Xbox Ally vs Steam Deck: Which is the better gaming handheld?

The Steam Deck kicked off a PC gaming handheld revolution when Valve launched the device on February 25, 2022, but since then, several other handhelds have come to market, including the ROG Xbox Ally (Xbox Ally), announced at Xbox Games Showcase 2025.

It's worth noting that the Steam Deck has an LCD model and two OLED models. Meanwhile, the Xbox Ally is a base model, but there is also a more powerful Xbox Ally X with more premium specs.

Even though the Steam Deck and the base Xbox Ally were created a few years apart, they have a lot more in common than you might initially expect.

I've taken time to compare their specs, displays, controls, operating systems, and batteries to see which one comes out on top. Here's what I've learned.

Xbox Ally vs Steam Deck: Specs

ROG Xbox Ally World Premiere Reveal Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase - YouTube

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Before we dive into comparisons, take a look at the specs for the two Xbox Ally models and three Steam Deck models.

Now that you've had a look for yourself, I'll dive into different areas and discuss what each device's features and specs mean for you as a handheld owner.

Because they are the most similar, I'll largely compare the white Xbox Ally (Z2 A) to the Steam Deck, rather than comparing the more premium Xbox Ally X to Valve's handheld models.

Xbox Ally vs Steam Deck: Price

PRICE WINNER: It's too early to tell, since the price of the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X have not been revealed yet. However, it's very likely that the base Steam Deck will still be the most affordable device. We'll update when we learn more.

Since it launched, the Steam Deck has basically been able to keep its crown as the most affordable PC gaming handheld. The reason for this is that other handhelds have typically had nicer specs and better screens than Steam Deck, thereby raising their prices.

Currently, you can order a Steam Deck LCD with 256GB SSD for $399.00, a Steam Deck OLED with 512GB SSD for $549.00, or a Steam Deck OLED with 1TB SSD for $649.00 at Steam.

Meanwhile, no prices have been revealed yet for the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X. However, my guess is they will cost more than the base Steam Deck since they have a new Ryzen Z2 A processor, nicer screen (higher resolution and refresh rate), and a brand new case design.

But as my colleague, Richard Devine, has already said, the Xbox Ally handheld really needs to be priced competitively with the Steam Deck if it wants to sell well. So maybe Xbox/ASUS ROG will eat some of the cost to make it a more appealing purchase. We'll have to wait and see.

The Xbox Ally is set to launch Holiday 2025, so we'll likely learn the price point for these new devices within the coming months. We'll update this page when that happens.

Xbox Ally vs Steam Deck: Performance and storage

PERFORMANCE WINNER: It's too early to tell on this score until we can get some testing done. The white Xbox Ally's processor is comparable to the processor in the Steam Deck LCD and Steam Deck OLED, so their performance might be relatively similar. However, other features and system specs could give the Xbox Ally better performance. We'll report back when we learn more.

The base Xbox Ally (the white one) is more comparable to the Steam Deck LCD and Steam Deck OLED than you might initially think.

Both the LCD and OLED versions of the Steam Deck utilize an AMD APU (accelerated processing unit) based on Zen 2 and RDNA2 architecture.

In June 2025, AMD released the specs on the Z2 A APU found in the Xbox Ally, and this is how we learned that it is actually also based on the rather old AMD Zen 2 and RDNA2 architecture that the Steam Deck's APU uses (thanks, PC Gamer).

What this means is that the Steam Deck LCD, Steam Deck OLED, and base Xbox Ally could offer very similar APU performance to each other. Of course, there are some other component differences, though, that could also affect overall system performance.

For one thing, the Steam Deck does not support VRR (variable refresh rate), but the Xbox Ally does. As such, game visuals likely have smoother motion clarity on the Xbox Ally screen.

System performance can also be affected by memory and storage capacities. Having more memory can help the system access game file data faster, resulting in quicker load times.

Meanwhile, having more game storage space means that you don't have to rearrange, delete, or archive data as much. Additionally, if a handheld's storage is too full, it can slow the system down, so it's better to have a larger SSD for gaming.

The Xbox Ally's 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB SSD are respectable capacities for a gaming device. This makes the ROG Xbox Ally most comparable to the Steam Deck OLED 512GB (and its 16GB LPDDR5 RAM).

Based on all this information, it seems likely that the Xbox Ally will run a bit more smoothly and could offer better performance than the Steam Deck, but perhaps not by a lot.

Once we get an Xbox Ally in for testing, we'll check out its performance and report back here.

Xbox Ally vs Steam Deck: Display

DISPLAY WINNER: There are some tradeoffs here. The Xbox Ally's 7-inch IPS display has higher resolution, a higher refresh rate, and supports VRR. So, it's a better gaming display overall, even if it isn't an OLED.

The Xbox Ally has a 7-inch IPS touchscreen that reaches up to FHD (1920 x1080) resolution, offers up to a 120Hz refresh rate, and supports VRR (variable refresh rate).

Meanwhile, the Steam Deck LCD has a 7-inch touchscreen with 1280 x 800 resolution, and up to 60Hz. The Steam Deck OLED has a 7.4-inch touchscreen with the same 1280 x 800 resolution, but a higher 90Hz. Neither supports VRR.

This being the case, the Xbox Ally display's features provide crisper detail and better motion clarity than the Steam Deck LCD or Steam Deck OLED screens.

