The Nintendo Switch 2 is here and the battle of the handheld giants just got a little more heated. With docked gameplay reaching 4K resolutions♑, a slate of much heavier releases on the way, and a larger display up top, Nintendo's new device could well give portable PCs something to think about.
I first reviewed the ROG Ally back in 2023, and then took on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Asus ROG Ally X just a yea🔥r later. With their AMD Ryzen Z1E chips, full-sized control൲s, and chunkier form factor, they both offer a very different experience to Ninty's family-friendly console. Now that I've got the Nintendo Switch 2 firmly in my hands, I'm pitting it against the very system that saw its predecessor collecting dust on my shelf.
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TL;DR: Asus ROG Ally vs Nintendo Switch 2
Asus ROG Ally
Higher MSRP
Regularly on sale
Larger, chunky design
Heavier
Better comfort
Full-sized controls
Smaller screen
Larger battery
No inbuilt mouse
Fixed controls
One USB-C (unless on Ally X)
Larger variety of games
4K gameplay is hit and miss
512GB internal storage
Nintendo Switch 2
Lower MSRP
Unlikely to drop price soon
Slimmer form factor
Lighter
Less ergonomic
Smaller controls
Larger display
Smaller battery
Mouse sensor on Joy-Con
Detachable controls
Two USB-C
Nintendo exclusives
Games optimized 4K (docked)
256GB internal storage
Price
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0
Nintendo Switch 2
Asus ROG Ally Z1E
Asus ROG Ally X
MSRP
$449.99 / £395.99
$649.99 / £599.99
$799.99 / £799.99
Record-low
$449.99 / £395.99
$449.99 / £399.99
$699.99 / £799.99
There's a considerable jump in price between the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Asus ROG Ally (a🧔nd then a⛦gain up to the X model), however there's a little more nuance to these numbers as well. The Asus ROG Ally Z1E is no stranger to sales, and it's dropped to $449.99 / £399.99 a few times in the last year. That's the same rate as the Switch 2 at launch (a set of numbers I don't expect to be falling any time soon).
If timed correctly, the Asus ROG Ally could be the same price as the Nintendo Switch 2 - though discounts are far less f🌸orgiving on the boosted X model. That's a $700 device even on sale and I haven't seen any price cuts in the UK at the time of writing. That price increase does come with sturdier specs and a slightly better design♐, but it's only going to make sense for a select number of players.
There's also a cheaper version of the Asus ROG Ally, with a Z1 rather than Z1E chipset. However, it's harder to find on the shelves these days♎ and seems to be fading into the sunset now. If you do spot it, though, it💎's usually sitting at around $399.99 when on sale.
At full price, the Nintendo Switch 2 takes this one. It's $200 / &p♔ound;200 cheaper than the As🦄us ROG Ally Z1E, but it's well worth looking out for discounts on the latter.
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Winner: Nintendo Switch 2
Portability
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0
Nintendo Switch 2
Asus ROG Ally Z1E
Asus ROG Ally X
Dimensions
4.5 x 10.7 x 0.55 inch
4.37 x 11.02 x 1.28 inch
4.37 x 11.02 x 1.45 inch
Weight
1.18lbs (535g)
1.34lbs (608g)
1.49lbs (678g)
These are handhelds, so they need to be easily portable. Of the bunch, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the lightest and thinnes🧸t, measuring in at only 0.55-inches thick and weighing 535g. The Asus ROG Ally Z1E is considerably bulkier, and the Ally X slightly more so, at 1.28-inches and 1.45-inches respectively.
(Image credit: Future)
That means your case is going to be significantly larger if you opt for the Asus ROG Ally. I've been transporting both, and it's much easier to sq🐟ueeze Ninty's system into a backpack. Even a slimline fabric ROG Ally case is still bulky and heavy, whereas I can slip skinny Switch clamshell into even a smaller bag and still have space left over.
Winner: Nintendo Switch 2
Comfort
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Nintendo Switch 2
Asus ROG Ally Z1E
Asus ROG Ally X
Thinner controllers
Chunkier controllers with grips
Chunkier controllers with larger grips
Asymmetrical thumbsticks
Asymmetrical thumbsticks
Asymmetrical thumbsticks
Matte surface
Textured surface
Textured surface
The Nintendo Switch 2 is certainly far more comfortable than its predecessor, but it still sacrifices the extra grips of the Asus ROG Ally in favor of a slimmer form factor. That means it's lighter and easier on the wrists overall, but with smaller controls and less to hold onto I do still feel a slight cramp after lo🃏nger play sessions.
