For demanding PC games in 2026, the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X is the best all-round Windows handheld in PC Gamer’s current testing. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM is the performance-first choice if you accept a luxury price, while the Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS is the alternative for players who value SteamOS over Windows. None should be treated as a guarantee of high settings or perfectly smooth play in every new AAA release: results change with the game, resolution, quality preset, upscaling mode and whether the handheld is plugged in.
The shortlist below separates measured game results from specifications and buying advice. It also keeps the newer ROG Xbox Ally X distinct from the older ASUS ROG Ally X (2024), whose published test conditions are useful but whose hardware should not be confused with the 2026 model.
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Quick comparison
These are the three current recommendations covered by PC Gamer’s 2026 guide and Tom’s Hardware’s 2026 buyer coverage. Prices and stock can change, so verify the exact configuration at the retailer before ordering.
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| Handheld | Best for | Processor and graphics listed in coverage | Memory and storage | Display and weight | Operating system |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X | Best overall Windows experience | Ryzen Z2 Extreme; Radeon 890M | 24 GB; 1 TB | 7-inch, 1920 × 1080; 715 g | Windows 11 |
| MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM | Highest performance in PC Gamer’s tests | Configuration and graphics model are identified by the full model name; PC Gamer reports the fastest results in its comparison | Exact capacity not stated in the supplied comparison | Exact panel and weight not stated in the supplied comparison | Windows |
| Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS | SteamOS preference | Configuration varies; compare the tested SteamOS model rather than assuming every Legion Go S has identical performance | Exact capacity not stated in the supplied comparison | Exact panel and weight not stated in the supplied comparison | SteamOS |
PC Gamer’s rankings are game-dependent. A processor name alone does not establish which handheld will deliver the best experience in your library.
#1 Best Overall
- ALL GAMES, ALL PLACES, ALL YOURS – Get ready to game on the 8" 120Hz Lenovo PureSight display and launch any title using Legion Space. The AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor and AMD Radeon graphics deliver incredible gaming performance.
- SEE EVERY DETAIL – Make every scene pop with 500 nits of stunning brightness and 100% sRGB color accuracy. And with 10-point touch support, your interactions are as precise as your aim.
- PLAY YOUR WAY – Play hundreds of high-quality PC games with your complimentary 3 months of PC Game Pass and EA Play. With new games added all the time, there’s always something new to play.
- POWER-UP AND GO – When it comes to gaming on the go, battery life is everything. The Lenovo Legion Go S is built with a robust 55.5Whr battery that delivers the long-lasting power you need for extended play sessions.
- TAKE FULL CONTROL – Get ready to dominate with the ergonomic Legion TrueStrike Controllers, designed for all-day comfort and precision. With their anti-slip texture, you’ll stay in control during even the most intense battles.
What “demanding” means on a handheld PC
A handheld has much less cooling capacity and power available than a desktop gaming PC. Modern games such as Black Myth: Wukong, Cyberpunk 2077 and Horizon Zero Dawn can therefore require a compromise between image quality and frame rate. The practical target is usually a sensible resolution, a tuned quality preset and, when available, an upscaler rather than a blanket promise of desktop-like settings.
Average FPS is only one part of the result
Average frames per second describes the overall rate during a test run. It does not show every hitch or traversal stutter. PC Gamer also reports 1% lows for some games, which are useful for judging consistency. Two handhelds can have similar averages while one feels less smooth because its low-percentile frames dip further.
Power mode changes the answer
Handhelds can trade battery life and heat for performance. A result recorded while connected to a charger is not automatically available on battery. ASUS’s official page for the older ROG Ally X (2024) specifies a 30 W Turbo test on AC power using a 65 W power-delivery source. That is a documented plugged-in test condition for the 2024 RC72LA, not a universal claim about unplugged performance and not a specification for the newer ROG Xbox Ally X.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches1. ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X: best all-round Windows pick
PC Gamer names the ROG Xbox Ally X its overall choice in the 2026 guide. It combines a Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, Radeon 890M graphics, 24 GB of memory and a 1 TB drive with a 7-inch 1920 × 1080 display. The listed weight is 715 g, and it runs Windows 11.
