Asus’s ROG Xbox Ally X has claimed the top spot in Tom’s Hardware’s updated 2026 handheld gaming PC rankings, marking the first time a Windows device has unseated Valve’s Steam Deck OLED as the go-to recommendation for portable PC gaming. The victory comes with a catch: the Ally X costs $999.99, while the once-affordable Steam Deck OLED now starts at $789—a $240 price hike that reshuffles the entire value equation for handheld gamers.
Tom’s Hardware’s annual refresh of its best-of list, published this week, reflects a market in flux. Faster processors from AMD and Intel, OLED displays, and a console-style interface from Microsoft have narrowed the gap between Windows and SteamOS handhelds. But the days of the $549 Steam Deck anchor are over, forcing buyers to recalibrate what they’re willing to spend for on-the-go PC gaming.
What Separates the ROG Xbox Ally X from the Pack
The Ally X isn’t a radical redesign of last year’s ROG Ally. It runs on AMD’s new Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme with RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics, delivering a performance bump most noticeable at 720p and 1080p resolutions. Asus paired that silicon with 24GB of memory, a 1TB SSD, and a larger 80Wh battery—all housed in a chassis with more pronounced controller grips and a dedicated Xbox button.
But the real differentiator is software. The Ally X is the first handheld to ship with the Xbox Full Screen Experience, a controller-friendly interface that replaces the standard Windows 11 desktop when you boot up a game. Instead of poking at tiny taskbar icons with a joystick, you navigate a tile-based Xbox-style menu for launching games, managing settings, and accessing the Microsoft Store or Game Pass.
Tom’s Hardware calls the interface “far and away better than the standard Windows desktop,” though they note lingering bugs and some incomplete features promised for future updates. Underneath, it’s still full Windows 11, meaning compatibility with Game Pass, Epic Games Store, GOG, and titles that rely on anti-cheat software—a persistent sore spot for SteamOS and its Proton compatibility layer.
On the hardware front, the Ally X sticks with a 7-inch, 1080p, 120Hz IPS panel—bright and colorful, but not OLED. That leaves it visually outgunned by rivals like the Lenovo Legion Go 2 and Steam Deck OLED. Battery life is solid thanks to the 80Wh cell, though Asus doesn’t include a carrying case, and the $999.99 price is a steep entry point.
SteamOS Finds a New Home—Outside Valve’s Hardware
Lenovo’s Legion Go S is Tom’s Hardware’s top SteamOS performance pick, and it represents a tectonic shift: Valve has officially licensed SteamOS to third-party manufacturers. The Go S runs a Ryzen Z1 Extreme, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, delivering frame rates that sometimes outpace the Steam Deck OLED. At $829, it’s pricier than the Deck but cheaper than the Ally X.
SteamOS remains the simpler environment for gamers whose libraries live predominantly on Steam. Its console-like interface, suspend/resume, and system-level updates are built for controller-first use. The trade-off is the same as ever: not every Windows game runs flawlessly or at all under Proton, and some multiplayer titles with kernel-level anti-cheat refuse to work.
Lenovo is also preparing a SteamOS edition of the larger Legion Go 2, which crams an 8.8-inch 144Hz OLED display, detachable controllers, and a Ryzen Z2 Extreme into a 920-gram chassis—at a wallet-busting $1,349.99. Tom’s Hardware found the hardware impressive but the weight and cost prohibitive for many.
The Steam Deck OLED Isn’t the Bargain It Used to Be
Valve’s hand was forced by rising memory and storage costs, and the resulting price bump has reshaped the handheld landscape. The 512GB Steam Deck OLED now costs $789, up from its launch price of $549; the 1TB model hit $949. Tom’s Hardware still considers SteamOS the best handheld operating system, but the new pricing means the Deck no longer wins on value alone.
A Windows device like the $599.99 Asus ROG Xbox Ally (the non-X version) now undercuts even the cheapest SD OLED. That entry-level Ally uses a weaker Ryzen Z2 A chip and, based on Tom’s Hardware’s testing, offers performance barely better than the three-year-old Steam Deck. But it includes the same Xbox Full Screen Experience and can run any Windows game or launcher out of the box—making it an attractive option for budget buyers who want maximum compatibility.
Intel has also elbowed into the conversation with MSI’s Claw 8 EX AI+. Priced at a jaw-dropping $1,799.99, it features Intel’s new Arc G3 Extreme processor and posted class-leading gaming benchmarks in Tom’s Hardware’s tests. It lacks an OLED screen, however, and its exorbitant price consigns it to the “splurge” category for enthusiasts who want the absolute fastest handheld—money be damned.
What This Means for You: Choosing by the Numbers
The reshuffled rankings force a simple question: what kind of gamer are you, and what’s your budget?
If your library is mostly on Steam and you want hassle-free gaming: The Steam Deck OLED remains the most polished experience, but the price hike stings. You’ll get an excellent 90Hz OLED screen and Valve’s seamless interface, but you’ll pay at least $789. Compatibility quirks with non-Steam titles and anti-cheat systems persist, so this is best for dedicated Steam users.