This year's Joy-Con are taller, but they're not much wider. Pair that with the scaled-down face buttons and thumbsticks, compared to the full-sized iterations on the Ally, and larger hands will still struggle to s♕tay relaxed during maꦦrathon runs.
The Asus ROG Ally is built more for ergonomic comfort th▨an the Switch 2. It features large protruding grips around the rear that provide additional leverage and promote a more natural hand placement. These grips are coated with a textured surface for a more precise hold,ဣ whereas Nintendo's device is completely matte. One isn't necessarily better than the other, this is largely down to personal preference. I much prefer the softer feel of the Switch 2 compared to the original console, but it can feel a little slippery compared to the rougher surface of the Ally.
(Image credit: Future)
The slanted edges around the front are also more gentle on the pal༺ms compared to the completely flat Joy-Con 2. I still find the corners of Nintendo's controllers can dig into my hands after a bit, whereas I've never experienced the issue on the Ally.
Nintendo wins in weight. If you're holding the device in the air, rather than resting it on your lap or a table, the additional heft of Asus's handheld does make itself known. Overall, however, this one go🐓es to the PC.
Winner: Asus ROG Ally
Display
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Nintendo Switch 2
Asus ROG Ally Z1E
Asus ROG Ally X
7.9-inch
7-inch
7-inch
LCD
LCD
LCD
1920 x 1080 (up to 4K docked)
1920 x 1080 (up to 4K with dock)
1920 x 1080 (up to 4K with dock)
120Hz (60Hz at 4K when docked)
120Hz (60Hz at 4K when docked)
120Hz (60Hz at 4K when docked)
HDR10
No HDR
No HDR
400 nits
500 nits
500 nits
On paper, the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Asus ROG Ally have very similar di🎶splays. They're both 1080p LCDs running at 120Hz, though there's a 0.9-inch size difference. Overall, Ninty's pulled this one off particularly well.
The Switc๊h 2's panel isn't as bight as the Ally's 5𓂃00 nits, but it does come with HDR support. Asus's display is crisp, sharp, and has excellent range, but side by side there's a little more pop in Nintendo's display (notably more so in games like Cyberpunk 2077 with HDR switched off) - even if the Asus is a little sharper on occasion.
(Image credit: Future)
Despite only hitting the shelves a couple of years ago, Asus's device suffers from fairly large bezels around the display it𒊎self. It's a factor that can make the Ally feel a little outdated and, while the Switch 2 still keeps similar bezels in play, the larger panel makes it a little easier to forgive.
It should also be noted, and I'll get into this more later in the Performance section, that both the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Asus ROG Ally can output at 4K 60Hz when connected to a compatible display. The difference is the Ally is a PC and the Switch will have games specifically optimized for this level of resolution. You'll have a much easier ti🔯me getting your games looking good on a 4K gaming monitor with the Nintendo Switch 2 to hand.
Winner: Nintendo Switch 2
Battery
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Nintendo Switch 2
Asus ROG Ally Z1E
Asus ROG Ally X
19.3WHrs (5,220mAh at 3.7v)
40WHrs
80WHrs
2 - 6.5 hours runtime
1 - 6 hours runtime
3 - 8.5 hours runtime
It's undeniable that the Nintendo Switch 2 has a weaker battery than🐼 🌊the Asus ROG Ally (and a much smaller one compared to the X). That's not the full story, though. Yes, at 5,220mAh (and running at 3.7v), you're not even getting half the WHr size of the Ally in the Switch 2 - and yet the device's actual runtime easily keeps up.
That's because the Ally is working much harder to play its games.🦩 The Nintendo Switch 2 is a heavily optimized device, as most consoles are. That means the titles you're playing have been built for your system - even ports are re-jiggled to run well on the handheld. PCs like the Asus ROG Ally live in a wild west where different games have different system requirements a💖nd optimal settings.
