The Asus ROG Xbox Ally falls to a record-low price, but is it worth picking up while the Steam Deck suffers stock shortages? | Tech Radar

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The Asus ROG Xbox Ally falls to a record-low price, but is it worth picking up while the Steam Deck suffers stock shortages?

It's a compelling choice amid price hikes and stock issues

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Handheld gaming PCs have been all the rage lately, but many devices have also faced the same stock shortages and price hikes due to the ongoing supply issues with key components. One example bucking that trend, though, is the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, which just got a £100 discount on Amazon. So, is now the time to buy? Even at this record-low price, I'm not sure the answer is quite so clear-cut.

Let's start with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally itself. The reception to the handheld has been broadly positive, although this offer is for the less powerful version compared to the similarly-named Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, which we scored four stars in our review.

The base Asus ROG Xbox Ally sports an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 7-inch 120 Hz touchscreen display, which makes for a capable but far from barnstorming handheld. If your main games of choice are slightly older titles and indies, then you should get solid performance, though compromises will have to be made for the latest AAA releases.

It's also powered by Windows 11, which still isn't perfectly suited to the smaller form factor of a handheld gaming PC — even with the Xbox app and software designed to make the experience much smoother.

Those are niggles that you might be able to look past, though, if you're desperate to get on the handheld hype while other devices are experiencing stock issues and don't want to spend considerably more for the likes of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X or the Lenovo Legion Go.

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally is down to a record-low price following this £100 price cut at Amazon. It's powered by an AMD Ryzen Z2 A CPU, with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and sports a 7-inch Full HD 120 Hz touchscreen. I can't deny that it's a solid handheld gaming PC for most users, and it's now available for a reasonable price, so if you want to avoid stock issues and price hikes elsewhere, it's a good buy following the price cut. Just be aware that more powerful devices with better software support are out there if you're happy to wait.

What about alternatives to the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, then?

If you've read through my reservations about the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and decided it's still more than ideal for your needs, I hope you snap up this deal and enjoy it. As a Steam Deck owner, I can't tell you how much I appreciate having the option for handheld PC gaming on the couch or out and about on long journeys.

I would suggest picking up one of them if you could. The issue there? Well, the Steam Deck is completely out of stock right now here in the UK. Valve has confirmed that it expects the OLED version of its handheld to be unavailable intermittently due to memory and storage shortages. Meanwhile, the cheaper LCD model is no longer in production.

You might get lucky with a refurbished model (as I did), but these pop up infrequently and sell out super-fast. I suggest checking the Steam Deck Refurbished sales page regularly for stock updates.

As for other options, you won't find much else in this price range, with the Lenovo Legion Go S only coming close — but that's only when it's significantly discounted.

Of course, there's the Nintendo Switch 2 and (to some extent) the Play Station Portal for PS5 owners. However, those are very different machines that will only appeal if it's just any handheld gaming device on your most-wanted list.

James Pickard is a Deals Editor at Tech Radar. After many years of scouring the net for the cheapest games and tech for his personal use, he decided to make it his job to share all the best bargains and coupon codes with you. James also has almost a decade of experience covering some of the biggest sales events of the year at Eurogamer and VG247, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day. When not deals hunting or stacking coupon codes to get the biggest savings, James can be found on the PS5, watching a classic film noir or cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Key Takeaways

• News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

• Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

• Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards

• The Asus ROG Xbox Ally falls to a record-low price, but is it worth picking up while the Steam Deck suffers stock shortages

• It's a compelling choice amid price hikes and stock issues