Suggested price leaks for the ROG Xbox Ally reveal potential costs beginning at €599, stoking apprehensions about the device's affordability.
In the rapidly evolving world of handheld gaming, three devices stand out for their power and potential: the Asus ROG Xbox Ally series, the Steam Deck OLED, and the Lenovo Legion Go S. Each offers unique features that set it apart from the others, particularly in terms of processor, display, memory, and design focus.
Asus ROG Xbox Ally
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally, available in both standard and X models, boasts an AMD Ryzen Z2 A or Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, respectively. Both processors feature 4 cores and 16 threads, with the Extreme version offering a higher GPU clock speed of up to 2.7 GHz across 12 Compute Units (CUs). The Ally X also benefits from 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 RAM, compared to the standard model's 16GB LPDDR5X-6400.
The device sports a 7-inch 1080p IPS touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 500 nits brightness, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. It also features FreeSync Premium for smoother gameplay. The Ally X comes with a 1TB NVMe SSD for storage, and its battery capacity is either 60Wh (standard model) or 80Wh (X model). Despite its power, the Ally X weighs around 715g and measures 290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm, making it slightly heavier than typical handhelds.
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X excels in performance, achieving Cinebench R23 scores near 1964 (single-core) to 3281 (multi-core at 30W), and offering gaming at 1080p medium settings that generally hits 30-40fps in heavy AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077. Its versatility extends beyond gaming, as it runs Windows 11 smoothly and supports PC Game Pass and full Windows apps.
Steam Deck OLED
The Steam Deck OLED, on the other hand, focuses on efficiency and battery life. While specifics about its processor vary by model year, it is an AMD custom APU optimised for handheld gaming. It comes with 16GB RAM and NVMe SSD storage options, typically ranging from 256GB to 512GB.
The Steam Deck OLED's 7-inch OLED display offers superior contrast and colour vibrance compared to IPS LCDs. Its battery life is known to be better than that of typical Windows handhelds due to SteamOS and optimised power management. While it may not match the raw performance of the Ally X, it delivers excellent efficiency and smooth gameplay on Steam-optimised titles.
Lenovo Legion Go S
The Lenovo Legion Go S, while not as well-documented as the other two devices, is expected to be a competitor in the Windows handheld gaming segment. It is anticipated to have an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, a 7-inch IPS display possibly at 120Hz, 16GB RAM, and SSD storage options.
Performance Comparison
| Feature | Asus ROG Xbox Ally X | Steam Deck OLED | |---------------------|------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| | CPU/GPU | Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, 12 CUs @ up to 2.7 GHz GPU clock | AMD custom APU optimized for handheld | | RAM | 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 | 16GB LPDDR5 | | Display | 7" IPS, 1080p, 120Hz, 500 nits Brightness | 7" OLED, 1080p, 60Hz or 120Hz (varies) | | Storage | 1TB NVMe SSD | 256GB-512GB NVMe SSD | | Battery & Efficiency | 80Wh, Windows 11, ~45 min gaming at 30W (high), ~2 hours at 15W (2D) | Longer battery life due to SteamOS | | Real-world gaming | 30-40fps on Cyberpunk 2077 medium settings at 17-30W TDP | Smooth performance with optimized titles, less peak power | | OS | Windows 11 full PC | SteamOS Linux-based custom OS |
Additional Notes
- The Ally X offers full Windows 11 versatility, enabling non-gaming uses like Adobe Premiere and access to game libraries beyond Steam (e.g., Xbox Game Pass).
- The Steam Deck OLED trades some raw power for better battery life and a focused gaming OS optimised for Steam titles.
- The Lenovo Legion Go S is expected to be competitive but specific data is currently insufficient for a detailed comparison.
Upcoming events such as the Xbox at Gamescom on August 20 may provide more insights into these devices, including the opportunity to try out Hollow Knight: Silksong on the handheld. As of now, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is rumoured to have a starting price of €599, with preorders allegedly set to start on the same date. The full-fat Ryzen Z2 Extreme "X" version of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally is rumoured to cost €899.
In summary, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is the most powerful option with higher RAM, wattage, and Windows 11 multitasking strength, but with shorter battery life. The Steam Deck OLED offers a more battery-efficient experience and superior OLED display quality but less raw power and full OS flexibility. The Lenovo Legion Go S is expected to be competitive but specific data is currently insufficient for a detailed comparison.
- The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and Steam Deck OLED are notable handheld gaming devices, each offering unique features and performance advantages over the others.
- The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X has a Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, offering a higher GPU clock speed and more RAM than its standard counterpart.
- The Steam Deck OLED, though less powerful in raw performance, is known for its efficiency and better battery life as a result of its SteamOS and optimised power management.
- Among the three devices, the Lenovo Legion Go S is anticipated to be a competitor with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and competitive hardware specifications.
- The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X achieves strong Cinebench R23 scores and offers gaming at 1080p medium settings, typically hitting 30-40fps in AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077.
- The Steam Deck OLED delivers smooth gameplay on Steam-optimised titles, though it may not match the raw performance of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X.
- Asus ROG Xbox Ally X offers full Windows 11 versatility, enabling non-gaming applications like Adobe Premiere and access to game libraries beyond Steam, such as Xbox Game Pass.
- The Steam Deck OLED, on the other hand, focuses on gaming performance and optimisation, trading some raw power for better battery life and a Linux-based custom OS tailored for Steam titles.
