The Nintendo Switch 2 is the fastest-selling console of all time—imagine waking up to that headline and kicking yourself for not getting one. But is it all hype?

I recently reviewed the Nintendo Switch 2, and I can tell you that it is not just hype, but there are a few caveats. If you’re rocking a Nintendo Switch OLED or considering buying one in spite of the Switch 2’s $450 price tag, there are some advantages over the Switch 2.

So, how much did Nintendo actually change with the Switch 2? Let me tell you why you shouldn’t count out the Switch OLED just yet, and why it might be worth upgrading depending on your needs.

What’s the same?

Despite some of the radical changes from afar, there are quite a few similarities between the Switch 2 and Switch OLED (for better and worse).

Thankfully, most Nintendo Switch games are compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2, including the game cartridges. However, some are incompatible, but I won’t fully count that against the Switch 2 just yet, as both Nintendo and developers are working to resolve that with future updates.

One of the most significant and disappointing similarities is the ergonomics of the Joy-Con controllers. For the most part, the layout of the Joy-Con 2 and Joy-Con controllers is the same. Not improving upon the ergonomics of the original Switch is a wild choice from Nintendo. If you’re using third-party Joy-Con controllers like I am, you know they're infinitely more ergonomic. Now, it’s great that Nintendo improved the process of attaching the Joy-Con to the Switch, but that means you’ll need to buy another third-party controller.

A majority of the operating system and UI are the same. I think that’s fine. It’s frustrating to learn a new UI, but at least the Nintendo eShop is improved on the Switch 2. My one criticism, however, for both consoles is that the Home themes are limited to white and black. Where are my cool PlayStation-esque backgrounds? Come on, Nintendo, get with the program.

Virtual Game Cards are a huge new addition for the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, but they also work on the Switch OLED. Essentially, you can let your friends borrow one of your games for up to two weeks. I have issues with how this process works when you’re trading with yourself (why is this a thing?), but overall, it’s a neat feature.

The difference: Where the Switch OLED wins

I've made it clear in my review of the Nintendo Switch 2 — no OLED is an absolute dealbreaker. Nintendo can't just give us the greatest handheld display out there and rip it from our hands.

The depth of color and contrast outpace all other LCD/LED displays, and that’s because OLED panels feature self-emitting pixels — when you see black, you’re looking at a pixel that’s turned off, thus you get virtually infinite contrast. The bezels are also considerably thinner.

Running around Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom looked breathtaking, from the crisp grass to the crystal blue ocean. It felt like gazing into a window of one of Nintendo’s most iconic worlds. Playing Echoes of Wisdom on the Switch 2 looked crisp, and while the screen displayed plenty of brightness, the depth of color didn’t capture the natural environments as well as the Switch OLED. It still looks great, but side by side? Switch OLED wins.

For those with longer commutes, the Nintendo Switch OLED is rated for longer battery life — 4.5 to 9 hours, compared to the Switch 2’s 2 to 6.5 hours.

Speaking of portability, the Switch OLED is smaller and lighter, coming in at 9.5 x 4 x 0.55~1.12 inches (Joy-Con attached) and 0.71 pounds (0.93 pounds with Joy-Con attached). Meanwhile, the Switch 2 measures 10.7 x 4.5 x 0.55~1.2 inches (Joy-Cons 2 attached) and weighs 0.88 pounds (1.18 pounds with Joy-Con 2). That’s a lot more weight to hold up when you’re using the same ergonomically unsound Joy-Con controllers.

Speaking of Joy-Con controllers, I use the Hori Split Pad Pro for my Switch OLED, which means I feel extremely comfortable playing games for hours. The Switch 2 will likely get some third-party controllers in the future, but we’re not there yet. At the very least, I’d wait until the Hori Split Pad Pro 2 gets released. (Hopefully, Hori will add haptics this time.)

The difference: Where the Switch 2 wins

Performance is where the Nintendo Switch 2 shines. With its new Nvidia T239 chip, Nintendo introduces frame generation into the Switch. That gives this relatively small handheld gaming console the power to run famously taxing games like Cyberpunk 2077. Nintendo Switch OLED cannot handle demanding AAA titles, as we’ve seen with its cloud-based ports of games like Control and Resident Evil Village. Of course, it also has 4x storage.

Then there’s the display. Yeah, I know I complained about the Switch 2 ditching OLED, but the overall specs in its display and connectivity are a massive improvement. It features a larger 7.9 display clocked at a 1080p resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate. And when you connect it to the dock, you can get 4K/60Hz. That puts the Nintendo Switch 2 into a more competitive ring with its rival consoles, which have offered these specs for years. It also crushes the Switch OLED’s 7-inch, 720p (1080p when docked), 60Hz display.

