The range of handheld gaming consoles has grown considerably in recent years. Following the highly acclaimed release of the Nintendo Switch (which we reviewed), we’ve witnessed entries from PlayStation, Lenovo, Asus, MSI, and even Valve, the parent company of Steam. An arms race appears to have begun among many of these companies, all striving to deliver the best devices available.
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally represents Microsoft’s effort to join the fray. This device is the result of an intriguing partnership between the PC manufacturer Republic of Gamers and Microsoft’s Xbox division, which lent its expertise from developing the Xbox to make the new handheld emulate a console experience. ROG has also equipped its top Xbox Ally X model with a remarkably powerful AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, providing substantial capability for demanding gaming. However, this power comes at a hefty price of $999.99, raising the question: Does the ROG Xbox Ally X offer enough improvement over other competitors to justify this cost? Although we commended the handheld’s performance in our review of the Xbox Ally X, there is much more value available in other portable devices from Valve and Nintendo. Comparing them with the lower-spec $599 ROG Xbox Ally makes the distinction even more apparent.
Explore with Nintendo
When seeking a handheld, it’s crucial to evaluate what functionalities you desire. Most high-end PC handhelds naturally fall into the same category as conventional PC gaming, an arena where handhelds require significant price tags and inflated specs to remain competitive. If your goal is merely to play games with excellent performance in a travel-friendly design, the Nintendo Switch 2 might be a better option than the Xbox Ally X.
Nintendo’s latest model enhances the original Switch in substantial ways, especially now that availability of the Switch 2 has improved after initial shortages. Firstly, it features a sleek design, with detachable controllers and various play modes, such as a tabletop screen or a TV console for multiplayer co-op. While a PC handheld like the ROG can offer similar capabilities, it requires additional accessories and controllers.
The processor in the Nintendo Switch 2 is a less powerful NVIDIA chip, but Nintendo’s strategy of producing impeccably crafted first-party titles and their adept handling of ports from leading AAA studios ensures that the performance feels modern and refined. It typically has lower resolution and frame rates compared to the ROG Xbox Ally X, but if you favor first-party Nintendo games and don’t require cutting-edge specifications, the Switch 2 is an excellent way to cut costs ($550, to be precise).
Get more value with other PC handhelds
One reason PC handhelds are so unique is that they frequently come with complete operating systems. Those produced by PC manufacturers usually run Windows. This can be a double-edged sword, as it offers users the versatility to use their handheld as a computer, but Windows wasn’t designed for navigation with a controller, especially in handheld mode.
Consequently, one of the best methods to save money and achieve a streamlined experience is to opt for a Steam Deck. Created by Valve and operating on a custom Linux-based Steam OS, these devices support a wide variety of games from the Steam store. The standout feature is that the Steam Deck OLED starts at a mere $549, boasts a stunning 7.4-inch OLED screen, and provides a performance level well-suited for Steam-optimized games. All this at roughly half the price of a top-tier ROG Xbox Ally? That’s a significant advantage in our view.
