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For the highest measured Cyberpunk 2077 frame rates, choose the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM. In PC Gamer’s 1080p Medium test it averaged 51 FPS, with a 33 FPS 1% low; enabling upscaling raised results to 73 FPS average and 50 FPS 1% low. The ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X is the better-balanced choice at 41/34 FPS (53/44 with upscaling), while the Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS favors a larger display over speed at 35/30 FPS (49/40 upscaled).
These are reviewer benchmarks, not guarantees. Power mode, firmware, graphics drivers, game patches, thermals and the exact upscaler can change results substantially.
At a glance: which handheld should you buy?
| Handheld | 1080p Medium | 1080p Medium with upscaling | Battery test | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM | 51 FPS average 33 FPS 1% low |
73 FPS average 50 FPS 1% low |
4 hours 10 minutes | Maximum measured performance |
| ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X | 41 FPS average 34 FPS 1% low |
53 FPS average 44 FPS 1% low |
2 hours 56 minutes | Balanced high-frame-rate play |
| Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS | 35 FPS average 30 FPS 1% low |
49 FPS average 40 FPS 1% low |
1 hour 45 minutes | Large-screen gaming |
PC Gamer produced the FPS figures in the same Cyberpunk 2077 comparison at 1080p Medium. Tom’s Guide supplied the battery figures in its 2026 chart. Do not treat numbers from unrelated reviews as directly interchangeable when resolution, preset, wattage or upscaling differs.
1. MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM: fastest in the cited tests
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM is the performance winner for this comparison. At 1080p Medium, PC Gamer recorded 51 FPS average and a 33 FPS 1% low. With upscaling enabled, it reached 73 FPS average and 50 FPS 1% low. That combination is the strongest evidence here for a handheld that can approach a 60-FPS experience without relying on frame generation.
#1 Best Overall
- ALL GAMES, ALL PLACES, ALL YOURS – Get ready to game on the 8" 120Hz Lenovo PureSight display and launch any title using Legion Space. The AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor and AMD Radeon graphics deliver incredible gaming performance.
- SEE EVERY DETAIL – Make every scene pop with 500 nits of stunning brightness and 100% sRGB color accuracy. And with 10-point touch support, your interactions are as precise as your aim.
- PLAY YOUR WAY – Play hundreds of high-quality PC games with your complimentary 3 months of PC Game Pass and EA Play. With new games added all the time, there’s always something new to play.
- POWER-UP AND GO – When it comes to gaming on the go, battery life is everything. The Lenovo Legion Go S is built with a robust 55.5Whr battery that delivers the long-lasting power you need for extended play sessions.
- TAKE FULL CONTROL – Get ready to dominate with the ergonomic Legion TrueStrike Controllers, designed for all-day comfort and precision. With their anti-slip texture, you’ll stay in control during even the most intense battles.
What those numbers mean in play
The 1% low is more useful than the average when judging camera pans, combat and busy city streets. A 33 FPS low at native 1080p Medium means occasional dips remain, whereas a 50 FPS low with upscaling should feel considerably steadier. Your result will still depend on the selected power profile and cooling.
High preset and frame generation
Tom’s Guide measured up to 36 FPS at 1080p High on this model. Enabling XeSS raised that result to 51 FPS. The same test reported 171 FPS with 4x multi-frame generation. Frame-generation output is not equivalent to the game’s true rendered FPS: it can improve perceived fluidity, but it does not remove the input latency or image artifacts associated with a lower base frame rate. Use it after establishing a stable rendered rate with sensible settings.
Battery and value
Tom’s Guide’s chart measured 4 hours 10 minutes of battery life, the longest of the three systems listed here. Tom’s Guide Managing Editor Jason England described it as the best PC gaming handheld he had tested, while cautioning that its $1,799 price makes it an enthusiast purchase and recommending waiting for a sale. That is a quoted 2026 assessment, not a permanent street price; check the current listing before buying.
Rank #2
- High-Performance Computing: Harness the power of the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor to effortlessly handle demanding tasks. Enjoy reliable, high-performance computing wherever you go.
