Key Takeaways
1. Pre-order Timeline: Customers can pre-order the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally from August 20 to 25, ahead of their unveiling at Gamescom.
2. Release Date: Both devices will be available for purchase starting October 16, primarily in the European market, with a global launch expected around the same time.
3. Pricing: The ROG Xbox Ally X is priced at $899, while the ROG Xbox Ally starts at $599, differing in RAM and storage capacity.
4. Performance Differences: The ROG Xbox Ally X features a more advanced Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, while the standard ROG Xbox Ally uses the older Ryzen Z2 A chip, affecting gaming performance.
5. Storage Options: The ROG Xbox Ally X offers 1 TB of storage and 24 GB of RAM, while the ROG Xbox Ally has 512 GB of storage and 16 GB of RAM, with limited upgrade options for buyers.
Previous leaks have shared the pre-order timeline for the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally. It was mentioned that customers could book either handheld device between August 20 and 25, just in time for their unveiling at Gamescom. Now, Dealabs has revealed when these devices will actually be available for sale to everyone.
Release Date
The ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally will be available for purchase starting on October 16, which is almost two months after their first announcement. This date is specific to the European market, but it’s expected that the global launch will align. Waiting two months from the announcement to the launch seems like a long time, especially since products powered by the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, like the MSI Claw A8 BZ2EM, are already on the market.
Pricing Details
Another leak suggested that the starting price for the ROG Xbox Ally X would be $899, while the ROG Xbox Ally would begin at $599. The former includes 24 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1 TB of storage, while the latter offers 16 GB of RAM with 512 GB of storage. Currently, MSI’s website doesn’t show any other variations, which means buyers will be limited to the existing high-speed storage unless they opt for a complete SSD replacement. Alternatively, users could add a SD card using the UHS-II microSD card reader for older games that don’t require fast read/write speeds.
Performance Differences
Aside from RAM and storage, the main distinction between the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X lies in their System on Chips (SoCs). The Ryzen Z2 A in the latter is a somewhat older chip featuring a Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 integrated graphics, which may struggle to match the more advanced Zen 5 and RDNA 3.5 components in the former’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme. Overall, the standard ROG Xbox Ally appears to be a less appealing option compared to its more powerful sibling, particularly for 1080p gaming.
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