GoKawiilis a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who covers gadgets, games, and toys. He spent 15 years editing the likes of CNET, Gizmodo, and Engadget.
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When I first told you about the “OLED Xbox Ally X of my dreams,” I had to curb my enthusiasm a bit. That’s partly because I hadn’t yet tried the handheld myself, and partly because Asus was only planning to sell it bundled with a pair of expensive AR glasses! I’m happy to say both things are no longer true.
Asus will sell a standalone version of the OLED Ally as well, spokesperson Anthony Spence confirms to The Verge. “We are actively discussing the release schedule for a standalone version of the new Ally. Please stay tuned for upcoming announcements.”
And after spending two hours with the OLED Ally at the company’s California offices, I think it might even give the new MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus a run for its money.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps, an HDR showcase, looks great on the OLED screen. The Xbox button glows green now; you can turn it off or change its brightness.
Today, the $1,000 Asus Xbox Ally X is suddenly the best deal in town because of RAMageddon, while the MSI Claw 8 EX offers a generational leap in performance for those who have a staggering $1,800 to spend.
But the OLED Ally might offer a third choice for deep-pocketed gamers: the most comfortable and refined handheld yet.
A clearer screen
I already prefer Asus’ 7.4-inch OLED screen over the 8.8-inch one that Lenovo picked for the Legion Go 2 — yes, the one I previously called “the best handheld screen money can buy.” And I definitely prefer it over the MSI Claw 8 EX’s 8-inch IPS panel.
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