Head-to-head · Best Handheld Gaming PCs

ASUS ROG Ally X vs Valve Steam Deck OLED

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Valve Steam Deck OLED comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about SteamOS users prioritizing battery life — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #3 in Best Handheld Gaming PCs

ASUS ROG Ally X

4.3

The ASUS ROG Ally X represents an incremental but meaningful upgrade to the original handheld PC, featuring a more powerful AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor and refined ergonomics. Reviewers noted its improved button placement and slightly better battery life, though the device still falls short in battery endurance. The Xbox-branded interface streamlines access to both Xbox Game Pass and other platforms, though this may not suit users outside the Microsoft ecosystem. Tom's Hardware called it a solid iteration that improves on an already strong foundation, while Reddit users in r/SteamDeck reported mixed feelings about the Xbox UI integration.

Strengths

— Slightly more powerful than predecessor with AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor
— Refined build with comfortable hand grips and improved button layout
— Better battery life compared to original model

Watch-outs

— Battery life still insufficient for extended use
— Xbox UI may not appeal to non-Microsoft ecosystem users

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Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Handheld Gaming PCs

Valve Steam Deck OLED

4.4

$924.98as of Jul 6

The Valve Steam Deck OLED represents a significant visual upgrade over its predecessor, with an OLED display that delivers vibrant HDR images and 1,000 nits peak brightness. Reviewers noted that the OLED screen alone makes the device feel notably better, with excellent color reproduction and 90Hz refresh rate. The device also features improved battery life, quieter fans, and Wi-Fi 6E support. While the AMD APU hardware shows its age with some newer games, the Steam Deck remains capable of delivering immersive gaming experiences with titles like Diablo 4 and God of War Ragnarök. This is a solid upgrade for users seeking better display quality and performance improvements.

Strengths

— OLED display delivers vibrant HDR image with 1,000 nits peak brightness and 110% P3 color gamut
— Improved battery life with 50Whr battery and 6nm AMD APU for better efficiency
— Quieter fans compared to original Steam Deck model

Watch-outs

— AMD APU hardware shows age with some recent big-budget games
— Still uses sub-1080p resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels which may seem like a downgrade

$924.98 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

ASUS ROG Ally X

The ASUS ROG Ally X stands out with its Xbox-branded UI and Game Pass integration, which differentiates it from competitors like the Valve Steam Deck OLED that focuses on SteamOS. However, while it offers slightly better battery life than its predecessor, it still falls short compared to the MSI Claw 8's 80WHr capacity and lacks the raw performance of the Lenovo Legion Go S with its Z1 Extreme chipset.

Valve Steam Deck OLED

The Valve Steam Deck OLED improves upon the original Steam Deck OLED with better battery life and quieter fans, but lags behind the MSI Claw 8 in terms of hardware performance and battery capacity. It also doesn't match the Lenovo Legion Go S's Z1 Extreme chipset or the ASUS ROG Ally X's Xbox UI integration.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	ASUS ROG Ally X	Valve Steam Deck OLED
Processor	AMD Ryzen Z2 A	Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz
Display	7 inch, 1920 x 1080 px	7.4" OLED, 1280 x 800
Memory	16 GB LPDDR5-6400	16 GB LPDDR5
Storage	512 GB NVMe PCIe gen 4	1TB NVMe SSD
Graphics	12 RDNA 3 CUs, up to 2.7 GHz	8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.6GHz
Refresh Rate	120Hz	Up to 90Hz
Battery	40 Wh	50Whr battery

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