One thousand three hundred dollars, roughly. That’s where pricing starts on Xbox’s latest piece of hardware — and that figure is the budget-friendly choice.
Pre-orders are now live from ASUS and Xbox for the ROG Xbox Ally X20, a handheld gaming PC due October 15. In the U.S., the standalone configuration is priced at $1,299.99, while the bundle climbs to $2,499.99. Both can be reserved right now via the ASUS website or through Best Buy.
Where that additional $1,200 goes
Opting for the ROG Xbox Ally X20 Bundle adds ROG Glasses, a dbrand Killswitch and a custom Pelican Case into the box. It’s the complete kit, and the price tag reflects that.
Choose the standalone version and you receive the handheld by itself, with no extras. Shipping day is identical for both.
A 20th anniversary showpiece
ASUS designed the device to commemorate twenty years of Republic of Gamers, which came together in 2006. Nostalgia is doing a lot of the work in the styling.
“The ROG XBOX Ally X20 is an evolution and a celebration of everything that made the original ROG XBOX Ally special,” the product description reads. “Featuring translucent black plastic for the chassis, it harkens back to a distinct era of gaming that veterans will remember fondly. This translucence also offers a peek under the hood to the revamped high-performance cooling system and incredible handheld silicon from AMD, with just a hint of the gold-accented internal structure.”
See-through plastic. Somewhere out there, a Game Boy Color is nodding along.
“Crafted exclusively for the 20th anniversary of the formation of the Republic of Gamers in 2006, this special edition ROG XBOX Ally X20 is sure to look incredible in any collection,” the description continues. “Gamers can pick their perfect loadout and celebrate 20 years of ROG.”
The spec bump worth caring about
Cost aside, the X20 marks a genuine improvement over the ROG Xbox Ally that came before it. Leading the changes is a 7.4-inch OLED display.
Should you have the cash to spare, there’s little reason to hold back. Console prices show no sign of falling, and on the current trajectory both the PlayStation 6 and Xbox Project Helix look set to command a small fortune of their own.
Not the next-generation Xbox
It’s worth spelling out what this device is not. Microsoft has confirmed Xbox Project Helix as its genuine next-gen hardware, and that machine remains in development. The X20 sits in a different lane entirely: a premium handheld PC.
Everything is unfolding during Xbox’s 25th anniversary stretch, a period that has delivered fresh hardware, exclusive titles, games — and layoffs. Some birthday.