ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X20: Why many gamers remain hesitant despite the upgrades

Alongside the debate over the recent Steam Deck OLED price increases, there has also been notable news in the gaming handheld market concerning another device: the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X, which is getting a refreshed version for the 20th anniversary of ROG. We have already reported separately on the technical upgrades of the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X20. A recent Reddit thread now shows how the community is reacting to those changes.

With the Ryzen Z2 Extreme under the hood, the ASUS handheld is already one of the most powerful devices of its kind. The new 7.4-inch OLED display is brighter and more vibrant than the previous 7-inch IPS panel, allowing the ROG Xbox Ally to catch up in exactly the area where it lagged furthest behind the Steam Deck OLED. Many users would have preferred an 8-inch display, but if ASUS can reuse the existing chassis with a 7.4-inch panel and keep the price of the upgraded version lower, that compromise may be acceptable. The improved D-pad and sticks are also being welcomed by many users, as is the new look created by the transparent casing. Overall, the X20’s upgrades appear to have been received well. However, very few users express a clear intention to buy it, mainly because the price is expected to be extremely high.

ASUS has equipped the X20 with a 1 TB SSD and 24 GB of RAM. However, the standard ROG Xbox Ally X already offers the same memory and storage configuration and carries an MSRP of $999. Even so, the OLED display is not the only feature that could justify a noticeably higher price. The X20 is apparently being offered only as a bundle with the ROG Xreal R1 Edition 20 AR glasses. Given the recent price increases for the Steam Deck, hardly anyone expects the handheld to stay below the $1,000 mark. On the contrary: some users even expect a price of up to $1,500.