- Simplistic Design: Enjoy the latest generation of Windows 11 Home for your everyday needs. MSI recommends Windows 11 Pro for business use.
- Perfection Through Anthropometry: As a handheld device, Claw has achieved the optimal balance between its grip and weight. We have meticulously polished various design details, from the curvature that fits the palm, to the finger grip positions and trigger force.
- Best-in-Class Battery Life: Unlock exceptional gaming endurance with our breakthrough battery capacity. It's where efficient power meets robust performance—more game, less charge.
- 8-inch Smoothness Ready: Dive into the ultimate gaming experience with our 8-inch premium 120Hz gaming display, with exceptional color reproduction and smooth action.
2. ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X: the balanced choice
The ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X gives up some peak performance to deliver a tighter result between average FPS and 1% lows. PC Gamer recorded 41/34 FPS at 1080p Medium and 53/44 FPS with upscaling. The 34 FPS 1% low at the medium preset is close to its average’s lower bound, and the 44 FPS upscaled low is a practical target for smoother play.
Power profiles matter
ASUS documents a 35W Turbo mode when plugged in and a 17W Performance mode for its battery comparison. Those are materially different operating conditions, so a plugged-in benchmark should not be used as a promise of battery performance. Select the higher-power profile only when you have the thermal headroom and battery drain is acceptable.
Who should choose it
Choose the ROG Xbox Ally X when you want a strong 40-FPS-class experience at 1080p Medium, useful gains from upscaling, and a middle ground between the MSI’s price-oriented enthusiast positioning and the Legion’s large-screen emphasis. Its measured battery life was 2 hours 56 minutes.
Rank #3
- [Xbox experience brought to life by ROG] : The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG's decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
- [Xbox Game Bar integration] : Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
- [All your games, all your progress]: Powered by Windows 11, the ROG Xbox Ally gives you access to your full library of PC games from Xbox and other game stores. With Xbox Play Anywhere, you can pick up right where you left off on your PC or Xbox and jump back into the game anytime.
- [Never stop gaming]: Powered by ultra-efficient AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, the ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance and can game for hours, even away from a wall outlet.
- [Game-ready storage and fast memory]: Store your full library and multitask seamlessly with 512GB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The ROG Xbox Ally makes playing any game in the palm of your hand possible.
3. Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS: large-screen alternative
The Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS is the slowest of these three in PC Gamer’s matched test, but it remains capable of a 30-FPS 1% low at 1080p Medium and 40 FPS with upscaling. A 35 FPS average at Medium is suitable if you prioritize the device’s larger-screen format over a locked 60-FPS target.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Upscaling lifted the average to 49 FPS and the 1% low to 40 FPS. That is a meaningful improvement, although it remains below the MSI’s 50-FPS upscaled 1% low. Tom’s Guide measured 1 hour 45 minutes of battery life, the shortest result in its chart.
Can a handheld run Cyberpunk 2077 at 40 or 60 FPS?
For a 40-FPS target
Yes, with the right model and settings. The MSI averages 51 FPS at 1080p Medium, the ROG Xbox Ally X averages 41 FPS, and the Legion Go S averages 35 FPS. Upscaling puts all three above 40 FPS on average, with reported 1% lows of 50, 44 and 40 FPS respectively.
Rank #4
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
For a 60-FPS target
A sustained 60 FPS is not established by the native 1080p Medium results. The MSI’s 73-FPS upscaled average is the closest match, but its 50-FPS 1% low shows that demanding scenes can still fall below 60. The ROG Xbox Ally X and Legion Go S reach 53 and 49 FPS averages with upscaling, so a locked 60-FPS target is less realistic without reducing resolution or settings further.
Can these handhelds run 1080p High?
They can render the game at 1080p High, but High settings impose a substantial cost. On the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, Tom’s Guide measured up to 36 FPS before XeSS and 51 FPS with XeSS. That makes upscaling the practical way to keep High settings responsive. The cited material does not establish equivalent 1080p High results for the ROG Xbox Ally X or Legion Go S, so do not transfer the MSI figure to those devices.
Recommended Free Tools
Do you need FSR, XeSS or frame generation?
