ASUS - ROG Ally Z1 vs Microsoft - Xbox Series S 512GB
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 512GB |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 16 GB | 10 GB |
| Max resolution | 1080p | 4K |
Between the ROG Ally Z1 and Xbox Series S 512GB, the ROG Ally Z1 comes out ahead in ram, while the Xbox Series S 512GB wins on max resolution. Overall, the ROG Ally Z1 scores 54.6 and the Xbox Series S 512GB scores 62.2 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Xbox Series S 512GB edges ahead on the Mars Score (54.6 vs 62.2), but the 7.6-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
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 512GB if you care most about max resolution. Its strongest claims are max resolution. The single most decisive one: Max resolution: 4K (vs 1080p).
Both ship with comparable storage, max refresh, ray tracing, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Xbox Series S 512GB 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 512GB?
Microsoft - Xbox Series S 512GB leads the current Mars Score by 7.6 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare ram, 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 512GB if…
Microsoft - Xbox Series S 512GB has the measurable edge on 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 512GB wins
- ▲Max resolution: 4K (vs 1080p).
Spec comparison
Performance
| Spec | ASUS - ROG Ally Z1 | Microsoft - Xbox Series S 512GB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 512GB |
|---|---|---|
| Storageⓘ | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Storage typeⓘ | NVMe SSD | NVMe SSD |
| Expandable storageⓘ | true | true |
Design & I/O
| Spec | ASUS - ROG Ally Z1 | Microsoft - Xbox Series S 512GB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 512GB have a disc drive?+
Neither has a disc drive.
Which supports higher refresh rates, ROG Ally Z1 or Xbox Series S 512GB?+
Xbox Series S 512GB supports up to 120Hz vs 120Hz.