ROG Xbox Ally vs Gaming Laptop: which portable gaming device is right for you?

Our ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, ROG Xbox Ally, ROG Xbox Ally X, and wide array of ROG gaming laptops all game like champs, make no mistake. But if you aren’t sure which to buy — a go-anywhere gaming laptop or a Windows-powered gaming handheld — here are the key differences to help you decide.

The ROG Xbox Ally is as portable as it gets

If you’re laser-focused on gaming and don’t need the situational versatility of a laptop, an ROG Xbox Ally handheld is as portable as it gets. All ROG Ally models combine a touchscreen and built-in gamepad into one compact handheld you can easily slip inside just about any bag. This makes them perfect for AAA, indie, or retro gaming wherever, whenever. With an Ally, you don’t need any other devices or peripherals to play. Just one handheld and you’re set.

The Ally also has a battery on par with many gaming laptops. At the same time, it benefits from lesser overall power needs, meaning it play longer away from an outlet than many of those machines. And while the Ally is built for gaming first and foremost, it can pull double duty for other tasks since it runs Windows under the hood. Whether you want to watch TV shows on a plane, run emulators while out and about, or use touchscreen-friendly desktop apps, it can easily cover you in an ultra-compact form factor.

ROG laptops crank up the power

ROG Ally handhelds have enough power to tackle most of your favorite AAA games anywhere you go. But if you want a portable device that pushes the limits of power and can crush games like Alan Wake 2 with the graphical bells and whistles turned up, that’s when you’re going to want our strongest gaming laptops.

Take ROG Strix laptops, for example. These hardcore gaming machines house sizeable cooling solutions that afford portable gaming performance few devices on the market can even dream of. And 2025 Intel-based ROG Strix models even feature tool-less upgradeability, so when you want to upgrade the machine’s SSD or RAM, you can just pop the bottom off your laptop and get tinkering.

That extra power bolsters ROG laptops’ versatility. They have the strength and, thanks to their physical keyboards, form factor that you need to perform personal and professional duties as well as game. Whether you want to play hard, handle complex AI workloads, or run demanding work apps, you’re set. Plus, if you opt for our thinnest machines, like the ROG Zephyrus series, you’ll get all that laptop utility in a supremely compact, tight package. You may need to pack a controller or gaming mouse depending on the titles you want to play, but many laptop-friendly games can be played without any peripherals.

The ROG Xbox Ally is a truly accessible AAA gaming device

If you want to break into portable gaming for well under $1,000, an Ally is an easy, obvious choice. It'll play your favorite games, give you access to PC gaming’s many perks, and go with you just about anywhere — whether you’re on a plane, train, at a friend’s house, or chilling in your office. You won’t need peripherals such as mice, keyboards, or gamepads, either, which are sometimes required for a more traditional PC or laptop.

In fact, we offer multiple ROG Ally devices to fit your budget. If you want easy entry to Ally glory, the ROG Xbox Ally is ready, and at a lower price than most gaming laptops. And should you want to level up, we offer the ROG Xbox Ally X, featuring more storage, more RAM, and a larger battery.

ROG laptops offer maximum configuration choice

We offer multiple handhelds, but we offer even more models of gaming laptops. If you want the most say in your machine’s specs, size, and style, there’s an ROG laptop out there that’ll suit your specific needs. That’s a big perk of going with ROG laptops — we offer ultra-slim machines perfect for tiny bookbags or bigger laptops built to handle monstrously demanding programs no other portable device can. We also offer ROG laptops in a variety of colorways and form factors. Want something with sleek, stylish gamer flavor? Check out our 2025 ROG Strix G machines with full-surround RGB lightbars. Want to go low-profile for a truly versatile look? The ROG Zephyrus laptops work well in any environment. And all these machines sport multiple configurations so you can find the one that best agrees with your budget.

We even offer ROG laptops that double as tablets. The ROG Flow Z13 is a two-in-one with a detachable keyboard, meaning when you want a tablet for ultra-mobile multitasking, you’re set. And when you’re ready to go full gamer, just plug in the keyboard and get playing.

Go with one — or both — or something completely different

At the end of the day, both handhelds and laptops excel at gaming. The question is, do you want the most portable device possible, built for gaming anywhere with long battery life? Or do you want a gaming machine capable of handling all your Windows PC needs in a more traditional form factor? If you have your sights set on handheld portable gaming, pick up an Ally, and if you need the complete PC experience, go for a laptop. If both these scenarios describe your needs, you might be best off grabbing an Ally and ROG laptop so you have the optimal device for every situation.

Or, if you’re keen on the Ally’s touchscreen capabilities and extreme portability but need the occasional desktop-style machine, look into expanding its capabilities with a dock like the ROG Bulwark or external GPU like the XG Mobile – with solutions like this, you can add a monitor, mouse, and keyboard and use it as a full-fledged PC when needed.

Alternatively, if you’re willing to go a bit bigger for more power, the ROG Flow Z13 might be the perfect middle ground between handheld and alptop. That two-in-one solution will give you the lightweight, grab-and-go touchscreen experience you crave alongside the laptop-grade horsepower you need.

For those who want to go even smaller than the ROG Flow Z13 and Ally devices, consider the ROG Phone 9. It provides incredible performance in mobile ports of popular titles such as Genshin Impact and Infinity Nikki. And with Xbox Cloud Gaming, you can stream a wide variety of Game Pass games directly to the ROG Phone and control them with the ROG Tessen detachable gamepad. It’s an ideal, pocket-friendly daily driver for those who need a gaming-geared, versatile handset.

No matter what kind of PC gaming experience you’re after, the Republic of Gamers has a device with your name on it.