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ROG Xbox Ally: Price, Preorders, Release Date and How It Compares to Steam Deck

Will the $1,000 price tag turn off gamers?

Microsoft and Asus’ Steam Deck rival, the ROG Xbox Ally, will be released in a few weeks. It will have a tough battle to dethrone Valve’s portable gaming machine and its price won’t help. 

Microsoft this week revealed that the upcoming Xbox Ally will cost $600, and the even more powerful Xbox Ally X will cost $1,000. They’re scheduled to come out on Oct. 16, and preorders are open now. But the expense is likely to cause hesitation among gamers. 

Will the Xbox Ally outdo the Steam Deck, or will it wind up being just another wannabe?

How much will the Xbox Ally cost?

The new portable console isn’t cheap. The Xbox Ally and Ally X will cost $600 and $1,000, respectively. 

There was speculation that the Xbox Ally X’s price would be closer to $800, close to the price in both the UK (ÂŁ800) and the EU (€899). Rumors circulating prior to Thursday were that US pricing would stay in that $800 range, but the announced sticker price hike is likely due to tariffs. Microsoft has already increased the price of its Xbox Series consoles twice since President Donald Trump instituted new tariffs in April.

When does the Xbox Ally come out?

Microsoft confirmed the Xbox Ally’s release date of Oct. 16, which matches previous leaks. 

When can I preorder the Xbox Ally? 

Preorders started Thursday, but Microsoft took a different approach than usual. The more expensive Xbox Ally X will be available for preorder only at Best Buy, Asus and Microsoft. It’s unclear if the Xbox Ally X will be more widely available after launch. 

The lower-priced Xbox Ally will be available at more retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Microsoft, Asus and Ant Online.

What’s the difference between the Xbox Ally and the Xbox Ally X?

There are two versions of the Xbox Ally. The key differences between the two are in their processors, storage and memory. 

The Xbox Ally will have the AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor, while the Xbox Ally X will use the faster AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor. Memory will be different, with the lower-priced Xbox Ally having 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 and the higher-cost handheld coming with 24GB of LPDDR5X-8000 RAM. 

Both will come with solid-state storage, but the Xbox Ally will have 512GB, and the Xbox Ally X will have 1TB. The Xbox Ally X will also have a bigger battery, but with a faster processor and more memory, it’s not clear if that difference in capacity translates to a longer battery life.

Specs for Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X

ROG Xbox Ally ROG Xbox Ally X
Operating System Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Home
Controls and grip Contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers deliver all-day comfort. ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R Hall Effect analog triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-axis IMU Contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers deliver all-day comfort, complete with impulse triggers for enhanced control.ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R impulse triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-axis IMU
Processor AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor
Memory 16GB LPDDR5X-6400 24GB LPDDR5X-8000
Storage 512GB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade 1TB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade
Display 7-inch, 1080p, IPS, 500 nits, 16:9; 120Hz refresh rate, FreeSync Premium;Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection 7-inch, 1080p, IPS, 500 nits, 16:9; 120Hz refresh rate, FreeSync Premium;Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection
I/O Ports 2x USB-C (2 x DP 2.1, PD 3.0), 1x microSD, 1x analog audio 2x USB-C (1x USB4, 1x USB 3.2 both w/ DP 2.1, PD 3.0), 1x micro SD, 1x analog audio
Network and Communication Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2), Bluetooth 5.4 Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2), Bluetooth 5.4
Dimensions 29.1×12.2×5.1 cm 29.1×12.2×5.1 cm
Weight 670g 715g
Battery 60Wh 80Wh
Included ROG Xbox Ally 65W charger stand ROG Xbox Ally X 65W charger stand

What makes the Xbox Ally different from the Steam Deck?

The most notable difference between the Xbox Ally and the Steam Deck is the operating system. Like the ROG Ally, the Xbox Ally will also use Windows 11, while the Steam Deck uses Valve’s SteamOS.

Even though every PC game works with Windows, handheld gaming devices running Windows have had serious issues, as the OS implementation has been a bit buggy. Portable consoles like the ROG Ally, MSI Claw and Lenovo Legion Go simply don’t run well with full Windows because the OS is designed for laptops and desktops, not handheld devices. SteamOS, however, is designed to run almost every game on Steam without issues and regardless of device size.

The Xbox Ally changes that by giving it an Xbox interface. This would be similar to how the Xbox app on PCs works for running games. It would also be able to download Xbox games directly to it, remote play them off a console or stream them via Xbox Cloud.

