ROG Ally X: Preorder Now at Best Buy (Sept 29)
â–¼ Summary
– Preorders for the $1,000 ROG Xbox Ally X sold out at Microsoft and Asus, but Best Buy is still taking orders with release-day pickup or delivery for its October 16 launch.
– The ROG Xbox Ally is available for $600 preorder at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Asus, while the Ally X may not be available at Amazon and Walmart at launch.
– These devices are Windows PCs with a custom Xbox-like UI, not dedicated Xbox handhelds, allowing use of PC game stores and doubling as desktop replacements when docked.
– The Xbox Ally X requires UHS-II microSD cards for storage expansion, which are faster but pricier than UHS-I cards that the Ally X also supports.
– Official accessories include a $70 carrying case with a built-in stand and a 100W Charger Dock with HDMI and USB ports for connecting to monitors or TVs.
Gamers still have a final opportunity to secure the premium ROG Ally X through Best Buy, where preorders remain active for the $1,000 handheld ahead of its October 16 launch. While initial allocations rapidly disappeared from the Microsoft and Asus online stores on September 25, Best Buy continues accepting reservations with options for release-day pickup or delivery. The more affordable standard ROG Ally model, priced at $600, is also available for preorder through multiple retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and directly from Asus.
Major retailers Amazon and Walmart currently show no indication of stocking the high-end Ally X variant at launch, making Best Buy the primary source for this model. The official pricing confirmation ended months of industry speculation about Microsoft’s first branded handheld devices, developed in partnership with Asus, the company behind several popular Windows-based portable systems.
The finalized $600 and $1,000 price points exceeded some early expectations, though the increase wasn’t entirely unexpected. Earlier this year, Best Buy temporarily displayed lower price tags of $550 and $850 before removing them, signaling potential adjustments. Like many technology companies this year, Asus and Microsoft delayed their pricing announcements longer than typical product cycles. These increases align with broader industry trends, including recently announced price hikes for Xbox Series X|S consoles effective October 3, partly influenced by tariff regulations affecting gaming hardware.
Despite the Xbox branding, these devices function as full Windows PCs with customized interfaces designed to resemble the Xbox dashboard. The ROG Ally devices run Windows versions of Microsoft games rather than operating as dedicated Xbox consoles. This architecture provides significant flexibility, allowing users to access multiple gaming platforms including Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store. When connected to a docking station with monitor output, the handheld can transform into a desktop computing setup, demonstrating the versatility of Windows-based portable systems.
Positioned within the portable gaming PC market, the ROG Ally models compete directly with devices like the Lenovo Legion Go and MSI Claw. The $600 base model matches entry-level pricing for Windows handhelds, while the Ally X sits slightly above some competing models but remains below premium offerings like the upcoming Legion Go 2. Compared to Valve’s Steam Deck, the ROG Ally occupies the middle ground between the 512GB OLED ($549) and 1TB OLED ($649) variants.
Windows compatibility provides distinct advantages for the ROG Ally, particularly for Game Pass subscribers who can install titles directly rather than relying on streaming. The system also supports multiplayer games with anti-cheat systems that don’t function on SteamOS, including popular titles like Destiny 2 and Grand Theft Auto V Online. While various game clients can be installed on both platforms, the process proves more straightforward on Windows systems.
Asus has introduced official accessories including a $70 protective case featuring an integrated stand and separate storage compartment for smaller items. This travel case has already sold out at initial retailers, though third-party alternatives are emerging. A 100W Charger Dock with HDMI output and USB ports for peripheral connections appears exclusively at Best Buy, though preorders haven’t commenced.
Storage expansion requires attention to technical specifications, as the standard ROG Ally exclusively supports UHS-II microSD cards, while the Ally X maintains backward compatibility with UHS-I formats. This represents the second instance this year of a handheld manufacturer adopting a comparatively niche storage format. While UHS-II cards command premium pricing, sometimes exceeding even faster microSD Express formats, they deliver transfer speeds up to three times faster than UHS-I alternatives.
Several UHS-II microSD options currently available include Lexar Professional Gold (128GB for $34.54), Gigastone Ultimate Pro (128GB for $30), Kodak (128GB for $33), Nextorage (128GB for $40), and ProGrade Digital (128GB for $46), providing various capacity and performance choices for expanding the device’s storage capabilities.
(Source: Game Spot)