A more demanding game could run your Ally charge down to zero in as little as an hour, but a lighter title on the right power preset could have you play🦹ing for up to six. The story is similar on the Nintendo Switch 2, with a tie between these two handhelds.
That'𓄧s where the Ally X comes in. This upgraded model comes with a monster battery at 80WHrs. Suddenly your heaviest games can last from three hours - the longest stretch I've managed to squeeze out of this handheld is 8.5 hours. That's two hours more than the Switch 2, with the handheld doing significantly more work during that time.
Winner: Asus ROG Ally X
Controls
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Nintendo Switch 2
Asus ROG Ally Z1E
Asus ROG Ally X
Detachable Joy-Con
Fixed controls
Fixed controls
Shorter thumbsticks
Taller but looser thumbsticks
Taller and tighter thumbsticks
Smaller face buttons
Larger face buttons
Larger and more satisfying face buttons
Separate directional buttons
4-way d-pad
8-way d-pad
Smaller bumper and trigger buttons
Larger bumper and trigger buttons
Larger bumper and trigger buttons
Dedicated screenshot button
Screenshot with macro buttons
Screenshot with macro buttons
No back buttons
Two large back buttons
Two small back buttons
HD Rumble 2
Rumble
Rumble
Gyro controls
Gyro controls
Gyro controls
Mouse controls
External mouse support
External mouse support
This is a tight one. The Nintendo Switch 2 has a lot going for it from a control perspective; detachable Joy-Con make multiplayer sessions a breeze, the new mouse sensor offers inbuilt precision, and the improved rumble is far more nuanced than Asus's. However, the Ally benefits from full༺-sized thumbsticks and face buttons, additional programmable paddles on the back, and a far more sophisticated d-pad.
(Image credit: Future)
There's a battle here between functionality and quality. The Nintendo Switch 2 can do more, but the Asus ROG Ally ☂feels much better doing less. I'm far more precise with my aiming and movement when using Asus's taller thumbsticks (and even better on the X where they feel much tighter), and directional inputs are more comfortable with the full d-pad.
No, you can't remove one side of it and use it as a pointer but the Asus ROG Ally can easily connect to any 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:wireless gaming mouse you've got for a, potentially, much bet🦹ter experience instead.
At the end of the day, I prefer Asus's controls𒐪 for single-player adventures and online multiplayer. They're more comfortable and more precise at the same time. However, if you know you're going to be prioritizing couch co-op gameplay the additional features of the Joy-Con 2 will prevail.
Winner: Asus ROG Ally
Connections
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Nintendo Switch 2
Asus ROG Ally Z1E
Asus ROG Ally X
2x USB-C
1x USB-C
2x USB-C
3.5mm audio
3.5mm audio
3.5mm audio
No eGPU compatibility
ROG XG Mobile eGPU port
No ROG XG Mobile eGPU port
Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi 6
WiFi 6E
WiFi 6E
The Nintendo Switch 2 and Asus ROG Ally X both have two USB-C ports🍌, perfect for those who use wireless accessorie🐼s via 2.4GHz receivers and still want to keep their handhelds plugged in. The regular Ally Z1E, however, only has one USB-C connection.
That's the only major difference between the two handhelds' port selections. The Asus ROG Ally does feature a proprietary connection for its own XG Mobile eGPU hub, but that's an incredibly expensive add-on that very few will be looking to purchase. If you've got an extra few grand to play with, though, you can 💖add RTX 𒉰4090-level performance to your Ally via this port.
Th📖e S𒁃witch 2's second USB-C port clinches this one.
Winner: Nintendo Switch 2
Games
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Nintendo Switch 2
Asus ROG Ally Z1E
Asus ROG Ally X
Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive games
No exclusives
No exclusives
Backwards compatible with Switch catalog (mostly)
No Switch compatibility
No Switch compatibility
Locked to Nintendo eShop
Games available via any launcher
Games available via any launcher
Physical games available
Download only
Download only
Settle in, this is a complicated one.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is far more powerful than its predecessor, which means more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Borderlands 4 are coming to the system. That opens the Switch library considerably, blockbuster releases have a much higher chance of also landing on the Switch 2 than they did the original model. Not only that, but you will only be able to play first-party (and some third-party) Nintendo Switch games on the system itself - Ninty is 🀅hard on its own exclusivity.
