ROG Ally Xbox Pricing Leak Reveals Eye-Watering Costs

Surprisingly, pricing information for the new Xbox-branded ROG Ally devices has leaked, reportedly coming straight from ASUS. The handheld gaming market continues to grow. When the device was first reported, it revealed the cost of both versions of the upcoming gaming PC handheld.

Let's talk about numbers. The leaked information indicates that the base ROG Ally Xbox model will cost $650, equivalent to approximately €599. That's not all, though. For a hefty $980, or about €899, you can get the top-of-the-line ROG Ally X. In fact, it costs almost $1,000 for a handheld.

Before you completely disregard the price, consider that these aren't your average Xbox consoles. In that way, they're meant to compete with high-end portables like the Steam Deck, the Lenovo Legion Go, and Ayaneo's high-end portables. So, even though the prices seem outrageous, they are about right for this type of hardware.

The standard ROG Ally Xbox will utilize AMD's brand-new Ryzen Z2A chip, a processor designed to be both fast and long-lasting on a single charge. You can expect good frame rates, good graphics, and hopefully a battery life that doesn't make you run to the charger every two hours.

The ROG Ally X model turns everything up a notch. It comes with the Ryzen A1 Z2 Extreme processor, which promises faster frame rates, clearer graphics, and an overall better gaming experience. Hard-core gamers who want their handheld to work like a full-fledged gaming rig will like this.

One of the more surprising aspects of ASUS's choices is that neither model features an OLED screen. Reports indicate that the choice was made because OLED consumes more power, which isn't desirable for a battery-powered device, and because it doesn't work well with VRR (Variable Refresh Rate). ASUS values battery life over visual luxuries.

There isn't an official release date yet, but all indications suggest it will be released soon. The prices are already known, the devices have been officially announced, and rumors suggest that the launch could happen in October. Now that everything is in place, it looks like either ASUS or Microsoft will soon make an official announcement.

The ROG Ally Xbox is still a bit of a luxury item for now. These aren't just plug-and-play consoles for regular people. They're for gamers who want to take PC-level performance with them wherever they go, and they're willing to pay more for it.