A hundred dollars off a premium handheld is the difference between maybe and now.
In the days before Christmas, the Asus ROG Ally X — a premium Windows gaming handheld carrying some of the most capable portable hardware available — has reached its lowest price yet at $699, a hundred dollars beneath its usual ask. It is the kind of moment the patient observer waits for: when the gap between aspiration and affordability briefly narrows, and a considered purchase becomes a reasonable one. For those who carry their game libraries across platforms and refuse to accept that portable play must mean compromised play, this device and this moment arrive together.
- A $100 price drop on one of the most powerful gaming handhelds on the market has created a rare, time-sensitive opening for PC gamers just days before Christmas.
- The Ally X packs an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, 24GB of DDR5x RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 70Wh battery into a 7-inch frame — specs that leave most portable competitors behind.
- Real-world performance in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Forza Horizon 5 confirms this is portable gaming without the usual apology.
- Windows 11 gives players access to Steam, Epic, GOG, and Game Pass simultaneously, though it introduces OS complexity that SteamOS avoids — a trade-off buyers must weigh.
- The deal is live at Best Buy now, but holiday pricing windows are narrow, and record lows rarely linger.
The Asus ROG Ally X has dropped to $699 at Best Buy — a hundred dollars off and the lowest price the device has ever carried. For anyone who has been watching this premium Windows gaming handheld from a distance, the holiday season has offered a concrete reason to move.
The hardware inside is serious. An AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, 24GB of DDR5x RAM, a full terabyte of storage, and a 70Wh battery combine to make portable gaming feel less like a compromise and more like a genuine option. The 120Hz screen keeps fast-moving games smooth on a compact display, and real-world benchmarks back up the specs — Cyberpunk 2077 runs near 40 frames per second, Forza Horizon 5 near 50.
Compared to the original ROG Ally, the X model brings better performance, longer battery life, and a more refined feel in hand. Against the Steam Deck OLED, it wins on raw power, though it trades Valve's streamlined SteamOS for Windows 11 — a more capable but more complex operating environment. Players with libraries spread across Steam, Epic, GOG, and Game Pass will find that flexibility valuable, and the adventurous can even install SteamOS if they prefer Valve's approach.
At this price, in this window, the Ally X makes a strong case for itself. A hundred-dollar discount on premium portable hardware before Christmas doesn't come often, and it won't last.
The Asus ROG Ally X has hit $699 at Best Buy—a hundred dollars off its usual price and the lowest it has ever been. If you've been waiting for a reason to buy one of these premium Windows gaming handhelds, the holiday season has just handed you one.
The device itself is a serious piece of hardware. Inside that 7-inch frame lives an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor paired with 24GB of DDR5x RAM and a full terabyte of storage. The battery pushes 70Wh, which means you can actually play for hours without hunting for an outlet. The screen runs at 120Hz, which matters when you're trying to keep up with fast-moving games on a five-by-three-inch display.
In practical terms, this translates to real gaming. Cyberpunk 2077 runs at around 40 frames per second on the Ally X. Forza Horizon 5 hits 50. These aren't the numbers you'd get on a desktop, but they're the kind of performance that makes portable gaming feel like something other than a compromise. Reviewers have found the device capable of handling demanding titles while you're on a plane, on a train, or anywhere else you might want to play.
The Ally X represents a meaningful upgrade over Asus's original ROG Ally. The performance is noticeably better, the battery lasts longer, and the overall design feels more refined—lighter in hand, more comfortable during extended sessions. When stacked against the Steam Deck OLED, the Ally X wins on raw specifications and processing power, though it runs Windows 11 rather than Valve's custom SteamOS. That's a trade-off: Windows gives you access to your entire PC game library and the freedom to tinker with settings, but it also means you're dealing with a more complex operating system on a handheld device.
For players who already own games across multiple platforms—Steam, Epic, GOG, Game Pass—and who don't mind adjusting graphics settings to squeeze out performance, the Ally X becomes a genuinely useful tool. There's even an option to install SteamOS on it if you want to experiment with Valve's approach, though that requires some technical comfort.
At $699, this is the kind of discount that doesn't come often. A hundred dollars off a premium handheld gaming device in the days before Christmas is the sort of deal that makes sense to act on if you've been considering one. The window won't stay open forever.
Citas Notables
Whether on a plane, a train or ignoring the weirdos in the bar by playing games, this mini marvel was able to keep up and keep me entertained.— Tom's Guide reviewer
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does the price matter so much here? It's still nearly seven hundred dollars.
Because this is the lowest it's ever been, and these devices don't typically drop much. A hundred dollars off a premium handheld is significant—it's the difference between "maybe someday" and "I'm doing this now."
What makes it better than the Steam Deck, if the Steam Deck is so popular?
Raw power, mostly. The Ally X has a faster processor and more RAM. But the Steam Deck runs a simpler operating system designed specifically for gaming. The Ally X gives you more capability at the cost of more complexity.
So who should actually buy this?
PC gamers who already own games scattered across different platforms and don't mind adjusting settings. People who want portability without sacrificing performance. Not casual players—this is for people who tinker.
Can you really play demanding games on a 7-inch screen?
You can, and people do. Cyberpunk at 40 frames per second is playable. It's not a desktop experience, but it's far better than what portable gaming used to be.
What's the catch?
Windows 11 on a handheld is clunky. You're managing a full operating system on a small device. Battery life is good but not infinite. And the price, even at discount, is still steep for most people.