I previously mentioned that the Joy-Con 2 controller layout is the same, which is true, except when they’re used individually. The Switch 2 drastically improves upon its interior Joy-Con controllers by carving out larger buttons that offer a smoother, satisfying click. The original Joy-Con controllers made me feel like I needed to fight just to click the buttons. Additionally, the Joy-Con 2 controllers being bigger overall helps with the comfort, even though they’re still a bit awkward to use.

Of course, one of the biggest additions to the controllers and the console itself is GameChat. Clicking the C button brings up GameChat, which is exactly what it sounds like. Surprisingly, the previous Nintendo Switch did not have any party chat capabilities. So while it’s not a revolutionary feature, it’s a much-needed one. And you can also stream your game to your friends, which is pretty sick.

The Switch dock is also nicer — it looks and feels more premium, but that feels more like a cherry on top than a competitive quality, outside of its performance gains.

Which should you buy?

There’s no denying that the Nintendo Switch 2 is a superior purchase compared to the Switch OLED. Yes, I am distraught over the OLED display, but it is what it is. Yet, the Switch OLED still might be the best Switch for you.

Why? Well, the Switch OLED is $350. That’s $100 cheaper than the Switch 2, and $150 cheaper if you’re considering the Mario Kart World bundle. The truth is: There aren’t many Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games out right now (although, Donkey Kong Bananza looks pretty darn good). Even some of Nintendo’s blockbuster titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will be available for the original Nintendo Switch. Will new games run as well? Probably not. But if you’re not interested in new Nintendo exclusives, you probably don’t need to upgrade.

However, if you want all the latest games from Nintendo, and especially demanding AAA games on launch day, you’ll want to jump on the Nintendo Switch 2. But I still think most people can wait. I plan on purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2… OLED model, which Nintendo will hopefully launch relatively soon. Sure, it’ll be more expensive, but I’ll get my shiny new display. And if it seems too far away, I’ll try to get the Switch 2 on sale at the very least.

The age of new Xbox hardware is over. At least, according to a former executive at Xbox.

Laura Fryer, a member of the founding team for Xbox, says Xbox hardware may be on the way out, despite what Microsoft's marketing suggests.

In the aftermath of the unveiling of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, Fryer shared her thoughts on the future of the Xbox as someone who helped get the brand off the ground.

Unfortunately for console fans, she has offered a harsh verdict.

Here's a look at what Fryer had to say about the future of the Xbox and how the ROG Xbox Ally could shape it.

See also: This month's best gaming laptop deals

"They are betting their entire business on Game Pass"

Fryer has been a leader in the video game industry for decades. While she is no longer affiliated with Microsoft, she shared her expert opinion on the future of Xbox hardware in a video posted on Sunday on her YouTube channel.

Unfortunately for console fans, in light of Microsoft's announcement of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, Fryer thinks Xbox may be leaving the hardware market entirely, and it's part of a bigger shift across the brand that's leaning more and more on Game Pass and Xbox Anywhere.

Fryer called out the state of things at Xbox right now, saying, "They are betting their entire business on Game Pass and leaving the hardware innovation to their partners at Asus."

She went on to add, "I'll admit, it's a great message for gamers. Who doesn't want to play their games with their family and friends on any device and any platform? But that's all it is -- it's marketing."

While Fryer admitted that Game Pass "has a lot of value," she also pointed out the confusion surrounding which games can be played on Game Pass and Xbox Anywhere.

For instance, the ROG Xbox Ally is a Windows device, so it can't play native Xbox games; only native PC games are supported. The line between those is blurring, but it's still worth noting.

Similarly, the Core and Standard Game Pass subscription tiers for console specifically don't include the day-one releases that are one of the service's most significant selling points. In contrast, the PC version of the Standard Game Pass subscription does include day-one releases.

Fryer also called out confusing moves like this in her video, stating, "From my perspective, the Xbox strategy has been chaotic. So, it's hard to say what they'll do next."

Her prediction for the console's future was grim, to say the least: "Obviously, as one of the founding members of the Xbox team, I'm not pleased with where things are today.

"I don't love watching all of the value that I helped create slowly get eroded away. I'm sad because, from my perspective, it looks like Xbox has no desire or literally can't ship hardware anymore. So, this partnership [with Asus] is about a slow exit from the hardware business completely."

