Overview
- The Pocket Tactics analysis argues buyers can assemble a more versatile setup for $1,000 than purchasing ASUS’s top-tier Xbox-branded handheld.
- It proposes a 512GB Steam Deck OLED at $549.99, an Ayaneo Pocket Mini, and an 11-inch iPad with the A16 chip for $299.99, with enough left for a Steam Deck dock.
- The Ally X sits above the $599.99 base Ally and adds an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, more RAM, and a larger battery.
- The article cites its own earlier review score of 7/10 for the Ally X, noting strong performance but a contentious price.
- It also points to similarly priced rivals like the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and flags cheaper Android handheld options such as the Retroid Pocket 6 at $209.99 or Ayaneo Pocket Air Mini at $99.