Competitive Console Clash - identifying the last four gaming devices standing

Handheld Showdown: ASUS ROG Ally X vs MSI Claw 8 AI and Steam Deck OLED vs Lenovo Legion Go S

Competitive Console Clash - identifying the last four gaming devices standing

The Handheld Showdown, a new limited series launched on YouTube last week, is down to the final four handheld gaming consoles. The audience's votes are needed to decide which two will move on to the final round and crown the grand champion.

In the first match-up, we have the ASUS ROG Ally X and the MSI Claw 8 AI. Both handhelds are Windows-based, but they differ in several key aspects.

| Feature | ASUS ROG Ally X | MSI Claw 8 AI | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------| | Display | 7.0-inch IPS LCD, 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh | 8.0-inch IPS LCD, 1920×1200 resolution, 120Hz | | CPU & GPU | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U APU (Zen4, RDNA3 graphics) | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U APU (same as Ally X) | | Memory (RAM) | 24GB LPDDR5 7500MHz (upgraded version) | Not explicitly stated, likely 16-32GB LPDDR5 | | Battery | 80Wh, doubled battery life compared to previous Gen| Battery specs not clearly detailed | | OS | Windows 11 with Xbox Full Screen Experience UI | Windows 11-based, full PC gaming compatible | | Controller Design | Xbox-style contoured grips, dedicated Xbox button | Similar controller layout, slightly larger | | Special Features | Xbox integration: Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Steam integration; Impulse Triggers for haptics | AI cooling system, bigger screen, similar gaming focus | | Portability | Compact 7-inch form factor | Slightly larger 8-inch display, bulkier | | Expandability | Supports external ROG XG Mobile GPU dock up to RTX 5090 Laptop GPU | No confirmed external GPU support |

Both handhelds use the same AMD Ryzen 7 7840U APU, offering similar base CPU/GPU performance. The MSI Claw 8 AI has a larger screen with slightly higher resolution and aspect ratio (1920×1200 vs 1920×1080). ASUS’s ROG Ally X features deeper Xbox ecosystem integration and refined Xbox controller ergonomics, including new haptic feedback triggers. The Ally X also boasts a larger battery and more RAM, potentially leading to longer battery life and smoother multitasking[1][2][3][5].

In the second match-up, we have the Steam Deck OLED and the Lenovo Legion Go S. The Lenovo handheld has a larger display and more powerful specs compared to the Steam Deck OLED.

| Feature | Steam Deck OLED | Lenovo Legion Go S | |-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Display | 7.0-inch OLED, 1280×800 resolution, 60Hz refresh | 8.0-inch IPS LCD, 2560×1600 resolution, 120Hz refresh (approximate) | | CPU & GPU | AMD Custom APU (Zen2 + RDNA 2) | AMD Ryzen 7 6800U (Zen3+ + RDNA 2) | | Memory (RAM) | 16GB LPDDR5 | 16GB DDR5 (faster RAM type) | | Battery | ~40Wh battery, up to 5-6 hours gaming | Approx. 60Wh battery (larger), longer usage | | OS | SteamOS (Linux-based) | Windows 11 full PC OS | | Features | Steam ecosystem, Proton compatibility for Windows games | Full Windows 11, 120Hz high-res display, more PC-like experience | | Controller Design | Integrated controls optimized for Steam games | Larger form factor, similar gamepad controls |

The Lenovo Legion Go S offers a significantly larger and higher-resolution screen (2560×1600 vs 1280×800 OLED), with a high refresh rate (likely 120Hz). It runs Windows 11, providing true PC flexibility akin to the Ally and MSI handhelds, unlike the Steam Deck which uses a Linux-based SteamOS optimized for Steam games with Proton compatibility. CPU-wise, the Legion Go S uses a newer AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, more powerful than Steam Deck's custom Zen 2 APU, which impacts performance favorably toward the Legion Go[4]. However, the Steam Deck OLED has the advantage of OLED technology for superior contrast and color despite lower resolution and refresh rate.

The Handheld Showdown is a unique opportunity for gamers to compare and vote for their favourite handheld gaming consoles. Be sure to follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Come back next week to vote in the final round and crown the grand champion of the Handheld Showdown.

[1] https://www.tomshardware.com/news/asus-rog-ally-x-vs-msi-claw-8-ai-comparison [2] https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/asus-rog-ally-x-review,66925.html [3] https://www.pcgamer.com/asus-rog-ally-x-review/ [4] https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/lenovo-legion-go-s-review,66933.html [5] https://www.pcgamer.com/lenovo-legion-go-s-review/