"Personally, I think Xbox hardware is dead."

Is the "future of Xbox" just... PC gaming?

Fryer's perspective on the state of things at Xbox doesn't bode well for gamers who prefer their console to a PC. While Fryer mentioned how cost-effective PC gaming can be when you build your own PC, she also praised the ease that comes with consoles.

They're often less expensive than a gaming PC and, at least historically, easier to use since you don't need to worry about things like driver updates.

With Xbox seemingly abandoning hardware, gamers who want the convenience of a console will likely switch to a PlayStation or even the Nintendo Switch 2.

Even if those gamers want to keep playing their Xbox games, Microsoft has, ironically, made it exceptionally easy for them to abandon Xbox hardware without losing access to their games.

Fryer pointed this out, too, saying, "Here's the problem: Xbox doesn't do exclusives anymore. Even if Xbox delivers a crazy great game, Xbox Anywhere means that I can play that game on any platform."

If the ROG Xbox Ally is any indicator of Microsoft's plans for the Xbox brand, we could be looking at a future where "Xbox hardware" is just... Windows gaming PCs. Of course, there are some phenomenal gaming laptops out there for those who want to get into PC gaming.

However, it's not the same as a console and it's easy to see why long-time Xbox fans may be disappointed to see Xbox consoles ride off into the sunset.

As Laura Fryer said, "It's one year from the 25th anniversary of the [original] Xbox and it looks like they're abandoning pretty much everything that made the Xbox brand great in the first place."

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Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in early June brought plenty of news about the company’s latest operating system updates across its devices. One device that received minimal attention, even though it's the newest product from the company, was the Apple Vision Pro.

The VR headset is just over a year old, and it has yet to catch on with the public thanks to its expensive price tag and lack of functionality. While the Apple Vision Pro inspired the company to introduce Liquid Glass across all upcoming software updates, the company had few features to reveal for the headset. It does appear, however, that Apple is coming for everyone's head, literally.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo posted about Apple's plans for the future, and it appears the company is going to focus on both eyewear and headsets. He says, "Apple views head-mounted devices as the next major trend in consumer electronics" and predicts the company will release multiple products for this trend starting in 2027.

Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

It's going to be a busy 2027 for Apple

According to Kuo, Apple will release a lighter version of its Apple Vision Pro in 2027, which he refers to as Vision Air. This new VR headset will be more than 40% lighter. This new lighter headset would also come at a much lower price.

Before the release of the Vision Air, Kuo predicts Apple will release another Vision Pro with the same design but an upgraded M5 processor replacing the current M2 chip.

Then, in 2028, Kuo says Apple will release its second generation of the Vision Pro. This new headset will have a different design, lighter weight, and a lower price than the original, with a Mac-grade processor.

For smart glasses, Kuo predicts Apple will release its smart glasses in 2027, with projected shipments to be 3 to 5 million units. Apple has "made progress" on a specialty chip designed for smart glasses, which could include versions with and without AR functionality. These glasses would compete directly with Meta, the current market leader, and its Ray-Ban and upcoming Oakley models.

The smart glasses will offer multiple frame and material options, along with voice control and gesture recognition, according to Kuo. The glasses will also have audio playback, camera, video recording, and AI environmental sensing features.

The glasses don't stop there. Kuo predicts Apple will begin production of a pair of XR glasses in 2028. These will have the same voice control and gesture recognition as the smart glasses while also having a color display. Kuo also says Apple is working on another "display accessory" that could return to development. This accessory would tether to an Apple device, such as an iPhone, and display content.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has been out for almost a week, and it's won over both fans and critics. It currently sits at a 90% Critic Rating and 100% Player Rating on OpenCritic, and is setting itself up to be one of the contenders for this year's Game of the Year.

The PS5 exclusive from Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima is a follow-up to his 2019 game, telling the story of Sam Porter, who is trying to reconnect the United States of America after the world was decimated by the souls of the dead roaming the Earth. Death Stranding 2 improves on many aspects of the original, but it appears that some players are having issues with the game, causing their PS5s to shut off.

A Reddit thread on the Death Stranding subreddit asked if other players were having their PS5s overheat while playing the game.

Death Stranding 2 – PS5 Overheats Only on Map Screen? from r/DeathStranding

"I’ve been playing the game on a base PS5 and overall it runs great—the graphics are stunning and I’ve had no issues during regular gameplay," the poster wrote. "But as soon as I pause the game and the map screen comes up, the fan suddenly goes into overdrive, and I get an overheat warning. It’s strange because everything else runs smoothly, even during long gameplay sessions. But the moment I bring up the map and start planning a route, the fan suddenly goes crazy and I get an overheating warning."

