A $1,000 Xbox Ally handheld tests the appetite for pricey next-gen consoles
The Xbox Ally X. | Photo: Tom Warren / The Verge
When Microsoft announced the launch date of its first Asus-powered handhelds without announcing prices, I had hoped it was a sign the leaked prices were too high. I had hoped Microsoft would subsidize them the same way it subsidized the Xbox itself. Maybe it would send a shockwave through the handheld market like the Steam Deck's console-like $399 price did in 2021!
I was too optimistic. Instead, Microsoft's flagship handheld "Xbox" is a $1,000 portable - or $599 if you opt for a far weaker model.
On Thursday, Microsoft and Asus opened preorders for the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally at $999 and $599, respectively, or €599 and €899 in …