The Battle for Portable Gaming Supremacy: Asus ROG Ally X vs Steam Deck OLED
The world of portable gaming has just gotten a whole lot more interesting. With the release of the Asus ROG Ally X, gamers now have a new powerhouse to consider alongside the Steam Deck OLED. But which one should you choose? Let’s dive into the specs, design, and features of these two gaming behemoths to help you make an informed decision.
Specs
| Asus ROG Ally X | Steam Deck OLED | |
|---|---|---|
| APU | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme | Custom AMD Van Gogh |
| Process | 4 nm | 6 nm |
| CPU Architecture | AMD Zen 4 | AMD Zen 2 |
| CPU Clock Speed | up to 5.10 GHz boost | 2.4 - 3.5 GHz |
| Cores/Threads | 3/12 | 4/8 |
| GPU Architecture | AMD RDNA 3 | AMD RDNA 2 |
| GPU Clock Speed | up to 2.7 GHz | 1 - 1.6 GHz |
| RAM | 24 GB LPDDR5X on board (7500 MHz dual channel) | 16 GB quad-channel LPDDR5 @ 6400 MT/s |
| Storage | Up to 1 TB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe G4x4 Value SSD | 512 GB/1 TB NVMe SSD |
| Display | 7-inch screen | 7.4-inch OLED touchscreen |
| Native Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1280 x 800 |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 90 Hz |
| Audio | 2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology | Stereo speakers, 3.5 mm jack, dual mics |
| Connectivity | 1 x USB-C supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4 with FreeSync support, Power Delivery 3.0 (Input: 20V/5A, Output: 5V/1.5A)) | 1 x USB4 (Thunderbolt 4 compliance, DisplayPort 1.4 with FreeSync support, Power Delivery 3.0 (Input: 20V/5A, Output: 5V/3A)) |
| Battery | 80 Wh | 50 Wh |
| Weight | 678g | 640g |
| Price | $799 | $549 (512 GB), $649 (1TB) |
Design
The Asus ROG Ally X and Steam Deck OLED share a similar design language, with their displays centralized and buttons and joysticks on either side. The ROG Ally X has a new black color scheme, making it look even more like the Steam Deck OLED than its predecessor.
The Asus ROG Ally X
Display
The Steam Deck OLED boasts a stunning 7.4-inch HDR OLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate. The ROG Ally X, on the other hand, has a slightly smaller 7-inch FD LCD display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. To make up for the lack of an OLED display, the ROG Ally X features Gorilla Glass-branded DXC coating to reduce glare and reflections.
The Steam Deck OLED
Buttons
The Steam Deck OLED opted to forego RGB light effects, while the ROG Ally X retained the RGB halos around the thumbsticks from its predecessor. Both handhelds feature two sticks, ABXY buttons, and two sets of trigger buttons. The ROG Ally X also boasts an upgraded eight-directional d-pad, making it ideal for fighting games.
The ROG Ally X buttons
Battery Life
The ROG Ally X has a massive 80 Wh battery, double that of its predecessor and larger than the 50 Wh battery of the Steam Deck OLED.
Software: Windows vs SteamOS
The key difference between the Asus ROG Ally X and the Steam Deck OLED lies in their operating systems. The Steam Deck OLED runs on Steam’s custom SteamOS, while the ROG Ally X runs a custom version of Windows 11.
Performance
While Asus hasn’t released official performance data for the ROG Ally X, its specs and those of its predecessor give us an idea of what to expect. The ROG Ally X is poised to be a powerhouse, but how will it compare to the Steam Deck OLED?
What Should You Buy?
Ultimately, the choice between the Steam Deck OLED and the ROG Ally X comes down to personal preference. If you’re looking for a more affordable option with access to your Steam library, the Steam Deck OLED might be the way to go. However, if you prefer a Windows-based handheld with Xbox Game Pass capabilities, the ROG Ally X is the better choice.
The Steam Deck OLED vs ROG Ally X