Kojima Productions didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about this problem.

Players on the thread who experienced this problem mentioned it came when they pulled up the map in the game. One poster suggests that because the map screen has an unlocked framerate, it causes the system to go into overdrive, thus raising the internal temperature. According to the comments, it appears to be affecting only the standard PS5, not the PS5 Pro or PS5 Slim, and it doesn't seem to matter if the PS5 is vertical or horizontal.

Some individuals suggested not leaving the map screen up for that long, as the longer it stays up, the more likely the PS5 will overheat.

One of the key designs for the PS5 was to address cooling, as the PS4 was notorious for having loud fans kick on whenever the console started to heat up. Sony made use of a double-sided fan, a sizable heatsink with heat pipes, and liquid metal between the heatsink and the SoC to make sure the heat is transferred properly.

The PS5 normally runs between 65°C and 75°C (149°F and 167°F) for most games. There is a point where the system determines that the temperature is too hot and will bring up the overheat warning.

A PS5 overheating can lead to a number of problems if it's not addressed, according to tech care firm Asurion. It can slow down the console, wear down components, and even lead to the PS5's breakdown.

A couple of easy tips to help prevent a PS5 from overheating include making sure the console is in a well-ventilated area, adding a cooling accessory, or opening it up to do some light cleaning.

When the Steam Deck came out in 2022, one of the big surprises was how well it ran video games. Other companies took note of the Steam Deck's success and came out with their own portable consoles, but with improved components so they could run games at higher graphics settings with the same quality or better quality. However, that ended up not being the case.

Handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw came after the release of the Steam Deck, and yet none have provided a better gaming experience, even though they all seemingly have better components. New testing shows that the biggest culprit is likely the operating system these devices are running.

Ars Technica released its findings from a test showing how different high-end games performed on a Lenovo Legion Go S using Windows 11 and the same device using SteamOS. The results showed that games running at the same resolution and graphics settings saw improved FPS with SteamOS instead of Windows, with some instances of nearly doubling performance.

In one particular case, Returnal improved from 18 FPS with Windows to 33 FPS with SteamOS. The Lenovo Legion Go’s performance improved after installing Asus drivers instead of Lenovo’s, but across the board, SteamOS outperformed Windows 11.

Who will beat Steam Deck?

The key reason why SteamOS performs so well is due to Valve's constant tinkering with the operating system over the years, unlike what other companies are doing, which is putting their own layer over Windows 11. This results in Windows 11 portable devices being bogged down with so much bloat, while the SteamOS is light and dedicated to just running video games.

This means companies have two choices if they want to compete with Steam Deck: Allow the optional installation of the SteamOS, like what Lenovo did with the Legion Go, or come up with a better alternative.

Microsoft and Asus are going for the latter with the ROG Xbox Ally X. The companies unveiled their device earlier in June, with Microsoft intending to create an Xbox-like experience with Steam Deck-level performance.

If the update to the Xbox PC app is any indication, the Xbox Ally will be able to run Xbox games as well as games for other platforms, such as Steam and Battle.net, which is something SteamOS can't officially support out of the box, although there are workarounds.

Being able to play more games that perform better than on a Steam Deck could be the right formula to take the top spot for portable consoles. That is, until the Steam Deck 2 comes out.

When Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 in early April, a new kind of memory card was unveiled to go along with the Switch successor.

The MicroSD Express card is the latest generation of storage cards with read speeds up to 800 MB/s and write speeds of 700 MB/s. These Express cards are so new that only a few companies make them: Lexar, SanDisk, Samsung, and Walmart's Onn brand.

TeamGroup is the latest company to announce that it will offer MicroSD Express cards. It will make 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB cards, however, TeamGroup didn't provide a date when they would become available or a price.

Even though the Switch 2 is not even a month old, storage is a big problem looming for console owners that can only be treated with more companies making more MicroSD Express cards to drive the price down.

The Switch 2 storage problem

While the 256 GB built-in storage for the Switch 2 might be plenty for storing games for the original Switch, it will likely fall short in the coming months or year. It comes down to the sizing of the third-party games.

For example, it would only take four Switch 2 launch titles to fill up the built-in storage: Split Fiction (69 GB), Cyberpunk 2077 (59 GB), Hitman World of Assassination: Signature Edition (59 GB), and Yakuza 0 Director's Cut (53 GB). Other games planned for later this year will likely have similar or even larger file sizes, such as Madden NFL 26, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Borderlands 4, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Integrade, and Star Wars Outlaws.

