Release day for the new ROG Xbox and Xbox Ally finally arrives tomorrow, on October 16. But just ahead of that, hardware reviewers have gotten their hands on the brand-new Windows handhelds – so just how good are they? Well, there’s plenty of praise going around for the flagship Ally X model; less so for the cheaper non-X Ally.

Pre-orders for the Xbox Ally and Ally X have been available since September 25, with the new handhelds retailing for $599.99 and $999.99, respectively. So, if you’re someone who has already ordered one, now’s a good time to decide whether or not you’ll follow through with the purchase.

ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X reviews are live

As you’d expect, many reviewers pick up on similar points. The extremely high $999 price point for the flagship model is unsurprisingly highlighted. It’s especially disappointing given all the $899 leaks that were showing up around the web before Xbox confirmed the official price. Anyway, here’s what reviewers had to say.

PC Mag – Xbox Ally X

Starting with PC Mag’s review of the ROG Xbox Ally X, the handheld earns a 4 out of 5 star rating. It’s deemed “an impressive update to the Ally X” thanks to its new controller grip design and the full-screen Xbox interface. Out of the box, it’s a great package, comfortable to use, with impressive performance and an efficient battery. The price tag is always looming over it, however, and PC Mag points out some early software glitches.

Tom’s Guide – Xbox Ally X

Tom’s Guide gives the Ally X four stars, just the same as PC Mag. They mimic many of the points above, such as great ergonomics and the ‘Xbox Mode’ for Windows, which helps create a more complete package. However, the $999 price tag is described as “gargantuan,” and the lack of OLED is also a downside. ASUS told us earlier this year that OLED is “certainly a potential feature” for the ROG Ally, but clearly not this time around.

So, the price is the biggest problem with the Ally X. We’d also like to point out that while the new Xbox full screen experience is being praised, this feature will eventually come to existing Windows handhelds too. It’s already available via an early build for Windows Insiders and is easy enough to install.

T3 – Xbox Ally

Moving on to the non-X model, T3 gives the Z2 A-powered Xbox Ally a four-star rating. Even coming in at $599.99 – a whole $400 cheaper than its bigger sibling – it loses out in value compared to the existing ROG Ally and Steam Deck. Despite the upgrade to AMD’s latest Ryzen Z2 series hardware, the cut-down Z2 A chip only offers a small performance boost over last gen.

Radio Times – Xbox Ally

The other Xbox Ally review comes from Radio Times, who give it a more critical 3/5 rating. Yes, all of the improvements of the new Xbox models are there – more comfortable grips, better Xbox integration, but the gaming performance is nothing to brag about for $599.99. The reviewer is left asking, “Who is this for?” In conclusion, the Steam Deck is still better value, and anyone with an existing ROG Ally has little reason to buy the latest non-X model.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.