Rumors are getting more specific about Xbox's upcoming portable consoles. According to well-known leaker extas1s, the Xbox Ally and Ally X are expected to arrive as early as October 2025. Better yet, he's already mentioned a pre-order date and pricing for each model. And if the figures announced are anything to go by, this new Microsoft adventure could well be controversial.
Pre-orders in August, launch in October for the Xbox portable console?
In his latest video, extas1s announces that pre-orders will open in August. The official release, however, is scheduled for October 2025. In terms of pricing, the Xbox Ally would be available at 499 dollars (or 599 euros), while its big sister, the Xbox Ally X, would reach 799 dollars, or 899 euros. A significant price difference that reflects the gap in power and features between the two models. Two machines, two approaches. One is intended to be more accessible, the other more ambitious... and necessarily more expensive.
The Xbox Ally, in its classic version, focuses on balance. It features an optimized AMD Z2A processor, with a more modest configuration: less memory, reduced storage... The objective is clear: to offer a portable machine capable of running Game Pass at a lower cost. A direct competitor to the Steam Deck or the future Switch 2.
Conversely, the Xbox Ally X is playing in the big leagues. It features an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, accompanied by a dedicated AI accelerator. According to Roanne Sones, head of the Xbox Devices division, this component would allow intelligent functions to be managed without impacting in-game performance. The GPU thus remains 100% focused on gameplay. A true high-end portable console.
First feedback with good impressions... but some doubts
During the Summer Game Fest in Los Angeles, some journalists were able to get their hands on the X version. Among them, Jon Clarke, who talks about a "premium" machine, fast, well-finished, and pleasant to use. The embedded Windows interface, however, raises some questions: how can you easily install your games? What role do other services play outside of Game Pass? Will the OS remain discreet and fluid on a small touchscreen?
This is a first for Microsoft. This collaboration with ASUS ROG marks the very first hardware partnership of the Xbox brand. Until now, the American firm had never entrusted a portable console to a third-party manufacturer. A significant change of direction.
And this is no coincidence. According to several sources, the project for a 100% Xbox portable console, developed internally, has been shelved. Microsoft therefore seems to prefer to test the waters by relying on a recognized player in the field of portable gaming PCs.
A price that risks making teeth grind
The question of price remains central. Offering an Xbox machine at nearly 900 euros, however powerful it may be, is risky. Especially since the competition is fierce. Between the Steam Deck OLED, the Lenovo models, and the Nintendo Switch 2, the market is becoming increasingly competitive.
Moreover, compared to the competition, the Xbox Ally and its X version are clearly positioned at the top of the range. The Steam Deck OLED, still very popular, remains more affordable with a price starting around €570 for the 512 GB model, and around €680 for the 1 TB version. For its part, Lenovo offers several variants of its Legion Go: the standard model (Ryzen Z1 Extreme) is around €829, while some Windows versions go up to €749.
Source: extas1s
0 Comments