Sony DualSense (Black)
Controller · 2020
ASUS ROG Ally X
Z1 Extreme · 7″ 120Hz · 80Wh battery
ASUS ROG Ally X takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sony DualSense (Black) lands at 88 and ASUS ROG Ally X at 89. That puts ASUS ROG Ally X ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sony DualSense (Black) if…
- ✓Hall-effect sticks (select SKUs)
- ✓Hot-swap triggers (elite tier)
- ✓Cross-platform compatibility
Pick ASUS ROG Ally X if…
- ✓80 Wh battery — longest in handheld class
- ✓24 GB LPDDR5X-7500
- ✓Genuine Windows compatibility
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPerformance
ASUS ROG Ally XCompared on the performance sub-score
ASUS ROG Ally X leads on performance (92 vs 88).
Features
ASUS ROG Ally XCompared on the features sub-score
ASUS ROG Ally X leads on features (90 vs 86).
Value for money
Sony DualSense (Black)Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
Sony DualSense (Black) more score per dollar ($69 vs $799).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sony DualSense (Black) | ASUS ROG Ally X |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Controller | — |
| Color | Black | — |
| Release year | 2020 | — |
| CPU | — | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
| GPU | — | RDNA 3, 12 CUs |
| RAM | — | 24 GB LPDDR5X-7500 |
| Storage | — | 1 TB M.2 2280 |
| Display | — | 7″ IPS, 120Hz, 1080p |
| Battery | — | 80 Wh |
| Weight | — | 678 g |
Sony DualSense (Black)
- +Hall-effect sticks (select SKUs)
- +Hot-swap triggers (elite tier)
- +Cross-platform compatibility
- −Battery replacement paid on some
- −Software dependency
- −Stick drift still possible (non-Hall)
ASUS ROG Ally X
- +80 Wh battery — longest in handheld class
- +24 GB LPDDR5X-7500
- +Genuine Windows compatibility
- −Windows handheld UX still rough
- −678 g — heavier than Steam Deck OLED
- −No OLED option
FAQ: Sony DualSense (Black) vs ASUS ROG Ally X
Which is better, Sony DualSense (Black) or ASUS ROG Ally X? +
ASUS ROG Ally X scores 89 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sony DualSense (Black) worth the price? +
At $69, Sony DualSense (Black) delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in performance.
Is ASUS ROG Ally X worth the price? +
At $799, ASUS ROG Ally X delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in performance.
Does Sony DualSense (Black) or ASUS ROG Ally X last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for performance, Sony DualSense (Black) or ASUS ROG Ally X? +
ASUS ROG Ally X — leads on performance (92 vs 88). Compared on the performance sub-score.
Which is better for features, Sony DualSense (Black) or ASUS ROG Ally X? +
ASUS ROG Ally X — leads on features (90 vs 86). Compared on the features sub-score.