The Battle for Handheld Gaming Supremacy: Asus ROG Ally vs. Valve Steam Deck
The world of handheld gaming has never been more exciting, with two powerhouses vying for dominance: the Asus ROG Ally and the Valve Steam Deck. Both devices promise an unparalleled gaming experience, but which one is right for you? In this article, we’ll delve into the design, performance, storage, and operating systems of these two gaming behemoths to help you make an informed decision.
Design: A Tale of Two Controllers
At first glance, the ROG Ally and Steam Deck may seem similar, but their designs have distinct differences. The Steam Deck measures 1.9 by 11.7 by 4.6 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.47 pounds, with two parallel control sticks flanking a 7-inch screen. The ROG Ally, on the other hand, measures 0.8 by 11 by 4.4 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.37 pounds, with analog sticks diagonally opposite each other. The face buttons are colored, similar to an Xbox controller, and the D-pad is tucked below the left stick.
The Asus ROG Ally’s unique design sets it apart from the Steam Deck.
Storage, Battery Life, and Connectivity: Powering Your Gaming Needs
The base Steam Deck model comes with 256GB of storage via a high-performance NVMe solid-state drive, while the ROG Ally offers double the storage at 512GB. Both devices have a high-speed microSD card slot for expansion. Battery life is a little harder to compare, with both handhelds having 40Wh batteries that promise anywhere from two to eight hours of play depending on the game’s resource intensity.
Operating Systems: Windows or SteamOS
The Steam Deck uses SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system that syncs seamlessly with your existing Steam Library. The ROG Ally, on the other hand, uses Windows 11, which works almost exactly as it does on a desktop or laptop. This means you can download and install programs, including Steam, without much issue.
The Steam Deck’s SteamOS provides a seamless gaming experience.
Chipset: Custom AMD Silicon
Both handheld devices have custom AMD silicon inside. The ROG Ally comes equipped with the Z1 Extreme, an APU built around AMD’s Zen 4 architecture and advanced 4-nanometer (nm) assembly process. The Steam Deck uses an AMD APU built around the older Zen 2 architecture and 7nm process.
New Models To Choose From
The Valve Steam Deck launched in 2022 with three variations, including the 64GB model with eMMC storage, a 256GB model, and a 512GB model. The 64GB and 512GB Steam Decks have been discontinued but are still available for purchase while supplies last. In late 2023, Valve introduced the Steam Deck OLED, available with a 512GB SSD or a 1TB drive.
As for the Asus handheld, the ROG Ally has a downgraded cousin that shares the original’s name but not its processor. The $499 ROG Ally uses a Z1 processor instead of the Z1 Extreme. Asus plans to expand the Ally family further, beginning with the ROG Ally X, which addresses much of the most prominent user feedback with a bigger battery, more RAM and storage, and a new color scheme.
So, Which Gaming Handheld Is Right For You?
Both gaming handhelds are excellent, but which device is right for you and your gaming needs? Consider how much you’re willing to tinker with your system to get the most out of it. The Steam Deck’s Linux platform may be more intimidating for casual users, though it’s a hurdle that most can overcome with a little homework. But if you want all your games from different libraries to “just work,” the Windows 11-based ROG Ally might be your best bet.
If your gaming is strictly on Steam, the Valve Steam Deck is the obvious choice. The system seamlessly integrates with your Steam library, automatically tagging games that offer full or partial compatibility with the handheld.
The Asus ROG Ally and Valve Steam Deck offer unique gaming experiences.