Why it leads the general recommendation
- Broad launcher compatibility: Windows 11 lets you install PC storefronts and launchers without relying on a compatibility layer. That matters if your library is split across several services or includes games with Windows-only anti-cheat.
- Balanced specification: 24 GB of memory gives the integrated graphics and game a larger shared pool than many older handheld designs, while 1 TB provides useful room for several large installations.
- 1080p panel: The native resolution is a practical target for lighter games and can be paired with an upscaler for demanding releases.
- Measured consistency across the shortlist: It is not the fastest in every benchmark, but it avoids being the slowest across PC Gamer’s published examples and offers the most straightforward Windows recommendation.
What to expect in a demanding game
In PC Gamer’s Black Myth: Wukong test at 1080p Medium, the ROG Xbox Ally X averaged 26 FPS without upscaling. With upscaling enabled under the guide’s stated test conditions, its average rose to 39 FPS. These are review measurements from that game and preset; they are not a guaranteed frame rate for another title, a different upscaler or battery operation.
Rank #2
- High-Performance Computing: Harness the power of the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor to effortlessly handle demanding tasks. Enjoy reliable, high-performance computing wherever you go.
- Simplistic Design: Enjoy the latest generation of Windows 11 Home for your everyday needs. MSI recommends Windows 11 Pro for business use.
- Perfection Through Anthropometry: As a handheld device, Claw has achieved the optimal balance between its grip and weight. We have meticulously polished various design details, from the curvature that fits the palm, to the finger grip positions and trigger force.
- Best-in-Class Battery Life: Unlock exceptional gaming endurance with our breakthrough battery capacity. It's where efficient power meets robust performance—more game, less charge.
- 8-inch Smoothness Ready: Dive into the ultimate gaming experience with our 8-inch premium 120Hz gaming display, with exceptional color reproduction and smooth action.
Who should buy it
Choose this model if you want one Windows handheld for a mixed library, prefer a conventional PC desktop when troubleshooting, and are willing to tune demanding games instead of insisting on maximum settings. It is also the safest choice when you want a strong overall package rather than the highest result in one benchmark.
2. MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM: performance-first premium option
PC Gamer describes the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM as the fastest handheld in its comparison. Its strongest case is raw performance in demanding games, not value. The guide characterizes it as a very expensive luxury device, so the premium only makes sense if extra frames are worth more to you than purchase price or portability trade-offs.
Measured advantage in Black Myth: Wukong
At 1080p Medium in PC Gamer’s test, the MSI averaged 33 FPS without upscaling, compared with 26 FPS for the ROG Xbox Ally X and 20 FPS for the Legion Go S SteamOS. With upscaling, the MSI averaged 50 FPS, versus 39 FPS and 30 FPS respectively. The gap demonstrates why settings and upscaling must accompany any performance claim.
Why it is not the automatic best buy
- Price: PC Gamer positions it as a luxury purchase. A higher launch or current price can outweigh a measurable frame-rate lead if you mostly play less demanding games.
- Game variance: The lead is not a universal multiplier. Different engines, drivers, thermal limits and upscalers can narrow or widen the gap.
- Configuration checking: Use the complete CG3EM model designation when comparing listings. Memory, storage and display details should be confirmed for the exact regional configuration because the supplied comparison does not establish one universal specification table.
Who should buy it
It suits a player who will run demanding games frequently, understands PC graphics settings and wants the highest measured averages in the cited comparison. It is a poor fit if you are buying primarily for indie games, streaming or a low total cost.
3. Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS: the operating-system choice
The Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS appears in PC Gamer’s benchmark table and Tom’s Hardware’s current guide. Its principal distinction is software: SteamOS gives a console-style interface centered on Steam, while Windows handhelds provide the full Windows desktop and broad launcher access.
Rank #3
- [Xbox experience brought to life by ROG] : The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG's decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
- [Xbox Game Bar integration] : Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
- [All your games, all your progress]: Powered by Windows 11, the ROG Xbox Ally gives you access to your full library of PC games from Xbox and other game stores. With Xbox Play Anywhere, you can pick up right where you left off on your PC or Xbox and jump back into the game anytime.
