The Asus ROG Xbox Ally price just dropped $100 making it cheaper than the Steam Deck

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally has had $100 knocked off its price on Amazon, bringing the Windows gaming handheld down to just $499, which is $50 cheaper than the Steam Deck OLED. Originally priced at $599, the Xbox Ally isn't as powerful as the Xbox Ally X but still outmuscles the Steam Deck, while having a higher resolution screen and compatibility with a wider range of Windows games.

The discounted Asus Xbox Ally price isn't an official reduction by Microsoft, so we don't know if this is a sign of a permanent new price that will truly shake up our best gaming handheld guide. However, other retailers are yet to respond, making this a genuinely significant price reduction and a great time to buy.

In my Xbox Ally X review, I praised that powerful handheld for its surprisingly comfortable grip design, its great screen, and its fantastic battery life. All those factors will be felt with the cheaper and less powerful Xbox Ally, too. However, while the Xbox Ally X is one of the most powerful handhelds around, the Xbox Ally isn't quite so capable. Still, it's more capable in several ways than the Steam Deck OLED, as outlined in the table below.

Along with a higher resolution screen and larger battery, the Xbox Ally gets you a notable bump in performance from its faster clock speeds. Also, it will allow you to play competitive games like Apex Legends, which are banned on the Linux-running Steam Deck, as well as other game libraries such as Epic Games Store and, of course, Xbox.

In truth, the OLED screen of the Steam Deck OLED is far more punchy-looking than the LCD panel of the Xbox Ally, but the Ally gets you variable refresh rate for smoother-looking frame rates. Both machines are, ultimately, more at home with less graphically intense indie titles than the latest triple-A graphics fest, such as Crimson Desert. But, the option's there, and you also get access to a familiar Windows environment for those moments when you do want to check your emails or watch a YouTube video on a screen larger than that of your phone.

Of course, even with its discount, the Xbox Ally isn't as cheap as the Steam Deck LCD. However, Valve has said it is stopping Steam Deck LCD production, so will no longer be replenishing stock in its store. And, given that model is currently showing as out of stock, it's fair to say you won't likely ever be able to get a cheaper Steam Deck anymore.

You can find the discounted Xbox Ally on Amazon via this link. Meanwhile, buyers in the UK can also get this handheld at a discounted price of £449 (down from £499) via this link.

Given the explosion in prices of a whole host of gaming PC gear in recent months, due to memory price rises and other industry factors, it's great to see such a complete and capable system actually drop in price. I wonder if Asus/Amazon might do the same for its gaming laptops before my upcoming Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 2026 review. I have my doubts.