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Head-to-head · Best Handheld Gaming PCs

ASUS ROG Ally X vs GPD Win 3

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

ASUS ROG Ally X comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.0). The gap is mostly about Microsoft ecosystem users seeking Game Pass access — read the strengths below before deciding.

ASUS ROG Ally X
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Handheld Gaming PCs
ASUS ROG Ally X
4 sources2 derived

The ROG Ally X is an incremental but meaningful update to ASUS's handheld PC, pairing a Ryzen Z2 A with reworked grips that reviewers repeatedly single out as the most comfortable in the x86 handheld class. Digitally Downloaded and Ultrabook Review both rate the refined build above the raw silicon, which is the trade this generation makes. The Xbox-branded front end pulls Steam, Epic and Xbox libraries into one list and boots straight into it, though Windows is still underneath with all the driver and update friction that implies. Battery endurance remains the limit on long sessions.

Strengths
  • — Slightly more powerful than predecessor with AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor
  • — Refined build with comfortable hand grips and improved button layout
  • — Better battery life compared to original model
Watch-outs
  • — Battery life still insufficient for extended use
  • — Xbox UI may not appeal to non-Microsoft ecosystem users
Check Price on AmazonFull review →
GPD Win 3
Ranked #6 in Best Handheld Gaming PCs
GPD Win 3
2 sourcesall derived$798.95as of Jul 31

The GPD Win 3 is a Windows PC the size of a handheld: a 5.5-inch 720p touchscreen that slides up to reveal a keyboard, running Intel's 11th gen Tiger Lake-U processor with Iris Xe graphics. Reviewers described a Switch-like design with an integrated controller that switches between gamepad and mouse modes. Performance is solid for something this small, but users reported poor controller button feedback and accidental key presses while sliding the screen. Portable gaming and productivity tasks fit it; long typing sessions don't.

Strengths
  • — 5.5-inch 720p touchscreen with sliding keyboard design
  • — Intel Tiger Lake-U processor (i5-1135G7 or i7-1165G7) with integrated Iris Xe graphics
  • — 16 GB LPDDR4X RAM running at 4,266 MHz for improved gaming performance
Watch-outs
  • — Controller buttons have weak feedback compared to Sony DualShock or Nintendo Switch
  • — Display sliding mechanism occasionally registers unintended key presses during use
$798.95 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

ASUS ROG Ally X

The ASUS ROG Ally X stands out with its Xbox-branded UI and Game Pass integration, which differentiates it from competitors like the Valve Steam Deck OLED that focuses on SteamOS. However, while it offers slightly better battery life than its predecessor, it still falls short compared to the MSI Claw 8's 80WHr capacity and lacks the raw performance of the Lenovo Legion Go S with its Z1 Extreme chipset.

GPD Win 3

The GPD Win 3 offers a unique sliding keyboard design and Windows compatibility, unlike the Steam Deck OLED or Valve Steam Deck OLED which are Linux-based. However, it lacks the performance of the MSI Claw 8 and Lenovo Legion Go S, and its controller feedback is inferior to the ASUS ROG Ally X's button layout.

Specs side-by-side

SpecASUS ROG Ally XGPD Win 3
ProcessorAMD Ryzen Z2 AIntel Core i5-1135G7 or i7-1165G7
Display7 inch, 1920 x 1080 px5.5-inch 1280 x 720
Memory16 GB LPDDR5-640016 GB LPDDR4X
Storage512 GB NVMe PCIe gen 41 TB NVMe SSD
Battery40 Wh44 Wh
Graphics12 RDNA 3 CUs, up to 2.7 GHzIntel Iris Xe Graphics G7
Refresh Rate120Hz60 Hz
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