Boy, where do I even start? So, you know how the Steam Deck’s kind of that cool kid in the gaming world, right? But it’s got this quirk: it’s not super friendly with game launchers if you’re sticking to its usual setup. Enter the Asus ROG Ally, which is… like, the new kid who’s shaking things up. Seriously, it’s like a full-on, portable PC. Want to use your favorite apps without diving into the Linux rabbit hole? This thing’s got you.
Now, the Steam Deck isn’t alone anymore. Boom, Asus drops the Ally into the scene. It’s Windows 11, folks. And right off the bat, that’s a huge plus if you ask me. Like, the Deck’s stuck playing by Steam’s rules unless you’re a Linux wizard. But the Ally? It lets you dive into whatever launcher tickles your fancy. Got games on Epic, Xbox, some random place? No sweat, they’re all there. Easy peasy.
And power. Oh man, the Ally flexes with its AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and Radeon graphics. Sounds fancy, right? Runs demanding games like a breeze. No overheating or sounding like a jet engine, either. Sure, a hiccup here and there, but hey, nobody’s perfect. And the display? Gorgeous. Plus, it’s light. Like, “I-can-play-for-hours” light. My hands didn’t want to quit.
But—here’s the but—it feels… kind of plasticky. Not in a terrible way, just… not “premium,” if you catch my drift. Oh, and the stand is a bit wobbly, like an afterthought. And battery life? Oof. Not its best feature. Got two-ish hours gaming, maybe three on desktop. The Deck edges out better there. Moral of the story—keep it plugged in if you can.
Then there’s the whole no carrying case thing. For that price? C’mon, Asus. Even the cheapest Steam Deck laughs because it throws in a case, no extra charge. And those back buttons on the Ally? A bit low for my taste, but hey, that’s just me.
So which one do ya buy? It’s not a cop-out to say “depends.” Really. Want sheer access and power? Go Ally. Want premium feels and better battery? Steam Deck’s your guy. Both are pretty darn awesome, in their own quirky ways.