Another big difference is the hardware. The Steam Deck came out in 2022, and it was the first mass-produced handheld gaming device for PC. At the time, Valve had to use custom AMD processors. Since then, AMD has produced more processors for handheld devices, which are now much more powerful in just a few years. The Xbox Ally would also have faster RAM. Both the improvement in processors and RAM should significantly increase the number of games the Xbox Ally can run versus the Steam Deck, which is already struggling to run newer games at 30fps.

Externally, the Xbox Ally will have the same size 7-inch display but a higher refresh rate of 120Hz, a brighter screen at 500 nits and increased resolution at 1080p. There will also be some slight differences in the physical size of the Xbox Ally, which will be a little bigger and heavier. Another difference from the Steam Deck is that the Xbox Ally controls will be more similar to the Xbox controller.

Microsoft and Asus have a large hill to climb if they plan to have the Xbox Ally dethrone the Steam Deck. It will be especially tough if Valve decides to announce the Steam Deck 2 soon. 

Technologies

Bessent reportedly tells Russia it won’t get economic relief until it ends Ukraine war

The meeting underscored Washington’s willingness to reopen diplomatic talks with Moscow, as Europe intends to isolate the nation while the war continues.

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– Use limited data to select content 180 partners can use this purpose Content presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type, or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times a video or an article is presented to you).

These Cookies and SDKs are used to collect data about your browsing habits, use of the Services, your preferences, and your interaction with advertisements across platforms and devices for the purpose of delivering targeted advertising content, both on our Services and on third party sites. Third-party sites and services also use Targeting Cookies to deliver content, including advertisements relevant to your interests on the Services. If you reject these Cookies or SDKs, you will see less relevant advertising.

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Venezuela awards 100-year concessions across 17 oil fields to U.S.-backed company NABEP, according to the White House

The White House announced that Venezuela has granted century-long concessions across 17 oil fields to NABEP, a U.S.-backed energy firm. The agreement marks a major expansion of American energy interests in the country.

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Tehan Calls for Return to June Agreement, Crude Climbs as Trump Pledges to Strike Iran Forcefully

Oil prices climbed Tuesday amid fears of escalation after fresh U.S.-Iran military strikes and unrest in the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran urged Washington to return to the June interim deal and Trump promised to hit Iran hard.

Oil prices extended gains Tuesday as traders mulled the threat of escalation, following the resumption of U.S.-Iran military strikes and more turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz.

A tanker was struck by three unknown projectiles while transiting Hormuz on Monday, according to an incident report from the the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Centre.

Brent

The tanker was sailing in the southern shipping lane close to the Omani coast, the UKMTO said, adding that no casualties were reported.

Iran launched an attack on two American bases in Jordan on Monday in retaliation for the U.S. strike on its Larak Island. American forces targeted two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, reportedly killing three, saying that Tehran intended to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Hormuz Strait.

The small island, located in the strait, has been a critical military and shipping control point for Iranian forces, helping them keep a firm grip on vessel traffic through one of the world’s most critical maritime routes.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit on Tuesday that Tehran would immediately reciprocate if Washington agreed to return to its commitments under the interim deal signed in June, according to the Iranian Student News Agency.

The back-and-forth hostilities marked the first time that the U.S. and Iran traded strikes in over a month.

While neither side appeared to be seeking a return to full-scale war, both signaled they were prepared to respond to further attacks. “We are going to hit them hard,” President Donald Trump told Fox News on Monday, saying that “there will be a response” to Iran’s attacks on U.S. military bases in the region.

Analysts largely view the U.S. strike on Larak Island as an attempt to break a deadlock rather than a shift in strategy. “By hitting the launchers rather than broader Iranian military infrastructure, the U.S. appears to be punishing a specific behaviour rather than, at least for now, broadening its war aims,” said Ali Vaez, deputy program director at International Crisis Group.

“It is enforcing the blockade,” said Jason Brodsky, policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran, adding that the Trump administration’s goal was to further degrade Tehran’s capabilities to mine the Strait of Hormuz, while focusing on economic coercive measures as the midterm elections approach.

Washington has ramped up pressure to squeeze Iran’s already-torn economy with “secondary sanctions” that punish nations and businesses buying Iranian crude oil. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, on the sidelines of the Group of 20 finance ministers gathering, that Iran was “lashing out kinetically” because the new sanctions were taking a toll on its economy.

Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday, Trump reportedly said Iran’s financial systems, armed forces, and governing body have been largely degraded. “It doesn’t mean we won’t smack them to see what happens,” the president said.

The war, now stretching into its seventh month, has disrupted global energy supplies and sent shock waves through global financial markets.

“This is fundamentally an endurance contest,” said Brodsky, as Trump has demonstrated an “unpredictability” that should concern the Iranians, and Tehran may lash out more aggressively militarily as the economic pressure mounts.

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