I was messing around with handheld gaming PCs, and I gotta say, there’s this thing about the Asus ROG Ally. It’s like, somewhere in between stumbling and striding against the Steam Deck—make sense? So, here’s the deal: if Steam Deck’s inability to juggle different game launchers gets on your nerves, the Ally might just tick your boxes. It’s this fully functional, portable Windows PC vibe with zero Linux nonsense. I mean, who even understands Linux anyway?
It’s not like the Steam Deck’s the only kid in the playground now. The Ally strolls in as an actual rival, not just some wannabe. It’s all Windows 11 in the palm of your hand, opening (or maybe blowing open?) accessibility doors the Deck tends to keep shut tight. Steam’s like, “Use me or else,” but the Ally? Nah, it’s a rebel with its all-access card to Epic, Xbox Game Pass, EA Origin—whatever grabs you, honestly.
And hey, let’s talk power. Ally’s got this AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and a Radeon graphics card combo, kinda like if a sports car became a gaming console. Slick performance, no jest. Stayed whisper-quiet, too. Although, okay, some glitchy stumbles did happen, but you just tweak the settings a bit, and suddenly, you’re like “Bam! More games than I could digest!” The screen’s a Full HD beauty, and it’s not as heavy as the Deck, so longer gameplay? Yes, please, without hand cramps. Bliss.
But oh, here’s the kicker. That lightweight feeling—it’s awesome until it suddenly screams “plastic.” I mean, premium? Not quite. And the tabletop stand is so flimsy that it makes you think it’s an afterthought. And—get this—battery life ain’t holding any candles either. The Steam Deck’s already like, “Battery, what battery?” but the Ally gets beat there. Had to hook it up more often than I’d like, just to keep the game alive. Pro-tip: keep it juiced up while playing.
Couple more speed bumps: at $699.99, you’d think a carrying case comes standard. Nope. Steam Deck’s like, “Here, it’s included.” Plus those back buttons? Felt awkwardly low, but hey, maybe it’s just me being fussy.
Bottom line, which one do you snag? Deck or Ally? Really, it’s about what you’re after. Ally’s all about the library and power, but the Deck’s got that polished, premium swagger with a carrying case cherry on top. Honestly, both are stellar, so trust your gut, or your whimsy. Whatever works.
