Let’s face it—2025 has been a landmark year for handheld gaming. On one side, Microsoft has officially entered the arena with the Rog Xbox Ally lineup, a collaboration with Asus. On the other, Nintendo has finally launched the much-anticipated Switch 2, the successor to their immensely popular hybrid system. Both are powerful, portable, and ambitious—but they offer very different visions of what handheld gaming can be.
So, which one should you pick up: the Xbox Ally X or the Nintendo Switch 2? Let’s break it all down.
Design & Build
Both handhelds refine their predecessors, but with distinct philosophies.
The Rog Xbox Ally X evolves from the original Rog Ally, now infused with Microsoft’s Xbox DNA. It features ergonomic grips modeled after the Xbox Wireless Controller, along with Xbox-style ABXY buttons and hall-effect impulse triggers—widely regarded as some of the best triggers available on a handheld. It’s a premium-feeling device that caters to Xbox fans and serious gamers.
The Switch 2, on the other hand, sticks close to the design of the original Switch, but makes smart upgrades. You’ll find larger thumbsticks on the redesigned Joy-Con 2, a built-in mic, a sturdier kickstand, and magnetic controller attachment in place of the older sliding rails. It remains ultra-lightweight—just 0.88 pounds solo or 1.18 with controllers—making it ideal for travel and extended play sessions.
In short: If you want a premium, console-like device, the Ally X takes the win. But for a more family-friendly, ultra-portable experience, the Switch 2 holds its charm.
Display & Visuals
This is where their differences really start to shine.
The Xbox Ally X has a 7-inch, 1080p display with a lightning-fast 120Hz refresh rate. It’s tailor-made for smooth, high-performance gaming, and includes DisplayPort 2.1 for easy external display use.
The Switch 2 steps up from its predecessor with a 7.9-inch Full HD LCD touchscreen that supports HDR10 and variable refresh rate—but only in handheld mode. Docked, it can now output 4K at 60Hz, a first for Nintendo.
The Ally X gives you speed and responsiveness, while the Switch 2 emphasizes richer colors and detail. It’s a choice between fluidity and visual flair.
Performance
When it comes to specs, the Ally X dominates.
Powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, it packs 8 Zen 5 cores, 16 threads, 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores, and a boost clock up to 5GHz. It runs at up to 35 watts and includes 24GB of LPDDR5X-8000 RAM and a 1TB SSD. It’s essentially a mini gaming PC. Titles like Gears of War: Reloaded hit 60FPS at 1080p, and more optimized games can break 100FPS.
The Switch 2 is no slouch, either. It uses a custom Nvidia chip (likely with an ARM Cortex A78C CPU and Ampere-based T239 GPU). It supports modern features like ray tracing and DLSS, making it a huge leap from the original Switch. But it’s still built for specially optimized versions of AAA games, not full-scale PC gaming.
Bottom line: For sheer horsepower, the Ally X runs away with it. But the Switch 2 is still more than capable for Nintendo’s target audience.
Game Library
Arguably the most important factor—and this is where the Switch 2 strikes back.
The Ally X offers full access to your PC library: Steam, Epic, Game Pass, and more. Plus, Microsoft has developed a new “Xbox Experience for Handhelds”—a streamlined, game-centric interface that pulls together Game Pass, cloud gaming, Discord, and even Steam. It feels like a real handheld console now, not just a portable PC.
But Nintendo has something Microsoft can’t replicate: its exclusive games. Titles like Tears of the Kingdom, Mario Kart World, Animal Crossing, and Metroid Prime 4 are only playable on the Switch 2. Plus, it’s fully backward compatible with the original Switch’s huge library, giving it instant depth from day one.
So, while the Ally X offers broader access, the Switch 2 has the irreplaceable magic of Nintendo’s first-party experiences.
Software & Ecosystem
Microsoft has taken big strides here. Previous handheld PCs struggled with desktop-centric Windows interfaces. The Ally X fixes that with the Xbox Experience—an intuitive, console-style UI tailored for portable gaming.
Nintendo’s system software is still clean, fast, and user-friendly. But it’s more closed off—you can’t run third-party apps like Discord, stream games from other platforms, or customize much beyond what’s built in.
So: Microsoft wins on flexibility, while Nintendo keeps things simple and streamlined.
Pricing & Value
Nintendo has kept things relatively affordable. The base Switch 2 is $449, and the Mario Kart bundle runs $500—covering the whole setup, from dock to controllers.
The Xbox Ally X, on the other hand, is expected to cost around $799–$899, similar to its Rog Ally X roots. That makes it almost double the price—but you’re essentially getting a full-fledged gaming PC in handheld form.
So it comes down to what you’re really paying for: a high-end portable rig or a focused gaming console.
Conclusion
Here’s the breakdown:
Choose the Xbox Ally X if you want top-tier performance, flexibility, access to your full PC game library, and a more “console meets PC” handheld experience. It’s expensive, but powerful and built for the future.
Choose the Nintendo Switch 2 if you love Nintendo’s iconic games, want something lightweight and accessible, and prioritize fun, easy-to-jump-into gameplay. It’s ideal for families, younger gamers, and anyone who lives in the world of Mario and Zelda.
