Xbox ROG Ally X Hands-On: 120Hz Brilliance and Room-Filling Sound — But a Rumored $900 Price Could Make It a Niche Holiday Luxury
Xbox’s ROG Ally X is a new handheld made in partnership with Asus that’s set to launch on Oct. 16. During a one-hour hands-on demo with Hollow Knight: Silksong, the device ran at 1080p and 120Hz, showed loud built-in speakers, and felt substantial in the hands. However, pricing leaks and the broader Xbox situation will shape how many people buy it.
Price and launch
The ROG Ally X is scheduled to launch on Oct. 16. Leaks report the high-end model may cost around $900, while a standard model has been reported to be near $550.
Asus has not formally confirmed those prices yet, so final MSRP could differ when the product is officially announced.
Display and audio
The unit has a 7-inch FHD display capable of 120Hz. During the demo, Hollow Knight: Silksong was played at 1080p with the 120Hz mode enabled.
Built-in speakers reached high volume in the demo; they were loud enough to fill a room at maximum volume. Further lab testing will be needed to measure objective brightness, color accuracy, and frequency response.
Comfort and ergonomics
The design is noticeably thicker and heavier than some competing handhelds. The ROG Ally X uses rounded controller grips, which helped distribute the device’s bulk across the palms during an hour-long session.
After one hour of play the demo participant reported no wrist pain, although they did occasionally rest elbows on the chair or a tabletop while playing. Long-term comfort under extended sessions will require additional testing.
Market and software context
Competitors in the same space include the Steam Deck OLED, Lenovo Legion Go S, and the Nintendo Switch 2. Each of those devices offers different trade-offs in size, price, and ecosystem access.
Moreover, wider Xbox-related issues could affect the handheld’s appeal. Reports note a boycott organized by the BDS movement that some developers have joined; coverage of that can be found on this Rock Paper Shotgun article. In addition, recent layoffs and project cancellations at Xbox may influence how many first-party exclusives arrive on the platform in the near term.
Therefore, while the ROG Ally X provides high-refresh gameplay and loud audio in a handheld form factor, its success will depend on official pricing, longer-term comfort data, and how the Xbox software lineup develops after launch.