If you need Game Pass, Epic, or anti-cheat multiplayer: Windows is non-negotiable. The $999.99 ROG Xbox Ally X is the top choice for performance and the refined Xbox interface, but the $599.99 ROG Xbox Ally gets you in the door—and runs the same software—for much less. The trade-off is weaker graphics and battery, but for casual play or streaming, it’s adequate.
If you want the best of both worlds—or are willing to tinker: The Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS) at $829 delivers strong performance in a Steam-first environment. Alternatively, tech-savvy users can buy a Windows handheld and install a Linux-based gaming OS like Bazzite, which mimics SteamOS while retaining full AMD driver support. That can turn a standard ROG Ally or Legion Go into a dual-purpose device, but it requires technical comfort and may void warranties.
If budget is no object: The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is the performance king, but wait for reviews on driver stability and game compatibility before dropping $1,800. And if you can tolerate the weight and price, the Lenovo Legion Go 2’s OLED screen and detachable controllers make it the most feature-packed handheld—though you’ll still battle Windows UI quirks when not in the Full Screen Experience.
How We Got Here: From Steam Deck Dominance to a Fragmented Market
The handheld PC gaming boom began in earnest with Valve’s original Steam Deck in 2022, which proved that a Linux-based device could deliver a console-like experience for PC games. Asus, Lenovo, and others rushed to market with Windows alternatives, but they were hamstrung by Windows 11’s keyboard-and-mouse heritage. The result: powerful hardware mired by a frustrating user experience.
Microsoft began addressing the problem in 2025 with early previews of the Xbox Full Screen Experience, a direct response to the criticism that Windows was holding back the handheld form factor. The interface debuted on the ROG Xbox Ally X and its cheaper sibling, turning a traditional Windows boot into something closer to an Xbox console. It’s not perfect—Tom’s Hardware notes unfinished features and occasional bugs—but it represents a significant step toward a true Windows handheld gaming experience.
At the same time, Valve opened the floodgates by certifying third-party hardware for SteamOS. The Lenovo Legion Go S became the first non-Valve device to ship with the OS in 2025, and more are on the way. That expansion gives gamers a choice of hardware without sacrificing SteamOS’s ease of use, but it also fragments the market: do you buy a premium Ally X and live in the Xbox ecosystem, or a Lenovo with SteamOS and accept some compatibility limits?
Component prices have also climbed. Memory and SSD costs drove Valve’s price increase, while AMD’s latest Ryzen AI Z2 chips command a premium. The result is a market where the floor for a modern handheld is now $599.99, and the ceiling stretches past $1,800—a far cry from the $399 starting price of the original Steam Deck LCD.
What to Do Now: A Buying Framework
If you’re shopping today, the first step is to inventory your game library. Catalog how many of your games rely on Steam versus other launchers, and check whether your must-play multiplayer titles work under Proton using resources like ProtonDB. That alone will point you toward Windows or SteamOS.
Next, set a realistic budget. The $599.99 ROG Xbox Ally is the new entry point, but its performance is modest. Spending $999.99 on the Ally X gets you a sizable jump in graphics power, battery life, and memory—worth it if you plan to play AAA games on the go. The $789 Steam Deck OLED remains a strong middle ground, but only if you can live with its software constraints.
If you already own a handheld from the past two years, an upgrade may not be urgent. All current devices can play most games at 720p or 1080p, and the Xbox Full Screen Experience can be installed on older Asus ROG Ally models via a system update. Wait for concrete reviews of the Ally X’s battery life and thermal performance before committing, especially given the high price.
For the tinkerers: installing Bazzite or ChimeraOS on a Windows handheld can give you a Steam Deck-like experience without giving up raw performance. It’s a viable path if you want the flexibility of Windows for occasional use and a console interface for daily gaming. Just be prepared for some command-line work and the possibility of losing manufacturer support.
Finally, keep an eye on sales. With so many devices now competing, price cuts are inevitable. The Lenovo Legion Go S, Steam Deck OLED, and previous-gen ROG Ally may see discounts as newer models arrive later in 2026.
What to Watch Next: SteamOS Everywhere, Windows Polishing, and Intel’s Next Move
The handheld market is moving faster than ever. Valve’s SteamOS expansion will bring more devices from Acer, Dell, and others, while Microsoft is expected to continue refining the Xbox Full Screen Experience with better power management and broader support for non-Asus handhelds. Rumors of a dedicated “Windows Handheld Mode” persist, though no official timeline exists.
Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme in the MSI Claw shows that the CPU landscape is no longer AMD’s exclusive domain. If Intel can sustain driver quality and lower costs, it could put pressure on AMD’s handheld chip pricing. For now, AMD holds the advantage with mature driver support and a proven track record.
Component costs, however, remain a wildcard. NAND flash and DRAM prices could stabilize or rise further, directly impacting handheld sticker prices. The era of the sub-$500 premium handheld may be over, at least for the immediate future.
For Windows users, the message is clear: the platform is finally becoming a viable handheld home. The question is no longer whether Windows can work on a small screen—it’s how much you’re willing to pay for that compatibility.