Ranking: Best gaming handhelds tested by Notebookcheck

The ROG Ally X (to the test) is an all-round successful hardware update that focuses primarily on the user experience. Despite the somewhat bulkier design, the new controller grips feel much better in the hand and enable fatigue-free gaming over several hours. Under the hood, the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme together with the Radeon 890M GPU provides a performance boost of around 10 to 15 %. Especially in efficient performance mode, the device impresses with a battery life of over three hours and pleasantly quiet cooling.

The ROG Ally X scores with optimized ergonomics, the powerful Ryzen AI chip and significantly improved usability in everyday gaming on the software side

The software has also been optimized: The new Xbox full-screen mode massively simplifies Windows operation and clearly bundles various launchers. As Asus continues to rely on the tried-and-tested 120 Hz IPS display, the device remains more attractively priced than upcoming high-end competitors with OLED technology.

MSI has relied on Intel chips for the Claw handhelds right from the start. This did not exactly prove to be advantageous for the first devices in the series. Even though Intel Meteor Lake processors offered a decent iGPU, AMD's Radeon RX 780M was clearly better. However, Intel has now made up for this. The Arc 140V in the Lunar Lake chips is potent and therefore the biggest criticism of the MSI Claw series is no longer applicable, at least in the new MSI Claw 8 AI+. The handheld is convincing in the current test report and is only criticized for its price.

Higher gaming performance (also compared to the ROG Ally X), lower consumption and longer battery life - the upgrade to the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a success.

The feel and controller are good and the 120 Hz screen with variable frame rate is also a successful upgrade. MSI only needs to improve the companion software. In our test it proved to be a little laggy.

The new AMD version of the MSI Claw performs well in our test our test but also causes a lack of understanding, as it offers hardly any significant advantages compared to the successful Intel model with Lunar Lake chip (Claw 8 AI+). The casing has also been changed: incomprehensibly, it has smaller shoulder buttons and triggers. There have also been changes on the software side, as tried and tested energy profiles have been removed. Users now either have to make do with a mediocre AI engine or make complex manual settings. Despite the price of 999 euros, the AMD version with 24 GB also offers less RAM than the Intel counterpart (32 GB), which is why testers clearly recommend the Intel version for 8-inch requirements.

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 impresses first and foremost with its brilliant 144 Hz OLED display, which sets new standards in image quality with a peak brightness of over 1,100 cd/m². Due to its considerable size and weight, the detachable controllers and integrated kickstand are useful features, even if this design comes at the expense of battery capacity and sound quality. Although the performance of the built-in Ryzen Z2 Extreme is solid, it is in critical proportion to the price of well over 1,000 euros.

Despite the outstanding OLED display, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 struggles with an extremely high price

Comparable competitor products are already available for hundreds of euros less, and modern standards such as Wi-Fi 7 are also missing. In view of the release of significantly faster Panther Lake chips, the enormous surcharge for the OLED panel represents a considerable investment risk for performance-oriented buyers.
The availability of the Lenovo Legion Go 2 is still quite difficult. The device is currently available directly from Lenovo at a price of 1,699 euros.

The ROG Xbox Ally has a hard time competing with the other current gaming handhelds. On the one hand, it impresses with an excellent feel, very good battery life and a crisp IPS display that also offers a variable frame rate. On the other hand, the AMD Ryzen Z2 is disappointing. The AMD APU delivers pretty much the performance found in the Steam Deck and is therefore no longer quite up to date in 2025.

A little more performance could be extracted from the handheld with an alternative Linux operating system. However, this also eliminates the big advantage of the XBox Ally over the Steam Deck. You can simply install more games with Windows.

The Legion Go S is available with otherwise identical hardware with Steam OS or with Windows. We tested both devices. As with the ROG Xbox Ally, excellent workmanship and otherwise strong hardware meet a weak APU. However, Lenovo's handheld is particularly impressive with Steam OS. Games run much more smoothly here than under Windows. If you want, you can experiment with both operating systems on the Legions Go S. However, only the Windows version offers a Windows license. Interestingly, this is often cheaper than the Legion Go S with pre-installed Steam OS.

If you mainly play Steam games, the Legion Go S with Steam OS is an appealing companion. In any case, SteamOS shows Microsoft what an operating system for a gaming handheld should look like.

The largest handheld in the comparison can also serve as a full-fledged laptop or tablet. The OneXplayer X1 Pro blurs the boundaries between these three device classes. An AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 paired with 32 GB RAM impresses with its inner values. This means that even the latest titles can be played smoothly. Without upscaling, the Radeon RX 890M in the AMD chip cannot display all games smoothly on the 2.5 K screen, but Full HD still looks good on the 10.95 inch X1 Pro.

XL gaming handheld, tablet and laptop - the OneXplayer X1 Pro serves many needs.

If the controllers are not needed, they can be easily removed. The same applies to the good magnetically attached keyboard and the kickstand. Nevertheless, the gaming handheld with its 11 inch (approx. 28 cm) screen diagonal is no lightweight. The 929 gram weight of the X1 Pro but also a powerful battery. This provides around ten hours of streaming and surfing or around two hours of gaming AAA titles.

The GPD Pocket 4 impresses in the test as a powerful mini laptop that combines the functions of a full-fledged computer in an ultra-compact form factor. Thanks to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and the Radeon 890M, the device is not only suitable for office work and traveling, but even for moderate graphics processing and gaming. Compared to its predecessor, the display quality and performance in particular have been noticeably improved.

The GPD Pocket 4 is an impressively versatile portable mini PC, but comes with a hefty price tag

Nevertheless, the small size forces compromises: Typing on the keyboard feels cramped, the battery life remains average and the CPU performance is slightly below that of larger laptops. The loud fans under load, the lack of VRR and the absence of a webcam cover and an included stylus for tablet mode are also criticized.

The Zone ZGC-G1A1W is a gaming handheld that impresses with its high-quality OLED display, powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor and precise controller. It offers a unique feel that can also be customized. The workmanship of the case is first-class and the ergonomics well thought out. Despite the powerful hardware, the device remains pleasantly quiet thanks to efficient cooling.

Points of criticism are the comparatively short battery life and the somewhat rudimentary software. The speakers also do not deliver an outstanding sound.

Overall, Zotac's Zone is a convincing handheld PC that will primarily appeal to gamers who value haptics, performance and a high-quality display.