Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | ASUS - ROG Ally Z1 | Microsoft - Xbox Series S 1TB |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB |
| RAM | 16 GB | 10 GB |
| Max resolution | 1080p | 4K |
Between the ROG Ally Z1 and Xbox Series S 1TB, the ROG Ally Z1 comes out ahead in ram, while the Xbox Series S 1TB wins on storage / max resolution. Overall, the ROG Ally Z1 scores 54.6 and the Xbox Series S 1TB scores 66.6 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Xbox Series S 1TB is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 12.0 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the ROG Ally Z1 if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. The biggest gaps in its favor are ram. The single most decisive one: RAM — 60.00% more. 16 GB vs 10 GB.
Pick the Xbox Series S 1TB if you care most about storage / max resolution. Its strongest claims are storage, max resolution. The single most decisive one: Storage — 100.00% more. 1024 GB vs 512 GB.
Both ship with comparable max refresh, ray tracing, disc drive, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Xbox Series S 1TB is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: ASUS - ROG Ally Z1 or Microsoft - Xbox Series S 1TB?
Microsoft - Xbox Series S 1TB leads the current Mars Score by 12.0 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare ram, storage, max resolution against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose ASUS - ROG Ally Z1 if…
ASUS - ROG Ally Z1 has the measurable edge on ram gb.
Choose Microsoft - Xbox Series S 1TB if…
Microsoft - Xbox Series S 1TB has the measurable edge on storage gb, max resolution.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why ASUS - ROG Ally Z1 wins
- ▲RAM — 60.00% more. 16 GB vs 10 GB.
Why Microsoft - Xbox Series S 1TB wins
- ▲Storage — 100.00% more. 1024 GB vs 512 GB.
- ▲Max resolution: 4K (vs 1080p).
Spec comparison
Performance
| Spec | ASUS - ROG Ally Z1 | Microsoft - Xbox Series S 1TB |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen Z1 | AMD Zen 2 8-core |
| GPU | AMD RDNA 3 (~4 TFLOPS) | AMD RDNA 2 (4 TFLOPS) |
| RAMⓘ | 16 GBlead | 10 GB |
| Max resolution | 1080p | 4Klead |
| Max refreshⓘ | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Ray tracing | true | true |
| VRRⓘ | true | true |
Storage
| Spec | ASUS - ROG Ally Z1 | Microsoft - Xbox Series S 1TB |
|---|---|---|
| Storageⓘ | 512 GB | 1024 GBlead |
| Storage typeⓘ | NVMe SSD | NVMe SSD |
| Expandable storageⓘ | true | true |
Design & I/O
| Spec | ASUS - ROG Ally Z1 | Microsoft - Xbox Series S 1TB |
|---|---|---|
| Disc drive | false | false |
| HDMIⓘ | 0 | 2.1lead |
| USB ports | 1 | 3lead |
| Weight | 0.608 kglead | 1.93 kg |
| VR support | false | false |
Frequently asked
Does ROG Ally Z1 or Xbox Series S 1TB have a disc drive?+
Neither has a disc drive.
Which has more storage, ROG Ally Z1 or Xbox Series S 1TB?+
Xbox Series S 1TB ships with 1024GB of NVMe SSD.
Which supports higher refresh rates, ROG Ally Z1 or Xbox Series S 1TB?+
Xbox Series S 1TB supports up to 120Hz vs 120Hz.