Are handhelds the future of Xbox? It’s a question that’s been bouncing around my head since the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X launched. Of course, I don’t think Xbox is ditching its console line entirely, but it begs another question – is Xbox better in the handheld market or is the Xbox Series X superior?
The Xbox Ally X is now our favorite handheld gaming PC, and that’s thanks to Asus’ slow perfection of its handheld series. On the other side of that, the Xbox Series X isn’t exactly the most popular current-generation console.
While the Xbox Series X may not be the best console, can it beat the best gaming handheld? Let’s see how it stacks up against the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X.
Xbox Ally X vs. Xbox Series X: Specs
The Xbox Series X is five years old, but can a handheld like the Xbox Ally X really outpace it?
Both Xbox devices are rocking AMD hardware, with the Xbox Ally X debuting the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chipset, and the Xbox Series X featuring custom AMD Zen 2 and RDNA 2 chips.
Both the Xbox Ally X and Xbox Series X feature 8 CPU cores, except the former is clocked at 2 GHz while the latter hits 3.8 GHz. The Xbox Ally X does support more RAM, at 24GB compared with the Xbox Series X’s 16GB. However, that doesn’t change the gap in GPU performance. While the Xbox Ally X is built on the new RDNA 3.5 architecture, its 16 Compute Units still won’t hold up compared to the 52 RDNA 2 Compute Units in the Xbox Series X.
In real-world practice, the biggest selling point of the Xbox Series X is 4K gaming at 60 fps. Of course, modern games have a shoddy track record achieving that on console, but that’s neither here nor there. The point is that the Xbox Ally X sports a 7-inch, 1920 x 1080, 120Hz display, so you won’t be getting 4K or even 1440p gaming, if that’s something you care about.
Winner: Xbox Series X
Xbox Ally X vs. Xbox Series X: Utility
The Xbox Ally X and the Xbox Series X cater to two completely different kinds of experience. Sure, you could play both on your couch, but one of them you can take wherever you want, while the other provides a more stationary experience.
With the Xbox Series X, you’re stuck playing in one place, you can’t play any PC games, and you don’t get to prioritize the graphics settings that matter to you. Modern AAA games are getting better about adding graphics settings on consoles, but it's nowhere near as thorough as PC.
With the Xbox Ally X, you need to worry about battery life, being trapped on a 1080p screen, and getting stuck with an inferior controller experience. Don’t get me wrong, the Xbox Ally X’s controller is the best in a handheld so far, but it still won’t be as comfortable as a traditional controller. Yet, despite some of those shortfalls, the Xbox Ally X offers so much. I can play it on the train on my way to work, which is a lot, but nothing beats snuggling up in bed and dying to Simon for the umpteenth time in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Another key factor is the display. The Xbox Ally X may only feature a 1080p screen, but it is more vibrant and vivid than most 1080p monitors or TVs. That means you'd have to spend hundreds of dollars for a 1440p or 4K screen that would look just as good. Sure, you get the bump in resolution, but that just reinforces that the Xbox Series X isn’t technically ready to go out of the box (you need a display).
Then there's the PC game stores. I'll get deeper into it in the next section, but it is incredibly convenient to swap over from the Xbox Store to Steam with the Xbox Ally X. With my Xbox Series X, I’d need to get up off my couch and go to my office, where I keep my PC. Of course, not everyone has the same set-up, but there’s still a massive separation between Xbox and PC with an Xbox Series X. The Xbox Ally X closes that gap, albeit at the cost of a few games.
Winner: Xbox Ally X
Xbox Ally X vs. Xbox Series X: Game Compatibility
If you aren’t deep into the PC gaming scene, you might be shocked that the Xbox Ally X can’t play every Xbox game. It seems like false advertising, but the truth of it is that the Xbox Ally X is a PC, not an Xbox. Although, that does come with its advantages.
With the Xbox Series X, you can play most AAA games, as well as older Xbox 360 and original Xbox games. That includes games not available on PC, like Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3, and Halo 5: Guardians.
Those games may come to PC one day, but right now the Xbox Ally X still has access to a significantly larger library than the Xbox Series X. You not only get all the games on the Microsoft Store, but also games from Steam, Epic Games, Battle.net, and GOG. One of the great things about that is some stores periodically give out free games, especially the Epic Games Store.
So yes, you’re losing out on a few console-exclusive games with the Xbox Ally X, but you’re gaining a landfill’s worth compared to the Xbox Series X.
Winner: Xbox Ally X
Xbox Ally X vs. Xbox Series X: Price
You’d think the biggest divide between the Xbox Ally X and Xbox Series X would be their functionally, but from where I’m sitting it's their price tag.
The Xbox Ally X with its Z2 Extreme chipset costs $999 at Best Buy. That’s an extreme jump from the baseline Xbox Ally with its Z2A chipset, which costs $599 at Best Buy.
Most notably, the Xbox Ally X is over $300 more than the Xbox Series X ($649 at Best Buy), and that’s after its price increase.
Unfortunately, this makes the Xbox Ally X a more niche product. Most console gamers aren’t going to opt for a device breaking the quadruple digits. There are more affordable handhelds and consoles out there.
However, there are some things to consider with the price gap. You’re paying for an all-in-one package, namely for the display, speakers, and controller wrapped into one product. You also get access to Windows 11 and a bunch of other PC game stores. Those aspects are worth considering, but it doesn’t change that the Xbox Series X is the more accessible way to game, at least for the price – but it’s also much less portable.
Winner: Xbox Series X
The Winner: Xbox Ally X for PC Gamers / Xbox Series X for Console Gamers
This may seem like a cop out, but it’s the truth. Console gamers are going to struggle with transitioning to the Xbox Ally X if they’re expecting a traditional console experience. Sure, it’s branded as an Xbox, but it’s a PC first and foremost. That means you have to deal with Windows 11, and you need to navigate different apps the same way you would on a PC.
The Xbox Series X is a ready-to-go experience that doesn’t require any tinkering on your part. Unless you’re willing to accept that the Xbox Ally X is nothing like that, then you should stick to console gaming. You also get to seamlessly play games at 1440p and 4K.
However, if you're just a PC gamer or enjoy both PC and console, the Xbox Ally X is incredibly tempting. Not only do you get an all-in-one package, but you get access to all the PC game stores that the Xbox Series X doesn’t feature. You just need to come to terms with that wild asking price.
Rami Tabari is a contributing writer at IGN with over 9 years of experience in the tech and gaming industry. You can find his bylines at Laptop Mag and Tom's Guide (and on a random Predator review at Space.com). When Rami isn't wading through a sea of the latest gaming tech, he's agonizing over the worldbuilding in his upcoming novella.
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