The handheld PC market saw an exciting beginning with the Steam Deck in 2022, but rising component costs have led to significantly higher prices. The Steam Deck OLED now starts at over $700, leaving many to wonder if any affordable options under $500 will emerge. The closest alternative is the ROG Xbox Ally, which can be found as an open-box model for around $479.99 at Best Buy, a price I find reasonable for a portable gaming device.
You can choose different conditions for the ROG Xbox Ally, with fair condition models priced slightly lower at $461.99, but I recommend opting for the “good” condition to avoid potential issues. The specs of the Xbox Ally are comparable to previous models, featuring 16GB of RAM and a 7-inch 1080p 120Hz display, although it carries a chip that doesn’t perform as well as its Extreme counterpart.
Overall, if you’re in the market for a portable gaming device now, the ROG Xbox Ally in open-box condition represents a sensible choice, although the situation surrounding gaming hardware prices is frustrating, especially given the previous affordability of handheld devices.
