Asus ROG Ally vs Valve Steam Deck: The Ultimate Handheld Showdown
What To Know
- While the ROG ALLY offers a more premium design and display, the Steam Deck’s superior performance, larger battery life, and access to the vast Steam library ultimately give it the edge.
- The ASUS ROG ALLY has a superior OLED display with a higher resolution and refresh rate.
- The Valve Steam Deck has a more powerful APU and more RAM, making it capable of handling more demanding games.
In the realm of gaming, two formidable devices have emerged as contenders for the ultimate portable gaming experience: the ASUS ROG ALLY and the Valve Steam Deck. Both devices boast impressive features and capabilities, but which one truly stands out? In this comprehensive comparison, we delve into the key aspects of each device to determine their strengths and weaknesses and ultimately crown the victor.
Design and Build Quality
ASUS ROG ALLY:
- Sleek and compact design with a weight of 1.1 pounds
- Premium materials with a magnesium alloy chassis
- Ergonomic handheld design with comfortable grips
Valve Steam Deck:
- Larger and heavier design with a weight of 1.47 pounds
- Durable plastic construction with a matte finish
- Bulky handheld design with less comfortable grips
Display
ASUS ROG ALLY:
- 6-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels
- Vibrant colors, excellent contrast ratio, and deep blacks
- 144Hz refresh rate for smoother gameplay
Valve Steam Deck:
- 7-inch LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels
- Good color accuracy and brightness
- 60Hz refresh rate
Performance
ASUS ROG ALLY:
- Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 processor
- Adreno GPU with 8GB of RAM
- Capable of playing demanding games at high settings
Valve Steam Deck:
- Powered by a custom AMD APU with Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU
- 16GB of RAM
- Can handle AAA games at medium to high settings
Battery Life
ASUS ROG ALLY:
- 7,660mAh battery with a claimed battery life of up to 10 hours
- Supports fast charging via USB-C
Valve Steam Deck:
- 40Wh battery with a claimed battery life of up to 8 hours
- Supports fast charging via USB-C
Features
ASUS ROG ALLY:
- Integrated cooling system for sustained performance
- Customizable RGB lighting
- Dual front-facing speakers
Valve Steam Deck:
- Built-in gyroscope and accelerometer for motion controls
- MicroSD card slot for expandable storage
- Haptic feedback triggers
Software
ASUS ROG ALLY:
- Runs on Android 11 with a custom ROG UI
- Supports cloud gaming services like Xbox Game Pass and Stadia
- Can emulate classic retro games
Valve Steam Deck:
- Runs on SteamOS 3.0 based on Arch Linux
- Access to the vast Steam library of games
- Supports Windows 10 and 11 via Proton compatibility layer
Price and Availability
ASUS ROG ALLY:
- Retail price: $499
- Availability: Available now
Valve Steam Deck:
- Retail price: $399 (64GB), $529 (256GB), $649 (512GB)
- Availability: Available for purchase, but with limited stock
Verdict: The Ultimate Portable Gaming Champion
After carefully comparing the ASUS ROG ALLY and the Valve Steam Deck, we declare the Valve Steam Deck as the victor. While the ROG ALLY offers a more premium design and display, the Steam Deck’s superior performance, larger battery life, and access to the vast Steam library ultimately give it the edge.
Quick Answers to Your FAQs
Q: Which device has a better display?
A: The ASUS ROG ALLY has a superior OLED display with a higher resolution and refresh rate.
Q: Which device is more powerful?
A: The Valve Steam Deck has a more powerful APU and more RAM, making it capable of handling more demanding games.
Q: Which device has a longer battery life?
A: The Valve Steam Deck has a slightly longer battery life than the ASUS ROG ALLY.
Q: Which device is more affordable?
A: The Valve Steam Deck is more affordable than the ASUS ROG ALLY.
Q: Which device has better software support?
A: The Valve Steam Deck has better software support with access to the Steam library and Proton compatibility layer.
