If you're shopping for a Steam Deck at the moment, you're greeted with a very disappointing sight: all models are listed as out of stock. But if your desire to pick up a handheld gaming PC outweighs your patience for waiting for a restock, there are other options. They include this Asus ROG Xbox Ally at Amazon for $499.99 (was $599.99)
I recently recommended a similar deal when the ROG Xbox Ally was given a £100 discount in the UK. It does come with some caveats, though, so consider these before hitting the buy button. It is, however, a very strong alternative to the Steam Deck at this price.
Buy the Asus ROG Xbox Ally at Amazon
One of the main things to consider about the Asus ROG Xbox Ally is the spec itself. With an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 7-inch 120Hz touchscreen display, it's a solid handheld that's best suited to less demanding games, indies, and titles from a previous generation or two. You still get decent performance, and the high refresh rate display gives a welcome boost to smoothness and responsiveness. There are, however, more powerful options out there.
If that meets your needs, one other potential niggle is the fact that the ROG Xbox Ally uses Windows 11. While it functions fine, it's clearly not optimised for the handheld form factor — even with several software tweaks and Xbox interface options to try and create a smoother console-like experience. The SteamOS, found on the Steam Deck, is just so far ahead in terms of usability.
If you can look past those issues, though, it's a solid option in the world of handheld gaming PCs. We scored it a very respectable four stars in our Asus ROG Xbox Ally review, praising the performance, battery life, and comfortable design. Price and value for money compared to similarly-powered gaming laptops were the main gripes — something less of an issue after this price cut, at least.