That leaves the Asus ROG Ally in an interesting position. This is a full Windows PC, so you can run anything you could on a laptop or desktop on here (in theory). That's a much bigger library, ไpret😼ty much everything (outside of those aforementioned exclusives, as well as those of the PS5) can be played on this device in some form.
You're ꦜalso not beholden to one eShop here. Rather tha🌟n living by Nintendo's prices, you can shop around between Steam, Epic, and other launchers.
(Image credit: Future)
Similarly, the ROG Ally has one final trick up its sleeve; Game Pass. Love it or hate it, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Microsoft's subscription service is the best-value way to play new and old releases if you're not building a physical collection. A massive catalog of blockbusters and a healthy roster of day one releases means this is a fantasti💯c tool in the arsenal of any Asus ROG Ally owner.
If you're a Nintendo fan you'll want to prioritize those first-party exclusives, if you're a gaming fan looking for one device to play a much wider range of releases, the Asus ROG Al🌸ly is a much better pick. The Switch 2 is promising better Triple-A compatibility, but nothing is concrete until it's out on the digital shelves.
For a better picture of the difference between the platforms, I've collected every game featured in this year's The Game Awards nominations and compared platform availability between the two. Compatibility is only ticked if there is an officially confirmed version of the game heading to Nintendo Switch 2.
Expand full game list ↓
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0
Nintendo Switch 2
Asus ROG Ally
Astro Bot
❌
❌
Balatro
✅
✅
Black Myth: Wukong
❌
✅
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
✅
✅
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
❌
✅
Metaphor: Refantazio
❌
✅
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
❌
✅
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
❌
✅
Silent Hill 2
❌
✅
Neva
✅
✅
Stellar Blade
❌
✅
Call of Duty Black Ops 6
❌
✅
Life is Strange: Double Exposure
✅
✅
Star Wars Outlaws
✅
✅
Diablo IV
❌
✅
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
❌
✅
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
✅
✅
Closer the Distance
❌
✅
Indika
❌
✅
Tales of Kenzera: Zau
✅
✅
Destiny 2
❌
✅
Final Fantasy XIV
❌
✅
Fortnite
✅
✅
Helldivers 2
❌
✅
Baldur's Gate 3
❌
✅
No Man's Sky
✅
✅
Animal Well
✅
✅
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
✅
✅
UFO 50
❌
✅
Manor Lords
❌
✅
Pacific Drive
❌
✅
The Plucky Squire
✅
✅
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
❌
✅
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
✅
❌
Dragon's Dogma 2
❌
✅
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
❌
✅
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
❌
✅
Mar𒁏vel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
✅
✅
Multiversus
❌
✅
Tekken 8
❌
✅
Princess Peach: Showtime!
✅
❌
Super Mario Party Jamboree
✅
❌
Age of Mythology: Retold
❌
✅
Frostpunk 2
❌
✅
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
✅
✅
Unicorn Overlord
✅
❌
F1 24
❌
✅
EA Sports FC 25
✅
✅
NBA 2K25
✅
✅
Top Spin 2K25
❌
✅
WWE 2K24
❌
✅
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
❌
❌
Ghost of Yotei
❌
❌
Grand Theft Auto 6
❌
❌
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
✅
❌
Monster Hunter Wilds
❌
✅
Counter-Strike 2
❌
✅
DOTA 2
❌
✅
League of Legends
❌
✅
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
❌
❌
Valorant
❌
✅
Winner: Asus ROG Ally
Performance
(Image credit: Future)
The💛 Asus ROG Ally is a PC, but it's not going to give you conventional PC performance. Yes, it's an efficient system and it's run nearly every game I've tried on it comꦓfortably (the ROG Ally X is a particularly potent beast), but there are more steps to getting that frame-perfect experience.
The Nintendo Switch 2 picks up its new resolution and sprints with it. This is a seriously impressive achievement considering the size of the device and while the final result isn't quite as texturally sound as you'll see in lower resolut𝐆ions on the Ally it's still a smooth, enjoyable experience.
The Asus ROG Ally can run in 4K෴, but it generally p🔯refers not to. The X model is far better suited to this kind of high-resolution gaming, with its boosted RAM, but you're still restricted to lighter games. Cyberpunk 2077 could never.
