Fri Sep 26 07:00:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Microsoft and Asus Announce Pricing for ROG Xbox Ally Handhelds, Pre-Orders Now Open**

**REDMOND, WA / TAIPEI, TAIWAN -** Microsoft and Asus have unveiled the pricing and opened pre-orders for their highly anticipated ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming consoles. The base model ROG Xbox Ally will retail for $599.99, while the premium ROG Xbox Ally X is priced at $999.99.

The Xbox-branded Windows handhelds are slated for release on October 16th. Eager gamers can now pre-order the consoles through Xbox.com, the Asus e-shop, and participating retailers in 38 countries.

The pricing reveal has surprised some, exceeding previous leaked estimates. The base model Xbox Ally, at $599.99, edges out the mid-range Steam Deck OLED model in price. The Xbox Ally X justifies its higher price tag with premium specifications, including 1 TB of storage, 24 GB of RAM, and an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor.

Analysts suggest the Xbox Ally X will compete with other high-end handhelds like Asus’s own ROG Ally X ($799) and Lenovo’s SteamOS-powered Legion Go S ($829), though those models utilize an earlier generation of processor.

Both Xbox Ally models face competition from the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, which is expected to retail for $449 including its dock. While the Switch 2 may offer similar performance, the Xbox Ally boasts a broader game library and versatility as a PC handheld.

Microsoft and Asus are positioning the Xbox Ally as a user-friendly handheld that bridges the gap between traditional consoles and PC gaming. They aim to provide a seamless Xbox experience with easy access to Game Pass and other PC gaming platforms.

Whether the performance and user experience justify the price remains to be seen, but gamers can make their own assessments when the ROG Xbox Ally hits shelves on October 16th.

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