Short answer: the ROG Xbox Ally X20 is much more powerful and runs Windows games and Game Pass natively, but at $1,299 it costs $510 more than a Steam Deck OLED. Buy it if you need the extra power or Windows-only games. For most Steam players, the Deck is still the better value.
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What the ROG Xbox Ally X20 is
The X20 is the top model in ASUS and Microsoft’s ROG Xbox Ally range of Windows handhelds. It uses AMD’s Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip with 24 GB of memory and adds a 7.4-inch OLED screen, Pocket Tactics reported when pre-orders opened in August 2026. It costs $1,299, or $2,499.99 bundled with ROG XREAL R1 gaming glasses, and it’s $300 more than the ROG Xbox Ally X, which has the same chip.
Price
- ROG Xbox Ally X20: $1,299.
- Steam Deck OLED: $789 for 512 GB, after Valve’s May 2026 price rise, according to Game Informer.
Side by side
| ROG Xbox Ally X20 | Steam Deck OLED | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,299 | $789 |
| Chip | AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme | Custom AMD chip from 2022 |
| Memory | 24 GB | 16 GB |
| Screen | 7.4-inch OLED | 7.4-inch OLED, 1280 x 800, up to 90Hz |
| System | Windows 11 with the Xbox full screen experience | SteamOS |
| Game Pass PC | Yes, natively | Cloud streaming only |
| Anti-cheat games | Most run | Many don’t |
Performance
The Z2 Extreme is a much newer chip than the Deck’s, and reviews of the ROG Xbox Ally X, which uses the same chip, show it running demanding games well ahead of the Deck, especially when given more power. That matters for recent big-budget games, which often need low settings on the Deck. We haven’t tested the X20 ourselves; we’ll link our numbers here when we do.
More power uses more battery, though. Running at full speed on any handheld cuts battery life sharply.
Software: Windows vs SteamOS
This is the other big difference.
- Windows on the X20 runs nearly everything: the Xbox app and Game Pass, the Epic Games Store, Battle.net, and games with anti-cheat that blocks SteamOS, such as Fortnite, Valorant and Battlefield 6.
- SteamOS on the Deck is simpler and more console-like, with instant suspend and resume and Valve’s Verified ratings. It’s built around Steam, though, so other stores take extra setup.
Who should buy which
Choose the ROG Xbox Ally X20 if you play Game Pass, need anti-cheat multiplayer games, want the best handheld performance, and the price doesn’t put you off.
Choose the Steam Deck OLED if most of your games are on Steam, you value simplicity and battery life, and you’d rather spend the $510 difference on games.
The middle option is the regular ROG Xbox Ally X, with the same chip for $300 less than the X20. See our Steam Deck alternatives for the full range.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ROG Xbox Ally X20 better than the Steam Deck?
It’s more powerful and runs more games natively, but it costs much more. Whether it’s better depends on whether you need that power and Windows.
Can the ROG Xbox Ally X20 run Steam games?
Yes. It runs Windows, so you can install Steam and play your library, along with other PC stores.
Does the X20 have a better screen than the Steam Deck OLED?
Both use 7.4-inch OLED screens. Wait for full reviews before judging the X20’s screen against the Deck’s.
Should I wait for the Steam Deck 2 instead?
Valve hasn’t announced it. See what Valve has said about the Steam Deck 2.
Watch our handheld comparisons on the NP Handhelds YouTube channel.
