Handheld PC gamers have a few new options to consider in 2025. Even though waiting for the Steam Deck 2 seems like a great idea right now, most consumers looking for the next best handheld seem to be focusing on one thing. ASUS, with Xbox, is releasing two new handhelds this year, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, and it’s the flagship X model that is getting all the attention.

We recently ran a poll to figure out what our readers are most interested in, including four new 2025 PC handhelds. The Ally X was the runaway winner (aside from those waiting for Steam Deck 2), with the Lenovo Legion Go 2 as the runner-up. Pre-orders for the new Ally handhelds will reportedly kick off at Gamescom, where they’ll be playable for the public.

According to our poll, way more people care more about the Xbox Ally X

Based on the poll, 9x more people are interested in the Xbox Ally X compared to its cheaper sibling; it’s also more than twice as anticipated as the Legion Go 2. Like the Go 2, the ROG Xbox Ally X will feature the latest Z2 Extreme processor, which we’ve already seen benchmarked in the MSI Claw A8. More than half of the respondents will just wait for the Steam Deck sequel, and since ASUS previously told us it’s likely sticking to Windows for future handhelds, the chances of a SteamOS model seem slim.

At the time of writing, the Claw A8 is the only one on the market, but it still hasn’t reached the U.S. In any case, as far as Windows handhelds go, the ROG Ally series remains a popular alternative to Valve’s leading handheld. Steam Deck still enjoys the lion’s share of the market, but it’s a matter of time before these more powerful alternatives start to steal some of the limelight.

We’ll leave the poll above up and running if you still want to have your say.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.