ROG Ally X vs Legion Go: Best Windows Handheld 2025?

The battle for portable dominance has shifted gears. It’s no longer just about playing indie titles on the go; it’s about running AAA blockbusters like Cyberpunk 2077 in the palm of your hand. With the arrival of the refreshed ROG Ally X and the massive Legion Go, South African gamers face a tough choice. Which of these modern handheld gaming consoles deserves the spot in your backpack for 2025?

The Contenders: A Quick Overview

The market has matured rapidly. We aren't just looking at prototypes anymore... these are refined machines running full Windows 11.

The ROG Ally X isn't just a fresh coat of black paint on the original; it’s a complete internal overhaul. ASUS listened to the community, doubling the battery capacity and fixing the SD card slot placement. On the other side of the ring, the Legion Go offers a distinct proposition with its massive 8.8-inch screen and Switch-like detachable controllers.

ROG Ally X: The Refined Speedster ⚡

If you prioritise ergonomics and pure battery endurance, the ASUS handheld lineup has taken a massive leap forward with the Ally X. The headline feature here is the 80Wh battery. In a country familiar with load shedding, having a device that can actually last a few hours off the plug while gaming at 15W or 25W is invaluable.

Beyond the battery, the ergonomics are softer, the joysticks are tighter, and the RAM has been bumped to 24GB of LPDDR5X. This extra memory allows the system to allocate more resources to the GPU, smoothing out frame rates in demanding titles. It feels like a finished product, designed for gamers who want a console-like experience with Windows versatility.

Legion Go: The Versatile Giant 🚀

Lenovo took a different path. Lenovo's innovative approach focuses on immersion and flexibility. The 8.8-inch QHD+ display is stunning... colours pop, and the 144Hz refresh rate makes lighter games feel incredibly fluid.

The secret weapon here is "FPS Mode." You can detach the controllers, flip a switch on the right joy-con, and use it as a vertical mouse. It sounds gimmicky until you try playing a shooter without needing a separate Bluetooth mouse. However, that massive screen comes at a cost: weight and battery life. It’s a device best enjoyed near a power outlet or with a hefty power bank nearby.

The Intel Alternative: MSI Claw

While the Ally X and Legion Go run on AMD's Z1 Extreme architecture, we can't ignore the competition. The MSI Claw enters the fray powered by Intel Core Ultra processors. It utilises XeSS upscaling technology to boost frame rates. While it had a rocky start, driver updates are steadily improving performance, making it a viable option for those deeply integrated into the Intel ecosystem.

Verdict: Which One Wins in 2025?

Choosing between the ROG Ally X and the Legion Go comes down to how you play.

• Pick the ROG Ally X if: You want the best battery life, a comfortable form factor for long sessions, and a more portable device.
• Pick the Legion Go if: You value screen real estate above all else, enjoy strategy games where the mouse mode helps, or plan to use the device for media consumption as much as gaming.

Both machines offer incredible value in ZAR compared to building a dedicated gaming rig from scratch, especially when you factor in the portability.