Tom’s Hardware has refreshed its handheld gaming PC recommendations for 2026, with Asus’ ROG Xbox Ally X taking the top Windows slot and Lenovo’s SteamOS-powered Legion Go S leading its SteamOS performance picks.
The update reflects a market that is no longer defined by Valve’s Steam Deck alone. Faster AMD and Intel silicon, OLED panels, and Microsoft’s new Xbox Full Screen Experience have narrowed the usability gap between Windows handhelds and SteamOS devices—though price has become a bigger concern.
Tom’s Hardware named the $999.99 ROG Xbox Ally X its best Windows handheld. Its Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor brings RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics, while Asus adds more controller-like grips, 24GB of memory, a 1TB SSD, and an 80Wh battery.
The larger story for Windows users is the Xbox Full Screen Experience. Rather than dropping owners into the conventional Windows 11 desktop, it boots into a controller-friendly Xbox interface for launching and managing games. Windows is still underneath, meaning compatibility remains its practical advantage for Game Pass, Epic Games Store, GOG, anti-cheat-dependent titles, and non-Steam software.
Tom’s Hardware says the interface remains imperfect, but it is substantially easier to use on a handheld than standard Windows 11. The Ally X still uses a 7-inch, 1080p, 120Hz IPS panel, so buyers prioritizing contrast and outdoor-looking blacks will find OLED rivals more compelling.
The lower-end $599.99 ROG Xbox Ally is now the site’s budget Windows pick. It offers the same basic Xbox-oriented software approach but uses AMD’s weaker Ryzen Z2 A platform. That makes it a value option, not a major performance upgrade over the Steam Deck OLED.
SteamOS remains the simpler environment for a Steam-heavy library: its interface is built around gamepad navigation, suspend and resume, system updates, and Valve’s Proton compatibility layer. The trade-off is familiar: not every Windows game, launcher, multiplayer anti-cheat system, or peripheral behaves as predictably as it does on Windows.
Lenovo is also pushing SteamOS further with a SteamOS version of the 8.8-inch Legion Go 2. The Windows model combines detachable controllers, a 144Hz OLED display and Ryzen Z2 Extreme hardware, but Tom’s Hardware flags its 920g weight and $1,349.99 price as substantial drawbacks.
The Steam Deck OLED is no longer the automatic value recommendation. Tom’s Hardware says Valve’s 512GB and 1TB OLED models now sell for $789 and $949, respectively, after a significant price rise. That leaves the Deck’s software polish intact but puts it directly against newer Windows hardware.
For Windows users, the practical choice is now straightforward: buy the ROG Xbox Ally X for the strongest balance of Windows compatibility and handheld-friendly controls, or wait for discounts rather than treating the Steam Deck OLED as the default bargain.
The update reflects a market that is no longer defined by Valve’s Steam Deck alone. Faster AMD and Intel silicon, OLED panels, and Microsoft’s new Xbox Full Screen Experience have narrowed the usability gap between Windows handhelds and SteamOS devices—though price has become a bigger concern.
Windows Gets a Better Handheld Interface
Tom’s Hardware named the $999.99 ROG Xbox Ally X its best Windows handheld. Its Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor brings RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics, while Asus adds more controller-like grips, 24GB of memory, a 1TB SSD, and an 80Wh battery.The larger story for Windows users is the Xbox Full Screen Experience. Rather than dropping owners into the conventional Windows 11 desktop, it boots into a controller-friendly Xbox interface for launching and managing games. Windows is still underneath, meaning compatibility remains its practical advantage for Game Pass, Epic Games Store, GOG, anti-cheat-dependent titles, and non-Steam software.
Tom’s Hardware says the interface remains imperfect, but it is substantially easier to use on a handheld than standard Windows 11. The Ally X still uses a 7-inch, 1080p, 120Hz IPS panel, so buyers prioritizing contrast and outdoor-looking blacks will find OLED rivals more compelling.
The lower-end $599.99 ROG Xbox Ally is now the site’s budget Windows pick. It offers the same basic Xbox-oriented software approach but uses AMD’s weaker Ryzen Z2 A platform. That makes it a value option, not a major performance upgrade over the Steam Deck OLED.
SteamOS Spreads Beyond Valve Hardware
Lenovo’s Legion Go S, equipped with a Ryzen Z1 Extreme, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, is Tom’s Hardware’s preferred SteamOS performance handheld. Valve confirmed in 2025 that the Legion Go S would be the first non-Valve handheld licensed to ship with SteamOS, and later delivered official support through SteamOS updates.SteamOS remains the simpler environment for a Steam-heavy library: its interface is built around gamepad navigation, suspend and resume, system updates, and Valve’s Proton compatibility layer. The trade-off is familiar: not every Windows game, launcher, multiplayer anti-cheat system, or peripheral behaves as predictably as it does on Windows.
Lenovo is also pushing SteamOS further with a SteamOS version of the 8.8-inch Legion Go 2. The Windows model combines detachable controllers, a 144Hz OLED display and Ryzen Z2 Extreme hardware, but Tom’s Hardware flags its 920g weight and $1,349.99 price as substantial drawbacks.
Performance Is Rising, So Are Prices
Intel has also entered the top tier. MSI’s $1,799.99 Claw 8 EX AI+ is the first handheld using Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme processor, and Tom’s Hardware reports class-leading gaming results in its testing. MSI and Intel announced the device at Computex 2026, positioning it as a premium 8-inch Windows handheld rather than a mass-market Steam Deck alternative.The Steam Deck OLED is no longer the automatic value recommendation. Tom’s Hardware says Valve’s 512GB and 1TB OLED models now sell for $789 and $949, respectively, after a significant price rise. That leaves the Deck’s software polish intact but puts it directly against newer Windows hardware.
For Windows users, the practical choice is now straightforward: buy the ROG Xbox Ally X for the strongest balance of Windows compatibility and handheld-friendly controls, or wait for discounts rather than treating the Steam Deck OLED as the default bargain.
References
- Primary source: Tom's Hardware
Published: 2024-08-07T20:03:28+00:00
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