RELATED: IPS LCD vs OLED vs tandem OLED vs QD-OLED vs QLED vs AMOLED vs Mini LED: Which is the best display?

Of course, the Steam Deck OLED will likely have a much nicer color gamut, true black point, and contrast than the Xbox Ally's display. Still, when it comes to gaming, motion clarity and crisp detail are more important.

That all said, it would have been nicer if the Xbox Ally had an OLED option. I'm guessing that if the Xbox Ally sells well, we will see an Xbox Ally OLED down the line.

Xbox Ally vs Steam Deck: Buttons, joysticks, and grip

CONTROLS AND GRIPS WINNER: The Xbox Ally has an Xbox controller-like layout with far more comfortable grips. However, the Steam Deck offers two touchpads for added control in certain games. I prefer the Xbox layout, but both options are good for specific use cases. If nothing else, the more pronounced grips give the Xbox Ally an edge.

In some ways, you can compare the Xbox Ally's button layout to an Xbox controller and the Steam Deck's layout to a PlayStation controller.

The Xbox Ally has offset joysticks, large ABXY buttons, bumpers, triggers, a D-Pad, and a dedicated Xbox button. Many people find the offset joysticks far more comfortable to use than the PS5 or Steam Deck's inline joysticks.

However, the Steam Deck does have those two haptic touchpads under either joystick, and this gives players more minute control in FPS games or game menus.

In the end, you'll have to determine whether the kinds of games you play would benefit more from touchpads or not. Some do, some don't.

Now, let's discuss grips and hand comfort. Some people absolutely love the Steam Deck grips, but others find the device too clunky and uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, the Xbox Ally has far more pronounced grips than most other mainstream PC gaming handhelds on the market. Due to this, it's likely more comfortable to hold for longer gaming sessions.

We'll double-check hand comfort and controls as soon as we get our hands on an Xbox Ally for review.

Xbox Ally vs Steam Deck: Compatible games & Operating system

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SOFTWARE WINNER: This will depend on your preferences. If you want a device that behaves more like a console, you'll want the Steam Deck with its simple SteamOS interface. However, if you want a device that gives you the freedom of a Windows laptop, then the Xbox Ally will be the better choice.

One of the biggest differences between these handhelds is that the Steam Deck runs the Linux-based SteamOS while the Xbox Ally runs Windows 11.

Many people prefer to use SteamOS because it offers a simplified interface that feels a lot like using a console. Meanwhile, Windows 11 handhelds behave more like laptops, which means they offer more freedom right out of the box, but they can be more difficult to navigate.

For instance, upon opening your Xbox Ally, you can open a browser tab and access Steam, Epic Game Store, Battle.net, and much more. But the Steam Deck is tied more directly to your Steam account.

If you want to access various gaming services other than Steam on a Steam Deck, you'll need to install and use Decky Loader or something similar.

Any Linux enthusiast will tell you that SteamOS offers a lot of freedom, and this is true as long as you know how to use it. Thankfully, there are plenty of tutorials and helpful videos to help you customize your SteamOS device.

Of course, you could always put SteamOS on your Windows PC gaming handheld, if you want to.

Something to note is that the Xbox Ally is going to have an "Xbox full screen experience" that will supposedly minimize some background Windows tasks and turn others off completely while you game.

Theoretically, this is supposed to reduce power consumption in order to allow the Xbox Ally to operate more efficiently and smoothly. It might even make the handheld feel more console-like, like the Steam Deck does.

We'll be sure to check out this new feature once we get our hands on this new device.

Xbox Ally vs Steam Deck: Battery life

Inside: ROG Xbox Ally - Behind The Scenes Feature - YouTube

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BATTERY WINNER: The Xbox Ally has a larger battery capacity and has features that should help improve power efficiency. But we'll have to double-check how it compares to the Steam Deck.

One of the biggest struggle areas for gaming handhelds is battery life. Most of these devices really don't last all that long, especially not when running graphically demanding or processor-intensive titles.

Typically, the Steam Deck has been found to last between two and eight hours, depending on system settings and the kinds of games being played.

The Xbox Ally has a 60Whr battery, whereas the Steam Deck LCD has a 40Whr battery, and the Steam Deck OLED has a 50Whr battery.

But battery capacity isn't the only determining factor for a handheld's battery life. Your device will run longer if it's on lower settings, playing simpler games, and if the device is designed more efficiently.

It's hard to know for sure how long the Xbox Ally will last for, but given its new feature that is supposed to reduce power consumption, it might last longer than Steam Deck. We'll run battery tests when we get this device and report back here.

Honestly, if you want your handheld to last longer, you might want to invest in one of the best power banks for ROG Ally or one of the best Steam Deck power banks.

Xbox Ally vs Steam Deck: Which should I buy?

BEST OVERALL: It's a little early to have a definitive answer. However, if the Xbox Ally is competitively priced against the Steam Deck, has better battery life, and has a feature that truly improves the Windows gaming experience, then it will likely be the better device.

We're planning on testing the Xbox Ally as soon as we can to really see how it stacks up against the Steam Deck. Based on specs, it looks like these devices have a lot of similarities.

However, the Xbox Ally is looking like it could be the better device, as long as it isn't priced too high. It has more pronounced grips, which should make it more comfortable to hold, a large battery, and supposedly is designed to help reduce power consumption when gaming.

That said, if you don't want to wait until Holiday 2025 for the Xbox Ally or you want a more affordable device that has a simplified interface, then you'll want to go for the Steam Deck.