- [Never stop gaming]: Powered by ultra-efficient AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, the ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance and can game for hours, even away from a wall outlet.
- [Game-ready storage and fast memory]: Store your full library and multitask seamlessly with 512GB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The ROG Xbox Ally makes playing any game in the palm of your hand possible.
What the benchmark says
In PC Gamer’s 1080p Medium Black Myth: Wukong run, the Legion Go S SteamOS averaged 20 FPS without upscaling and 30 FPS with upscaling. That places it behind the other two candidates in this particular test. The figures should guide expectations for this game, not be converted into a ranking for every title.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
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- Focused interface: SteamOS is designed around a game library and controller navigation, reducing the amount of Windows desktop management between turning on the device and launching a Steam title.
- Launcher coverage: Games outside Steam may require additional setup, and compatibility can vary. Check the status of the stores, launchers and anti-cheat systems you actually use before choosing SteamOS.
- Updates and troubleshooting: The workflow differs from Windows. A fix that is routine on Windows may involve a compatibility setting or a community-supported workaround on SteamOS.
Who should buy it
Pick the Legion Go S SteamOS when the operating system and Steam-first experience matter more than winning the benchmark table. It is especially sensible for a mostly-Steam library and for buyers who prefer a console-like launcher over a general-purpose Windows desktop.
Black Myth: Wukong results under matched conditions
The following numbers come from PC Gamer’s 2026 guide. Each row keeps the game, resolution, quality setting and upscaling state attached to the result.
| Device | 1080p Medium, no upscaling (average FPS) | 1080p Medium, upscaling enabled (average FPS) |
|---|---|---|
| ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X | 26 | 39 |
| Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS | 20 | 30 |
| MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM | 33 | 50 |
PC Gamer also publishes Cyberpunk 2077 and Horizon Zero Dawn results, including averages and 1% lows at different settings and with or without upscaling. Because those figures depend on their individual test presets, do not merge them into a single cross-game score or quote them without the accompanying conditions.
How to choose between the three
Choose by your game library
- List the games you will actually play for the next year, not only the most demanding release you have seen in a trailer.
- Mark each game as Steam-only, available through another launcher, dependent on Windows anti-cheat, or suitable for a compatibility layer.
- Choose Windows when broad launcher and anti-cheat compatibility is a priority; choose SteamOS when a Steam-first interface is the priority and your games support it.
Choose by the frame-rate target
Decide whether you value a stable lower frame rate, a higher average with an upscaler, or a sharper native image. A demanding game that averages in the 20s at 1080p Medium may need a lower internal resolution, a more aggressive upscaler or a 30-FPS cap to feel consistent. Do not use an advertised maximum refresh rate as evidence that a game will sustain that rate.
Rank #4
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
Choose by where you will play
- At a desk or near an outlet: You can use a higher performance mode and accept fan noise and heat. Verify the charger’s wattage and the handheld’s documented requirements.
- On a commute or away from power: Treat battery runtime as a separate buying question. The available coverage does not establish a comparable, model-by-model runtime ranking for these three devices, so do not select one on an assumed battery winner.
- For long sessions: Compare weight, grip shape, control placement and exhaust location in person where possible. The ROG Xbox Ally X is listed at 715 g; the other two models’ weights are not established in the supplied comparison.
Choose by screen and storage
The ROG Xbox Ally X has a 7-inch 1920 × 1080 display and 1 TB of storage. The other candidates’ exact panel and capacity details are configuration-specific in the cited coverage; confirm the listing rather than assuming that every unit has the same screen, drive or memory. Large modern games can consume well over 100 GB each, making storage capacity and the ability to add compatible expansion storage practical considerations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Settings that make demanding games playable
Use this order when a new game runs poorly. Change one group at a time so you can identify which adjustment helped.
- Set a realistic resolution: Start at 1920 × 1080 if the game is light enough. For a demanding release, lower the render scale or output resolution before sacrificing every visual setting.
- Enable the game’s recommended upscaler: Test its Quality, Balanced and Performance modes. PC Gamer’s Wukong results show why an upscaler can materially change averages, but image quality varies by implementation.
