The Xbox ROG Ally and Ally X have officially entered the handheld gaming arena—and early impressions suggest Microsoft and ASUS may have just raised the bar. With sleek designs, powerful specs, and deep Xbox ecosystem integration, both devices are being hailed as serious contenders against the likes of Valve’s Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go, and the Nintendo Switch 2. But how do they actually stack up?
The base model, Xbox ROG Ally, offers solid performance for casual and mid-tier gamers. It features an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The 7-inch 1080p touchscreen supports 120Hz refresh rates and FreeSync Premium, making it ideal for fast-paced titles like Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5. Reviewers have praised its ergonomic design and responsive controls, though some note that battery life under heavy load can be limiting.
The flagship Ally X takes things further. Powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip, it boasts 24GB of LPDDR5X-8000 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an 80Wh battery. Early hands-on reviews highlight its ability to run AAA titles like Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077 at higher frame rates with minimal thermal throttling. The inclusion of a neural processing unit (NPU) opens the door for future AI-powered features, such as automatic resolution scaling and gameplay highlight generation.
Compared to the Steam Deck, the Ally X offers superior display quality and raw performance, though Valve’s device still holds an edge in Linux-based optimization and game compatibility via SteamOS. The Lenovo Legion Go matches the Ally X in specs but lacks the same level of Xbox integration and controller ergonomics. Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch 2 remains the most portable and family-friendly option, but its hardware is geared more toward exclusive titles than high-end PC gaming.
Both Xbox handhelds support Game Pass, Remote Play, and cloud streaming, reinforcing Microsoft’s “Play Anywhere” strategy. The new Handheld Compatibility Program also helps users identify which games are optimized for portable play, similar to Steam Deck’s Verified system.
Retail pricing is set at $599.99 for the Ally and $999.99 for the Ally X, with pre-orders already selling out across major retailers. The official release date is October 16, 2025, and early adopters are calling the Ally X “the handheld PC to beat” for serious gamers.
