s and 1TB of fast SSD storage. $999 still feels like a lot of money, especially in a world where a Steam Deck can be purchased for under $500.
Microsoft is specifying for this handheld that it is a 2280 M.2 SSD that is made for "easier upgrade," something that is not found in the same way on the Xbox. On the Xbox Series S and X, you can't upgrade or add an M.2 SSD like you can on the PS5. You can only upgrade the storage through USB ports or through the Seagate Expansion card, which is pretty pricey.
Surprisingly, the removable, easy-upgrade M.2 SSD is also found on the normal Xbox Ally, though it only has a 512GB capacity. The RAM on the Xbox Ally is 16GB of LPDDR5 at 6400 MT/s, slightly worse than the Xbox Ally X. The battery is also smaller in the Xbox Ally (60Wh) compared to the Xbox Ally X (80 Wh).
Both can be preordered today in 38 countries and will be available globally on October 16.
The Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are going to be great handheld PCs. We will have to see what Microsoft does soon.