- Reduce expensive settings first: Volumetric effects, shadows, reflections, foliage density and ray tracing commonly cost more frames than texture quality. Keep textures higher when memory allows and lower the settings that affect lighting and scene complexity.
- Set a frame-rate cap: A cap near the rate the device can sustain can reduce swings, fan spikes and inconsistent input response.
- Use the appropriate power profile: Compare battery and plugged-in behavior separately. A high-wattage Turbo mode can require AC power and a suitable adapter, as shown by ASUS’s documented 30 W Turbo test for the 2024 ROG Ally X.
- Update carefully: Install the handheld maker’s firmware, graphics driver and operating-system updates, then retest. A driver change can improve one game and alter another, so retain a known-good profile when possible.
Important distinction: ROG Xbox Ally X versus ROG Ally X (2024)
ASUS’s official ROG Ally X (2024) RC72LA page documents the older generation. It lists a Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, RDNA 3 graphics, 24 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD and a 1080p 120 Hz display. Its published performance condition is 30 W Turbo on AC power from a 65 W power-delivery source.
Those details are useful context for understanding how power conditions are reported, but they must not be copied into a specification list for the ROG Xbox Ally X. The newer model is the one PC Gamer names overall best and is listed with Ryzen Z2 Extreme, Radeon 890M, a 7-inch 1920 × 1080 display and 715 g weight.
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Assuming one benchmark predicts every game
Problem: Treating the Wukong ranking as a universal order. Fix: Compare results for the games you play, keep 1% lows in view and preserve each test’s resolution, preset and upscaling state.
Best Value
- XBOX EXPERIENCE BROUGHT TO LIFE BY ROG The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG's decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
- XBOX GAME BAR INTEGRATION Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
- ALL YOUR GAMES, ALL YOUR PROGRESS Powered by Windows 11, the ROG Xbox Ally gives you access to your full library of PC games from Xbox and other game stores. With Xbox Play Anywhere, you can pick up right where you left off on your PC or Xbox and jump back into the game anytime.
- NEVER STOP GAMING Powered by ultra-efficient AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, the ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance and can game for hours, even away from a wall outlet.
- GAME-READY STORAGE AND FAST MEMORY Store your full library and multitask seamlessly with 512GB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The ROG Xbox Ally makes playing any game in the palm of your hand possible.
Confusing plugged-in and battery performance
Problem: Expecting a 30 W Turbo AC result while unplugged. Fix: Check the power mode, charger and test conditions attached to the number.
Buying the wrong generation
Problem: Mixing the 2024 ROG Ally X RC72LA with the ROG Xbox Ally X. Fix: Verify the exact model name, processor and display before comparing prices or specifications.
Ignoring the operating system
Problem: Choosing on FPS alone and discovering that a required launcher or anti-cheat setup is inconvenient. Fix: Audit your library first and decide whether Windows or SteamOS removes more friction.
Using a retailer’s stale listing
Problem: Paying for an old configuration or assuming a reported price is still available. Fix: Recheck the current price, stock, memory, storage, display and included charger at purchase time.
Buying checklist
- Confirm the complete model name and regional configuration.
- Match the handheld’s operating system to your launchers and anti-cheat requirements.
- Read game benchmarks at the same resolution and quality preset you plan to use.
- Look for 1% lows or frame-time discussion, not only average FPS.
- Check whether the result is on AC power, battery, or an unspecified mode.
- Verify memory and SSD capacity; do not assume all units share the same configuration.
- Compare weight and controls with your expected session length.
- Recheck current price and availability immediately before ordering.
Verdict
The ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X is the strongest default recommendation for demanding PC games because it combines the broad compatibility of Windows with a modern 24 GB/1 TB configuration and the best overall standing in PC Gamer’s 2026 coverage. Choose the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM when maximum measured performance is worth a luxury price. Choose the Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS when SteamOS is the deciding feature and you accept lower results in the cited Wukong test. Whichever you buy, plan to use sensible settings, upscaling and power management rather than expecting every current AAA game to run at high settings without compromise.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
