YouTube channel Dame Tech compared the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the REDMAGIC Astra 2 gaming tablet with the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme inside the ROG Xbox Ally X handheld. In tests with GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, the devices delivered similar frame rates, while Qualcomm’s platform reportedly used nearly half as much power.
The Snapdragon test platform was not a smartphone but a 9-inch tablet with a roomier chassis and liquid cooling. This allowed the chip to sustain high performance for longer without severe overheating or throttling. The Astra 2 also ran the PC games through a compatibility layer rather than natively, adding overhead that would normally reduce performance.
The results suggest that future flagship Snapdragon chips could be a good fit for compact gaming devices. Qualcomm’s mobile processors take up less space and require less power than conventional x86 chips, which could improve battery life, weight and cooling in handheld consoles.
The biggest obstacle remains the software ecosystem. Android still has relatively few native AAA games, so owners must rely on Winlator, GameHub and other emulators or compatibility tools. Games must be purchased in advance, for example on Steam, while compatibility, drivers and stability can vary significantly from one title to another.
Modern Snapdragon chips can therefore run some demanding PC games at respectable speeds. However, they will only become a full alternative to Windows handhelds when Android gains more native ports and more mature software tools.