Upscaling
Upscaling renders internally at a lower resolution and reconstructs the image for the display. In the matched PC Gamer tests, it raised the MSI from 51 to 73 FPS, the ROG Xbox Ally X from 41 to 53 FPS, and the Legion Go S from 35 to 49 FPS. Start with the quality mode that preserves readable text and fine detail, then move to a more aggressive mode only if you need additional headroom.
Best Value
- XBOX EXPERIENCE BROUGHT TO LIFE BY ROG The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG's decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
- XBOX GAME BAR INTEGRATION Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
- ALL YOUR GAMES, ALL YOUR PROGRESS Powered by Windows 11, the ROG Xbox Ally gives you access to your full library of PC games from Xbox and other game stores. With Xbox Play Anywhere, you can pick up right where you left off on your PC or Xbox and jump back into the game anytime.
- NEVER STOP GAMING Powered by ultra-efficient AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, the ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance and can game for hours, even away from a wall outlet.
- GAME-READY STORAGE AND FAST MEMORY Store your full library and multitask seamlessly with 512GB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The ROG Xbox Ally makes playing any game in the palm of your hand possible.
Frame generation
Tom’s Guide’s MSI test reached 171 FPS with 4x multi-frame generation, compared with 51 FPS using XeSS alone. Treat the 171-FPS figure as generated output rather than four times the underlying game responsiveness. Frame generation is most convincing when the base frame rate is already stable; if the rendered rate is oscillating in the 20s or low 30s, artifacts and latency are easier to notice.
Ray tracing
Ray tracing is a different class of load. In an earlier Tom’s Guide comparison using Ultra ray tracing, the ROG Ally X reached 9.6 FPS and the Lenovo Legion Go reached 7.9 FPS. Those results indicate that Ultra ray tracing is unsuitable for a high-frame-rate handheld target. Disable ray tracing or use a much lower ray-tracing preset before attempting to raise resolution or frame rate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to configure Cyberpunk 2077 for a smoother handheld experience
- Plug in when benchmarking or seeking maximum FPS. On the ROG Xbox Ally X, ASUS identifies 35W Turbo plugged-in versus 17W Performance on battery; other models also vary with their power profiles.
- Choose 1080p Medium as the starting point. It is the common PC Gamer comparison setting and gives you a meaningful baseline for the three systems.
- Enable an upscaler. Compare the resulting 1% lows, not only the headline average. Keep the mode that maintains stable motion and legible UI text.
- Turn off Ultra ray tracing. The measured single-digit FPS results show why ray tracing should not be the first performance setting on a handheld.
- Add frame generation only after the base rate is stable. Verify that controls still feel responsive and that ghosting is acceptable in motion.
- Monitor temperatures and clocks. If performance declines during a longer session, reduce the power target or graphics settings rather than assuming the initial benchmark will persist.
- Recheck after updates. Firmware, graphics drivers and Cyberpunk patches can change performance, battery behavior and frame-pacing.
Battery, portability and buying trade-offs
| Priority | Best fit from these tests | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Highest FPS and longest tested battery | MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM | 51/33 FPS Medium, 73/50 upscaled and 4:10 battery result. |
| Balanced performance | ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X | 41/34 FPS Medium and 53/44 upscaled, with clearly documented 35W plugged-in and 17W battery modes. |
| Large-screen format | Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS | 35/30 FPS Medium and 49/40 upscaled, accepting lower speed and a 1:45 battery result. |
The supplied comparisons do not state a consistent set of display size, resolution, refresh-rate, weight, RAM, storage or current street-price figures for all three models. Those specifications and availability change by region and configuration, so verify the exact SKU before purchase. If you plan to play unplugged, a 65W-or-higher USB-C PD power bank may help, but confirm the handheld’s charging specification and the bank’s sustained output first.
Verdict
Buy the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM if your priority is the highest measured Cyberpunk 2077 performance and you can justify its $1,799 quoted price. Choose the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X for the most balanced 40-FPS-class experience. Choose the Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS when a large screen matters more than maximum frame rate. For all three, 1080p Medium with upscaling is the most defensible high-frame-rate starting point; Ultra ray tracing is not.
Quick Recap
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