Nintendo is running a custom Nvidia chip inside its new handheld, whereas the Asus ROG Ally is a full AMD build. The performance of that Z1 Extreme chip puts it at the top of the current handheld PC market, out-gunning cheaper options like the Steam Deck easil༒y.
It's likely that Nintendo is relying on Nvidia's own DLSS upsca🃏ling tech to keep its 4K 120fps promise, whereas the Asus ROG Ally uses AMD's FSR kit. Both a similar in their framerate-boosting capabilities, but both also leave⭕ behind their own visual defects from time to time.
(Image credit: Future)
In my testing of Cyberpunk 2077 so far, the Asus ROG Ally and Nintendo Switch 2 have played to different strengths. The Switch is much smoother, with no screen tearing and very very few judders. Textures and lighting are generally similar between the two, with both taking a heavy drop during faster 🦩gameplay moments. However, the Ally has a crisper level of detဣail on its visuals than the Switch 2 - most notable around character faces. That's running the Asus ROG Ally on Steam Deck graphical settings, things are a lot choppier once you start moving into full RT offerings.
The Asus ROG Ally is capable of more than the Nintendo Switch 2 is, but you'll need to jump through more hoops to get there. That could even things up, if it weren't for the Asus ROG Ally X. With a 🌠massive 24GB of faster 7500MHz RꦫAM, this is where true framerate chasers need to be looking.
Winner: Asus ROG Ally X
Storage
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Nintendo Switch 2
Asus ROG Ally Z1E
Asus ROG Ally X
256GB internal storage
512GB PCle 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
1TB PCle 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Additional storage up to 2TB (MicroSD Express)
Additional storage up to 2TB (MicroSD), upgಌradeable with 2230 M.2 NVMe drives
Additional storage up to 2TB (MicroSD), up🥀gradeable with 2280 M.2 NVMe drives
The Nintendo Switch 2 has seen a massive increase in storage this generation, upping the Switch OLED's 64GB to an excellent 256GB starting position. That's still half of the 512GB SSD inside t♔he Asus ROG Ally, though, and a quarter of the 1TB Ally X. Those numbers aren't to be taken at face value, though, the runway you've actually got from those♛ drives differs.
That's because game sizes are on the up. While original Switch games may have taken up a🦹 few gigabytes, Cyberpunk 2077 will require around 60GB of space. As Nintendo starts taking on these chunkier games, the Switch 2's built in storage is going to suffer just as much as its predecessor did. These are PC-sized game files, and even the Asus ROG Ally struggles with double the space.
Both devices are upgradeable, with the Switch 2 only accepting MicroSD Express cards and the Ally offering a swapඣpable internal SSD and extra storage♈ via a MicroSD as well. While it's a big leap in sheer size, Asus still wins this competition.
Winner: Asus ROG Ally
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Asus ROG Ally: which should you❀ b𓄧uy?
Nintendo wins out in price, portability, display, and connections, while Asus takes the lead in comfort, batꦚ🦹tery, controls, games, storage, and overall performance. That doesn't mean everyone should be flocking to the Ally, though.
The console experience is still very different to that of a PC, even in 2025. Driver patches, graphical settings, and varying system compatibility among games mean handheld PCs are still far from the slick, streamlined experiences of a purpose-built operating system. The Nintendo Switch 2 is much more pleasant to use outside of actual gaming. You know the g꧃ames you buy will run, you don't have to dig through updates a🍒nd settings menus to get them going perfectly.
If you're buying for younger kids or you simply want fewer barriers between you and your games, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the better buy. If you're looking to play all the latest and greatest games on one portable de♛vice, though, Asus is still going to be your best friend.
Buy the Nintendo Switch 2 if:
✅ You want to play first-party Nintendo games
✅ You don't want to worry about settings and updates
✅ You don't mind waiting for newer third-party releases
Managing Editor of Hardware at GamesRadar+, I originally landed in hardware at our siste🦩r site TechRa✃dar before moving over to GamesRadar. In between, I've written for Tom’s Guide, Wireframe, The Indie Game Website and That Video Game Blog, covering everything from the PS5 launch to the Apple Pencil. Now, i'm focused on Nintendo Switch, gaming laptops (and the keyboards, headsets and mice that come with them), PS5, and trying to find the perfect projector.
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