ROG Xbox Ally X vs Lenovo Legion Go 2 — Which gaming handheld is better?

During IFA 2025, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 specs were finally revealed, allowing us to better compare this upcoming handheld gaming PC against its various rivals. Of the next-gen Windows handhelds coming to market, the ROG Xbox Ally X (announced during Xbox Games Showcase 2025) is undoubtedly the device that will most closely compete with the Legion Go 2.

I conducted our ASUS ROG Ally X review and our Legion Go review here at Windows Central and am looking forward to getting my hands on the upcoming Xbox Ally and Legion Go 2.

With my experience at hand, I've compared these handhelds' specs and features against each other to see how they stand out in various areas.

Let's take a look at how the differences between the Xbox Ally X vs Legion Go 2 can affect your gaming experience.

Xbox Ally X vs Legion Go 2: Specs

I'll compare various aspects of these handhelds against each other, but first, take a moment to familiarize yourself with their specs and basic differences.

In case you didn't already know, the ROG Xbox Ally X is the successor to the popular ROG Ally X handheld, but the Xbox name is on there because Microsoft has partnered with ASUS ROG for this new device.

Now that you've had a moment to look at these specs, let's discuss them more in depth.

Xbox Ally X vs Legion Go 2: Price

As of the time of writing, pricing hasn't been revealed yet for the Xbox Ally X. However, we do know that the Legion Go 2's starting price is $1,049 — costly, but expected given its features.

Remember, these are both premium handheld gaming PCs. If you're after something more affordable, Lenovo offers the Legion Go S line with either a Windows or SteamOS option. And then, there is also a starting Xbox Ally (without the X at the end).

Based on the Legion Go 2 and Xbox Ally X's specs, it's very possible that the Legion Go 2 will have the higher starting price, given that it has that larger OLED display, a higher refresh rate, detachable controllers, and a kickstand.

That said, it's also possible that having the Xbox branding on the ROG Xbox Ally X could raise the price of that handheld to be about the same. We'll have to wait and see what ROG and Xbox reveal.

Both devices are slated to launch in October 2025. No exact release date is known yet for Legion Go 2, but the Xbox Ally X will be on store shelves starting Oct. 16.

It's currently unclear how many different configurations either handheld will have.

Historically, ROG and Lenovo handhelds have been available for purchase at various tech retailers, including Best Buy, Amazon, Newegg, Currys (UK), and more, so you can expect these handhelds to show up at those stores.

Xbox Ally X vs Legion Go 2: Performance and storage

When it comes to performance, one of the biggest differences between the Xbox Ally X and the Legion Go 2 is their AMD Ryzen Z2 series processors.

The Legion Go 2 sports an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, while the Xbox Ally X has an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, an AI processor.

Both of these APUs (Accelerated Processing Units) feature 8 cores and 16 threads with Zen 5 architecture, as well as 16GPU cores with RDNA3.5 architecture. However, the Xbox Ally X's AI processor features an NPU (neural processing unit) that can reach up to 50 TOPS.

This AI processor should help the Xbox Ally X work more efficiently when running certain AI processes, since the NPU takes some of the load off of the CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit).

At this time, I cannot say which handheld processor is better for gaming until I have the handhelds in hand and can conduct my own benchmark tests. I'll make sure to do that and update this page as soon as possible.

Now, early benchmark reports for these APUs have failed to impress, but performance can often change with the right update, so don't count them out yet.

Of course, the best gaming handhelds are in no way as powerful as the best gaming laptops or best gaming desktops since handhelds trade off portability for power.

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As you likely already know, overall system performance is also determined by how well various parts of a computer system work together. Part of that includes having reliable memory and storage.

The Xbox Ally X has 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 MHz RAM, while the Legion Go 2 can have up to 32GB LPDDR5X-8000 MHz RAM. Both are more than adequate for handheld gaming. The more the better for intensive graphics games, especially. But the higher the capacity, the higher the cost of the device.

When it comes to SSD storage, both the Xbox Ally X's 1TB M.2 2280 SSD and the Legion Go 2's offering of up to 2TB M.2 2242 SSD provide ample SSD storage.

But you'll note that these devices use different-sized SSDs. Most other mainstream Windows handhelds on the market use the 2280 SSD, like the Xbox Ally X, but it's easy enough to find either kind if you want to upgrade your handheld.

Additionally, both devices have the ability to expand game storage space using the best microSD cards.

Xbox Ally X vs Legion Go 2: Display

You'll have noticed by looking at the specs that the Legion Go 2 has a better display than the Xbox Ally X, in just about every way.

Its 8.8-inch touchscreen might not sound that different on paper from Xbox Ally X's 7-inch touchscreen, but believe me, the difference is massive when viewed in your hands. You'll be able to make out more details without having to squint as much.

