The most notable difference between the Xbox Ally and the Steam Deck is the operating system. Like the ROG Ally, the Xbox Ally will also use Windows 11, while the Steam Deck uses Valve's SteamOS.

Not least because the ROG Xbox Ally will also let you download apps for Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store, among other digital shopfronts, and you'll theoretically be able to enjoy games across those libraries seamlessly, though I'm not sure yet whether they'll be marked with the same performance badges as native Xbox games.

Despite coming in a smaller package, the ROG Xbox Ally comes pre-installed with Windows 11 and acts as both a fully functional PC and a gaming device. A performance version of the handheld, dubbed Ally X, will have 24 GB of RAM and slightly better graphics performance capabilities.