Best Handheld Gaming PCs Right Now: ROG Xbox Ally X Leads the Pack

The handheld gaming PC market is more competitive than ever, and a handful of devices have pulled ahead of the rest. Valve's Steam Deck kicked off the category, but newer hardware — including machines running SteamOS on more powerful chips — is pushing the space forward fast. The standout right now is the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, a collaboration between Microsoft and Asus that doubles as a pilot for a new controller-friendly version of Windows 11.

The ROG Xbox Ally X boots into the Xbox Full Screen Experience, a full-screen Xbox app interface that lets you download and launch games from Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store without touching the desktop for most tasks. Controller support varies by storefront — Steam works great, Epic Games Store still needs touch input — but the core idea holds up. Performance-wise it's the fastest handheld tested so far: up to 44fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at high settings with Quality upscaling while plugged in, and a steady 30–35fps at the 17W power setting on battery, except in demanding areas like Dogtown. Microsoft has acknowledged the new UX still needs polish, and further refinements are expected over the coming months as the Xbox Full Screen Experience rolls out to other handhelds.

Handheld gaming PCs sit in a sweet spot between a gaming laptop and a console — compact enough to play anywhere, but powerful enough to run modern AAA titles. Most also work with standard docks, so hooking one up to a TV is straightforward when you want a bigger screen. The Legion Go S is another notable entrant, running SteamOS on beefier hardware than Valve's own device, showing that the ecosystem has grown well beyond a single manufacturer.

Only four handhelds currently make the recommended list, reflecting how selective the market still is despite the flood of new devices. The ROG Xbox Ally X sits at the top, but the broader takeaway is that buyers now have real choices — and the competition is only getting sharper.