Asus ROG Xbox Ally vs Nintendo Switch 2: The big differences

With Microsoft’s release of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally handheld and it potentially coming with a similar price point to the shiny, new Nintendo Switch 2, a comparison between the two is inevitable.

In this article, we’ve taken the time to round up which one could be best for you by comparing them in key metrics and coming to a valued and informed judgment.

Pricing and availability

The Nintendo Switch 2 was released on 5th June 2025, and is available now for £429.99/$449.99 with the Mario Kart World game bundle.

We aren’t sure on how much the ROG Xbox Ally is going to be just yet, although rumours suggest it may land at $499-$599, making it more expensive than Nintendo’s hybrid console. The collaborative handheld should also be available by Holiday 2025, according to a recent Microsoft announcement.

Specs

The Switch 2 has a larger screen

One big difference between the two consoles is the fact that the Switch 2 has a larger screen at 7.9 inches against the ROG Ally Xbox’s 7-inch screen, that is borrowed from the older Asus ROG Ally model with a 7-inch 1920×1080 model with 120Hz refresh rate

The Switch 2’s screen, against the original model, has been upgraded in both size and resolution, too, from a 6.2-inch one with a 1280×720 resolution to a 7.9-inch 1920×1080 one with support for up to 120Hz in certain games.

The Switch 2 is smaller and lighter

For pure portability, the Switch 2 may be a better bet, as it is a fair amount narrower and shorter than the ROG Xbox Ally, as well as being lighter at 534g against the ROG Xbox Ally’s 670g.

The Switch 2 comes with a dock and clever controllers

Another area where the Switch 2 wins over the ROG Xbox Ally is the presence of a dock for supporting output to a TV at up to 4K resolution, and it comes with upgraded Joy-Con 2 controllers that have clever features such as its mouse mode.

By comparison, the ROG Xbox Ally is built as a straightforward handheld, but should also be able to be docked to an external monitor – that isn’t included.

The ROG Xbox Ally has more RAM and storage

One area where the ROG Xbox Ally wins is with its default 512GB SSD storage being larger than the Switch 2’s default 256GB UFS option. The Xbox handheld also has more RAM, with 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 inside against the Switch 2’s 12GB of LPDDR5X memory of an unspecified speed.

In terms of expansion, the ROG Xbox Ally supports both a standard M.2 2280 slot for internal upgrades and has a UHS-II Micro SD reader. The Switch 2 supports Micro SD expansion too, although comes in the form of only the newer, and faster, Micro SD Express format.

The ROG Xbox Ally has seemingly more advanced USB-C ports

One small but important difference is with the USB-C ports that the console has. Microsoft specifies that the ROG Xbox Ally has a pair of USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports that support both DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery 3.1.

Nintendo doesn’t specify which standard the USB-C ports on Switch 2 conform to, but it has been reported that the console won’t output directly to a display connected via USB-C, thanks to using the same Mobility DisplayPort (MyDP) standard it used with the original Switch.

The Switch 2 instead uses its included dock to output to a screen over HDMI.

Both consoles run different operating systems, with different purposes

The key difference between the two is their operating system, with the ROG Xbox Ally coming with Windows 11 Home and a gaming-first Xbox menu to allow users to get straight into games that are played from the system’s internal storage.

By comparison, the Switch 2 runs Nintendo’s Switch system software and works as more of a traditional games console with games either downloaded from its store and played digitally, or using cartridges.

They have a different purpose, with the Switch 2 as a hybrid console you can take on the go or play hooked up to a TV in your living room, while the ROG Xbox Ally is there as a Windows-based gaming handheld for users to take their gaming PC and Xbox games on the go, essentially.

Early Verdict

It’s difficult to call between the Switch 2 and ROG Xbox Ally as to which one is better, given their inherently different purposes and what your needs might be.

If you want a classic Nintendo experience of a hybrid console, then there is no finer choice than the Switch 2. However, if you want a gaming-first handheld with modest power to play PC and Xbox games, then the ROG Xbox Ally will be the better bet.

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