X86 handhelds are expensive, and you shouldn’t really own more than one. The issue with that statement comes from not knowing which one is best for you. Maybe you wanted a smaller screen. But now that you have your Legion Go outside its return window, you don’t want to sell it for something else. Same thing if maybe you wanted more battery life. You already have that cheap Z1E ROG Ally you found. However, if you’re like me; I’m sorry. But you’re someone who will work through devices to find what you’re looking for. 

At the beginning of January, I talked about the Loki Max, and how it’s practically my favorite handheld. But since then, I’ve also been trying to see if there’s anything I can get that would replace it for me. So that’s what this is; a comparison article. Can I justify the cost of a OneXFly over my Loki? Is it even a better device? Well join in as you explore my money sinkhole in Replacing the Loki Max: OneXFly. 

Specs and Weight

This is the easiest one to get out of the way, and that’s the specs of these devices. 

OneXFly

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7840U (8 Cores/16 Threads)
• GPU: AMD Radeon 780M
• Ram: 32GB LPDDR5x (7500 MT/s)
• Display: 7” IPS Touch Screen Panel at 120hz
• Resolution 1920 x 1080 (16:9 Aspect Ratio)
• Battery: 48 Whr
• Storage: 1tb (2280 NVME SSD Slot)
• Extras: WiFi 6, BT 5.2, 2x USB-C Ports, 1x USB-A, 1x Micro SD Slot, 1x 3.5mm Headphone Jack
• Dimensions: 253 x 98 x 22mm
• Weight: 580 grams
• Colors: Black/White/

AYN Loki Max

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 6800U (8 Cores/16 Threads) 
• GPU: AMD Radeon 680M
• Ram: 16GB LPDDR5 (6400 MT/s)
• Display: 6” IPS Touchscreen Panel at 60hz
• Resolution 1920 x 1080 (16:9 Aspect Ratio)
• Battery: 46.2 Whr
• Storage: 512gb (2242 NVME SSD Slot)
• Extras: Wi-Fi 6E, BT5.2, 1x USB-C Ports, 1x Micro SD Slot, 1x 3.5mm Headphone Jack
• Dimensions: 248 x 98 x 23.7mm
• Weight: 568 grams
• Colors: Black/White

Going purely off of specs, the OneXFly absolutely takes the cake, and for this category, it takes my point as well. And while that’s not the only thing that matters in a handheld. It does in this vacuum.

• Loki Max: 0
• OneXFly: 1

Screen

Another topic that’s going to be easy to cover comes down to the screen but also comes down to your needs. The AYN Loki Max and the OneXFly are practically the same size outside of a slight difference in width. Yet despite that, the OneXFly provides a larger screen with a higher refresh rate and generally more pleasant experience. 

In addition, the OneXFly allows for resolutions ranging from 960×600 all the way up to its default 1920×1080. Meanwhile, the Loki Max provides 800×600 up to 1920×1080, but also 40, 50, and 60hz modes while in 1080p. 

Note these are both options in their software (we’ll talk about that later), but you could likely get other resolutions and refresh rates in Windows settings or additional software. Again though, OneXFly wins. 

Loki Max: 0

OneXFly: 2

Ergonomics and Grip

Here’s where things take a little turn for me personally. Both devices have fairly prominent grips on the back. The Loki Max makes them a bit more prominent with a sharper dip towards the main back thickness, while the OneXFly has a gradual slope. Between the two, I personally prefer the Loki, but that’s not the only thing that makes me choose it in this category. 

But the plastics. 

The Loki Max uses a pretty smooth hard plastic for it’s device, and while it is smudgy, it’s also grippy (for me). The OneXFly on the other hand, uses what I can only describe as a soft touch plastic. The closest thing I could think of for a comparison was my beloved Powkiddy RGB20. Which isn’t a good thing when talking about an expensive handheld like this. While it feels more grippy in use, I can’t quite find a good way to handle this one. Honestly, I even worry about it turning back into an oily goo. Especially with how much hand cheese it soaks up. 

Loki reigns victorious for me in this incredibly subjective category.

• Loki Max: 1
• OneXFly: 2

Controls

This is another mixed bag, but for me there’s one clear winner so let me break it down quick. 

Sticks: The OneXFly has smaller switch style sticks. The Loki Max has full sized glorious feeling sticks I adore.

Face buttons: The OneXFly has better feeling and larger face buttons, but a D-Pad that feels like it has a disappointing pivot to it. Not Tetris approved (for me). The Loki Max has smaller face buttons that feel just as good, and in my opinion, a better, clicker D-Pad. 

Shoulders: The OneXFly has silent analogue triggers, but clicky shoulders that I get tired of using quickly. One the other hand, the Loki Max has great triggers, but loud clunky analogue triggers that some people having reported issues with how good the analogue input is. 

Etc.: Menu buttons are louder on the OneXFly. The grip buttons are a nice addition to the Loki Max, but I barely use them.

Loki wins, and for the most part has the superior controls for me.

• Loki Max: 2
• OneXFly: 2

Software

There’s no easy way to say this. Both of these devices have pretty clunky built in software. The Loki Max’s feels half finished, and I usually have to tap the screen a couple of times to get it to register input. The OneXFly has software that, features a lot of options, but at times has been difficult to navigate for me. 

Both do have the necessities that matter. TDP control, resolution setting, and of course turning off the annoying RGB that keeps popping up. That doesn’t stop the OneXFly though and it’s issue where the fps overlay will pop up a minute after turning it off, regardless of what my settings say.

In the end? Just get Handheld Companion

• Loki Max: 2
• OneXFly: 2
• Handheld Companion: 1

Performance

Here’s where I get real and make you realize, I’m not an x86 guru, and I don’t notice everything specific about these devices. When it comes to performance, when all settings and resolutions are equal, the OneXFly performs better. It has a more powerful CPU/GPU combo, and more ram. Even with a slightly lower TDP maximum it still performs incredibly well over all. 

Everything from Abathor to Sonic Mania or AK-Olotl will perform at a solid 60FPS when sitting between 7-10 watts on both devices. For the most part, those are the style of games I play. However, the biggest difference came in on Forza Horizon 5. Cranking the TDP on the Loki, I can manage playable framerates, but bringing it over to the OneXFly gives me a genuinely solid, and enjoyable playing experience. The issue there though comes down to the less than stellar stick selection. 

If you’re looking for performance with a middling battery life, the OneXFly is your choice. If you’re looking for lower performance, but a better battery life partially due to the 60hz display. The Loki Max might be your choice.

• Loki Max: 2
• OneXFly: 3

Final Verdict

While it’s close, and the OneXFly takes the cake in the metrics people focus on first, it loses in the most important categories to me at least. How good is a handheld if you don’t want to pick it up and play it? 

The grip of the soft touch plastic, the underwhelming D-Pad, and the sticks, alongside the clicky shoulders that make it feel almost fatiguing to use. If that’s not a first world problem I don’t know what is. That combination makes me want to pick up the Loki Max and it’s glorious sticks. Regardless of the smaller screen, and weaker performance. It’s a better feeling device to use overall. 

If you were only getting one of these, I’d tell you to grab the OneXFly. It’s the clear winner for most people, and it’s easily available. Considering I spent $380, and $450 for the Loki Max and OneXFly respectively, it’s a lot easier for me to go with the Loki. Especially knowing I could sell the OneXFly and make most of that back. The real question is. What should I try putting the Loki up against next? 

Legion Go? Ally X? GPD Win 4? Or maybe the existential dread I feel every time I drop multiple hundreds of dollars on an x86 handheld I can barely afford. I think I’ll leave that up to you though.

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