Games from Nintendo, however, don't appear to take up as much space as the third-party titles. Mario Kart World comes in at just about 22 GB, and the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza sits at 8.5 GB.

This means Switch 2 owners will likely have to get themselves a MicroSD Express card sooner rather than later, and they aren't cheap. Doubling the Switch 2 storage can cost $70-75, and a 1 TB card is around $200 if you decide to go with a Lexar, SanDisk, or Samsung card. Walmart's Onn brand, however, does come in at about half the price of the other brands. As mentioned earlier, card tests posted on Reddit suggest that the Onn cards appear to be rebranded Lexar cards.

Amazon's next Prime Day sale runs from July 8-11, and this year's Nintendo Switch Prime Day deals are bound to be impressive. Outside of end-of-year holiday sales, Prime Day is one of the best savings events to score excellent deals on all things Nintendo Switch.

I track sales for a living, and I found many Prime Day-like Nintendo Switch deals today on Amazon and at other retailers.

Whether you own an og Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED, Switch Lite, or the latest Switch 2, racking up on games and accessories can put a dent in your wallet. That's where big events like Prime Day come to the rescue, offering numerous opportunities to save.

I'm a shopping aficionado, so trust me when I say that Amazon won't be the only retailer slashing prices on Switch consoles, games, and accessories in July. E-commerce giant will face some stiff competition from Best Buy and Walmart. The two big-box retailers are known to hold their anti-Prime Day sales to rival Amazon.

During Prime Day, Nintendo fans can expect to see the best summer discounts on Nintendo Switch games and accessories. Other game retailers like Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and others will also offer Nintendo Switch deals during Amazon's sale.

As a reminder, Prime Day 2025 will be a four-day sale taking place from July 8 to July 11. Be sure to visit our Amazon Prime Day 2025 deals hub for the best early discounts on tech and gaming.

Browse my favorite Prime Day-worthy deals

Early Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals — Quick links

• Browse: Early Amazon Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals
• PowerA Joy Con Comfort Grips: was $15 now $10 at Amazon
• PowerA Slim Nintendo Switch OLED Case: was $15 now $11 at Amazon
• DOG MAN: Mission Impawsible: was $39 now $29 at Amazon
• MLB The Show 25: was $60 now $43 at Amazon
• Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: was $50 now $25 at Amazon
• Five Nights at Freddy's: The Core Collection: was $40 $25 at Amazon

Early Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals 

Retailer sales

• Amazon: Early Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals
• Best Buy: Early Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals
• Target: Early Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals
• Walmart: Early Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals

Valve has opened the floodgates on this year's Steam Summer Sale, unleashing thousands of gaming deals onto the unsuspecting bank accounts of gamers worldwide. Including mine, after I accidentally purchased roughly $300 worth of games after testing my luck during our live coverage of the platform's recent service issues.

Yes, we're all guilty of the occasional impulse buy, but if you were to cast your eyes across the vast expanse of my Steam game library, then you'd assume I was less prone to caving to the occasional guilty pleasure, and more inclined to commit war crimes against my wallet.

On the plus side, I now have a fresh new bundle of games to enjoy. Though, countering that, I am left wondering where I'll find the time to play them, and how I'm going to make rent. Still, I regret mostly nothing, and I'm here to share some of the games I'd recommend you could 'accidentally' buy also, with many available for under $10.

Top picks from Steam's Summer Sale

You don't have to be as careless with your cash as I was during Steam's Summer Sale. In fact, you can grab plenty of top titles that offer hours of content for less than $10 or $20.

Let's take a closer look at some of the better deals available right now through July 10, 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT).

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Not all gaming handhelds are created equal.

If they were, there would be little purpose in our identifying the best handheld gaming PCs.

Thanks to Microsoft, we have two additional handheld gaming PCs arriving later this year. And the two highly anticipated Xbox handhelds are, actually, Asus ROG Ally handhelds with a twist.

We've already taken a look at whether you should go for the ROG Xbox Ally X or Asus ROG Ally X, so it's now time to take a look at the more affordable versions: The ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Ally.

So, which should you be saving up for? The new ROG Xbox Ally or our old favorite ROG Ally? Or should you just go for Valve's Steam Deck OLED?

