I think it’s safe to say that the Steam Deck has been a big hit for Valve. Some months back, I wrote about how it changed the way I play games, and I still stand by what I said. While there are some higher-end handheld PCs out there for enthusiasts, nothing can truly compete with the value of the Deck. However, this might change in the near future. The upcoming Asus ROG Ally is looking to pick a fight with the Steam Deck. Can it successfully challenge Valve’s dominance over the handheld PC market? The answer may not be so simple.
What Does the ROG Ally Do Better Than the Steam Deck?
Unsurprisingly, you can expect the Ally to be more of a powerhouse than the Deck. According to a video by Linus Tech Tips, Asus claims that the ROG Ally will offer double the performance of the Steam Deck. However, it’s worth noting that at least two different versions of the Ally will be sold. The most powerful Ally will contain a Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, while the other will contain a basic Z1 chip. They will both be quite capable, but the difference between these two processors will be noticeable.
Another obvious advantage of the ROG Ally is the display. Instead of the 800p screen of the Steam Deck, the Ally provides a 1080p display. Although, that’s not where the advantages of the screen end. The handheld also offers a 120Hz refresh rate for high frame rates. It should go without saying that most modern titles will likely not reach anywhere near 120 FPS, but the Ally does provide a solution for this. The display’s refresh rate will be variable, allowing for a smoother image for games that can’t perform above the maximum refresh rate.
Unlike the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally supports external GPUs for improved performance while docked. However, there is a catch. You will only be able to use a proprietary external GPU. You won’t be able to pick up any old GPU and easily get it to work with the Ally. Still, this is a nice option for those who want to get more out of their handheld and have the money to invest.
Does the Steam Deck Still Have Any Advantages?
In short, it absolutely does. While the Steam Deck will inevitably fall behind other handheld PCs as tech advances, it still presents unmatched value. For $399 (and likely the added cost of a microSD card), you can play great modern titles such as the Resident Evil 4 remake on the go. On top of this, the Deck gets constant software updates that keep making the experience even better. SteamOS 3 will give you a portable experience like no other.
The problem is, not everyone wants to use SteamOS 3. If you dislike this Steam Deck aspect, the ROG Ally will ship with Windows by default. Keep in mind, you can still boot Windows on Steam Deck if you wish, but the Ally removes the hassle of installing it yourself. That being said, I don’t think Windows is an ideal operating system for handheld devices. If I were to purchase an Ally, I’d likely want to experience it with SteamOS 3.
The Steam Deck made me fall in love with SteamOS 3 and I haven’t thought about installing Windows on my Deck once. It makes the user experience extremely convenient for handheld gaming. Another feature of the Steam Deck I love is the dual trackpads. The ROG Ally lacks these, and I don’t think I really want to use a handheld PC without them. Ultimately, the dual trackpads, SteamOS 3, and the large, established community that the Deck has will likely make me stick with it for the foreseeable future.
Which Handheld Will Come Out on Top?
I believe both handhelds will be able to coexist. The value of the Steam Deck makes it the most popular choice for a handheld PC among average consumers, and I don’t know if that’s going to change anytime soon. However, I think the ROG Ally stands a very good chance of dominating the high-end market and becoming the go-to choice for enthusiasts. It might take some sales away from the Deck as well, but I don’t think it’s going to suddenly make it irrelevant.
I’ll admit that there have been times when the Steam Deck experience didn’t quite cut it for me. The PC port of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has issues, but the Steam Deck experience was noticeably less enjoyable for me than it was on a more powerful desktop PC. It’s cases like these where the Ally becomes an attractive product to me. However, for most of my use cases, I am more than satisfied with how the Deck performs.
According to a leak that came out as of writing, the Ally will supposedly cost $700 (and this is with the Z1 Extreme chip). If this turns out to be true, then the Deck will face the most fierce competition it has yet. At this price point, the ROG Ally will offer better value than the 512GB Steam Deck. Keep in mind that many rumors are floating out there about the Ally, so not everything you hear about the device may be true.
Should You Buy the ROG Ally or the Steam Deck?
It really depends on your budget and what you want out of a handheld. Do you already own a good PC and want a relatively inexpensive way to play your library on the go? Buy a 64GB Steam Deck and a microSD card. If you aren’t satisfied with the performance of the Deck and are willing to spend a bit more, then I suggest you purchase an Ally. No matter what you decide to go with, I think both devices will be great deals.
If the Ally is as good a product as many are hoping, it may be wise for Valve to eventually introduce a price cut for the Steam Deck. Even if the Ally doesn’t live up to all the hype, there’s no doubt that the competition in the handheld PC market is heating up, and that’s a great thing. It wasn’t very long ago that handheld PCs were very niche. Unless you really wanted the handheld PC experience, it was likely smarter to invest in a decent laptop or desktop computer.
However, we’re now at a point where handheld PCs are becoming a reasonable investment for an average consumer. I’m incredibly excited to see what these kinds of devices might achieve in the future, and I doubt we’ll have to wait too long. I’m going to keep my eye on the ROG Ally and will be delighted if it meets expectations. I still remain a little bit skeptical, but I hope that Asus will convince me that ROG Ally is as great of a product as they claim it to be.
