So, here’s the deal. You know those times when you’re totally hyped about getting some new gadget, but then bam! Something else shows up and now you’re in dilemma city? Yeah, that. Because here comes the Asus ROG Ally, like it’s yelling, “Hey, Steam Deck, scooch over!”
I mean, if the whole Steam Deck Linux vibe was a bit too… mysterious for you, well, the Ally’s got none of that. It’s like, “Oh, you wanna use a regular Windows 11 thingy? No problemo.” So, there’s no messing around with other launchers. Just jump in and go – Xbox, Epic, whatever you fancy. And that’s kinda cool, right?
Okay, maybe I sound a bit too excited. But get this – the Ally’s packing some serious muscle under the hood. Like, AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and Radeon graphics? On a handheld? What?! And it doesn’t even make those annoying jet engine sounds or go all toasty on ya. Sure, we had a hiccup here and there, but nothing major. Adjust some settings – boom! More games than on the Steam Deck. Plus, it’s light as a feather, which means gaming till your hands call it quits… or not, ’cause yeah, less cramping.
And yet… it’s not all sunshine (and who wants just sunshine?). That lightweight feel does kinda scream “plastic fantastic,” ya know? Steam Deck feels all solid and… I dunno, nicer. Oh, and the Ally’s stand? Flimsy. Like, sneeze and it wobbles. Also, let’s talk battery life. Not the greatest – barely two-ish hours in gaming mode. Guess you could speed-charge and jump back into action, but still… might wanna keep it plugged in if you’re planning a long sesh.
Odd bits – there’s no carrying case! For the price? C’mon. Steam Deck just kinda puts it in there, freebie style. And the back buttons? Hmm, maybe they’re for someone with uniquely placed hands?
So, decision time… Steam Deck or ROG Ally? Tough call, I know. Think about what matters: Want all things accessible with more oomph in performance? Ally might be it. Craving premium feel and longer standalone play? Deck’s your guy. No wrong answers, ’cause both rock it hard. 🎮
