The ROG Xbox Ally competes in a handheld gaming market dominated by Nintendo, positioning itself as a mobile Xbox alongside handheld PCs like the Steam Deck. However, an analysis of its hardware reveals that its graphics power is roughly equivalent to an Nvidia GTX 1650.
According to the official product page, all models of the handheld feature AMD Radeon Graphics. The device relies on the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, which includes built-in graphics. AMD's website notes that this chip uses the AMD RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture, featuring 16 graphics cores and a frequency of up to 2,900 MHz. Based on these specifications, BGR concludes that the handheld's performance matches the GTX 1650 or the AMD Radeon RX 6400.
While it cannot match the Xbox Series X, the handheld comes close to the Xbox Series S. BGR's research indicates the Series S aligns with the GTX 1650 Super. In a comparison using Grand Theft Auto V at maximum settings and 1080p resolution, the GTX 1650 Super averages 66 FPS, while the standard GTX 1650 reaches 49 FPS. Both cards can maintain the steady 30 FPS that Xbox games default to in Fidelity mode.
Real-world performance and optimization
Despite the branding, the device functions as a compact gaming laptop without a keyboard, making it dependent on game optimization. In BGR's review, the handheld successfully ran demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 when ray tracing was disabled. Testing by TechPowerUp supports these findings, showing the device outperforming the MSI Claw 8 in Cyberpunk 2077.
However, TechPowerUp also found that the Claw 8 achieved higher framerates in Control and Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1080p. This occurred even though the MSI Claw 8 uses an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, which is considered slightly weaker. BGR notes that this discrepancy demonstrates that relying solely on an equivalent Nvidia GPU is not always a reliable metric for performance.
Alternatives for higher fidelity
For users prioritizing graphics and performance, BGR recommends considering traditional gaming laptops over the handheld. The 2023 edition of the Asus TUF Gaming F17, priced at $1,149.99 compared to the $999 handheld, includes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. This graphics card is nearly as powerful as the RTX 3060 Ti, which matches the Xbox Series X. While the laptop sacrifices portability, it delivers significantly better graphics and framerates at 1440p resolution.