Asus ROG Xbox Ally vs Asus ROG Ally: Specs

Asus ROG Xbox Ally vs Asus ROG Ally: Pricing and configurations

Microsoft hasn't yet released the pricing on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally or the Xbox Ally X. But there will be just one configuration of the Xbox Ally, featuring an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, a 7-inch, 1920 x 1080, 120Hz IPS display, and a 60 watt-hour battery.

The Asus ROG Ally is available in two price variations, featuring either AMD's Ryzen Z1 or Ryzen Z1 Extreme chipset. Both variations come with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, 7-inch, 1920 x 1080, 120Hz IPS display, and a 40 watt-hour battery. The Ryzen Z1 version is just $499, while the Z1 Extreme edition is $649.

If you're wondering which ROG Ally is the best choice, we've done a rundown of the two models' strengths and weaknesses, and found that the Z1 Ally is often the better bargain.

For context, the Steam Deck OLED starts at $549 and comes with a custom 6nm Zen 2 AMD APU, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 7-inch, 1280 x 800, 90Hz OLED display, plus a 50-watt-hour battery. You can upgrade your Steam Deck OLED storage to 1TB for an additional $100.

Asus ROG Xbox Ally vs Asus ROG Ally: Design and comfort

Look, the Asus ROG Ally looks incredibly cool. It features a sleek white aluminum chassis with RGB lighting on the joysticks. If you imagined an ROG Zephyrus laptop in handheld form, you'd get the original ROG Ally design.

Unfortunately, that also means its sharp angles and flat profile can make it rather uncomfortable to hold onto for long periods of time. Users have reported pain and numbness in their hands or fingers after long gaming sessions with the Ally, thanks to its unconventional design.

Asus took that into account when redesigning the chassis for the Ally X, which has a rounder design and thicker hand grips. For the ROG Xbox Ally, Asus went the extra mile and seems to have grafted standard Xbox controller handgrips onto the bottom of the Xbox Ally.

This looks a little lame in comparison to the classic Ally, but it also appears to be a lot more comfortable. The Xbox Ally retains the RGB ring around the joysticks and features the same angled, front-facing vents. It's mostly the grip that's changed between the two handhelds in terms of design. And while I don't love the aesthetics of the Xbox Ally, I'd have to say comfort matters more when gaming than pure looks.

Asus ROG Xbox Ally vs Asus ROG Ally: Performance and battery life

The ROG Ally with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme is the most powerful of the Ally handhelds, with an 8-core Zen 4 CPU. The ROG Ally Z1 model was a little less powerful with its 6-core Zen 4 CPU. Both ROG Ally handhelds operate at the same 30-watt max power threshold.

The ROG Xbox Ally will likely underperform both, as its Ryzen Z2 A CPU features just 4-cores of AMD's Zen 2 architecture, and operates at a TDP of 20-watts. It's a slightly more powerful variant of the Steam Deck's custom Zen 2 Van Goh APU.

The Steam Deck circumvents its hardware limitations by only offering a max resolution of 800p, while the Xbox Ally has a full 1080p display. So the extra 5-watts of power are likely necessary to keep the Xbox Ally at about 30fps in most games.

As for battery life, well. None of the AMD-powered handhelds have been super power-efficient. Our recommendation for the gaming handheld with the best battery life is the MSI Claw 8 AI+ for good reason.

One of the biggest flaws of the ROG Ally was its battery life. Particularly with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme model, but neither handheld lasted very long when gaming. The ROG Ally Z1 achieved a total of 1 hour and 46 minutes on the PCMark 10 Gaming battery test, while the Z1 Extreme managed 1 hour and 43 minutes.

This is largely due to the Ally's 30W TDP power profile compared to its small 40-watt-hour battery.

The ROG Xbox Ally operates at a lower 20W power profile and features a larger 60-watt-hour battery, which should result in longer battery life compared to either of the ROG Ally models. However, that extended battery life will come at the expense of performance.

Outlook

If you want a gaming handheld that's comfortable and can last through long unplugged gaming sessions, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally is likely the better choice. Especially if you're willing to take a performance hit in favor of battery life and comfort.

If you want the more powerful Ally handheld, the OG Ally is the way to go. And it's been out long enough now there are some tips and tricks to keep you hands from going completely numb on you after a few hours of gaming.

Unfortunately, we don't know the price of the ROG Xbox Ally, so we can't say which is the better bargain. We should know more about the Xbox handheld pricing as we get closer to the expected October launch date.

However, if you've got the cash to spare and you want a more powerful handheld, you might be better off opting for the Asus Xbox Ally X or the ROG Ally X.

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