On top of that, the Legion Go 2 has an OLED display, which means the colors it produces are far more vibrant, and the contrast also looks better thanks to the display's ability to produce true black.

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

Unlike the original Legion Go, this new Lenovo handheld supports VRR (variable refresh rate), which helps games play more smoothly on your screen. The Xbox Ally X also supports VRR, but that was expected since the ROG Ally X did.

The Legion Go 2's 144Hz refresh rate is higher than the Xbox Ally X's 120Hz, while the WUXGA (1920x1200) resolution of the Legion Go 2 is also crisper than the Xbox Ally X's FHD (1920x1080) resolution.

So really, the Legion Go 2 screen is better than the Xbox Ally X's in just about every way. The only downside to the Legion Go 2 having these better display features is that it makes the Lenovo's handheld more costly.

Xbox Ally X vs Legion Go 2: Buttons, joysticks, and grip

Many of the controls are placed in similar locations between the two devices; however, there are some major trade-offs when it comes to comparing these handhelds' grips and controls against each other.

For one thing, the Xbox Ally X's grips were designed after the Xbox controller, which many people think is the most comfortable gamepad design out there. As such, the Xbox Ally X has better grips overall.

Both devices have offset joysticks, but only the Legion Go 2 has Hall Effect joysticks, which will prevent drift from ruining your playing sessions.

Additionally, the Legion Go 2 has a kickstand, and its TrueStrike controllers can detach from the main device, which gives players the freedom to play in tabletop mode. This is something that isn't possible on Xbox Ally X.

That said, you can give your Xbox Ally X a kickstand using the dBrand ROG Xbox Ally X Killswitch case, which releases this October, and then sync an Xbox controller to it to play in a similar way.

So, even though the Legion Go 2 weighs more, being able to play in tabletop mode with detached controllers can lessen the strain it puts on your hands and wrists right out of the box. The kickstand also makes it easier to use your handheld as an all-around entertainment device, to prop up while you watch Netflix or catch up on YouTube channels.

What's more, the Legion Go 2's right controller can be put in FPS mode and slid around a surface to be used like a mouse, which is useful when playing games that rely more on aiming or clicking.

Additionally, unlike the Xbox Ally X, the Legion Go 2 has a small touchpad on the right side to give more fine control in specific menus and FPS games.

Overall, the Legion Go 2 has better controls and has more features than the Xbox Ally X. So if you want a more versatile playing experience, you should go with Legion Go 2.

Xbox Ally X vs Legion Go 2: Compatible games & Operating system

Both the Legion Go 2 and the Xbox Ally X run Windows 11, which means you can run any program or gaming service on these devices that you would on a gaming laptop.

Now, Microsoft has been busy creating a full-screen mode that should reduce Windows 11 bloat and allow a handheld to work more efficiently when running games. However, it's currently unclear how much of this optimization will roll out to all Windows 11 handhelds.

It's possible that the very best optimizations will only be seen using the Xbox interface on the Xbox Ally X. But we don't know for sure at this time.

One thing I've loved about previous ROG Ally handhelds is that they give me far more control over the settings than the Legion Go line does. For instance, I can adjust VRAM easily within an app on ROG Ally X, whereas I need to go into the BIOS to change Legion Go VRAM.

Meanwhile, some other settings changes aren't available at all on Legion Go handhelds. Of course, it's possible an update could change this on the next-gen device.

Xbox Ally X vs Legion Go 2: Battery life

The Legion Go 2 has a 74Whr battery while the Xbox Ally X has a larger 80Whr battery. Because of this, it's very likely that the Xbox Ally X could last longer when playing the same games or doing various tasks at the same settings.

However, it really depends on how much power the system needs to draw from the battery. Both devices have AMD Ryzen Z2 series processors, but since they are different, it's possible one could be more power efficient than the other.

For example, many AI processors work more efficiently and increase battery life, so it's possible that could be the case with the Xbox Ally X's AI processor.

I'll conduct battery life testing on these handhelds as soon as I can and report back here.

Xbox Ally X vs Legion Go 2: Which should I buy?

From the information currently available, both of these devices seem like excellent next-gen handheld gaming PCs. The thing is, they offer different conveniences, which will serve different needs.

Pricing for the Xbox Ally X hasn't been revealed yet, but it's possible that this could be the more affordable premium handheld, given its specs. It's also a great choice for anyone who wants meaty grips to assuage hand cramps or who loves to use Xbox software.

Meanwhile, the Legion Go 2 looks like it could be the all-around better handheld between the two, if you're willing to spend the high amount to grab one. That gorgeous OLED on a larger screen will look stunning and offer buttery smooth motion clarity.

Plus, having the ability to pop out the Legion Go 2's kickstand and pull off the controllers gives you more ways to use this handheld out of the box than you can with the Xbox Ally X.