Asus ROG Ally vs. Steam Deck – Deep Overview

GAME CHANGER SHOWDOWN:
ASUS ROG ALLY VS. STEAM DECK –
WHICH DEVICE WILL REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR GAMING EXPERIENCE?”

Let’s Figure Out What Is Asus ROG Ally And Steam Deck?

Asus ROG Ally

Let’s first look into Asus ROG Ally. What if we tell you that there is something that is more like a PC/laptop but has only a small 7-inch display! Does this intrigue you then what would come next? This is a console that would take you into the world of gaming via its portability. In the easiest way told, Asus ROG Ally is a portable Windows 11 PC. It can make sure that your gaming experience isn’t affected no matter where you are and what you are playing.

Steam Deck

The well-known Steam gaming platform, Valve Corporation, has created a portable gaming system called the Steam Deck. Players may play PC games on the go because of its portability. With its integrated controller design and 7-inch touchscreen display, the Steam Deck is similar to a portable gaming console. A Linux-based operating system designed for gaming, SteamOS, powers the gadget. It is created to work with the enormous game selection offered by the Steam platform.

Gaming On-The-Go – Which Portable Device Is Worth Your Investment?

The Asus ROG Ally is priced slightly higher than the Steam Deck, but don’t worry, the price difference isn’t too steep. You can get your hands on the ROG Ally by pre-ordering it now from Best Buy for $699. This particular configuration boasts impressive features such as a 7-inch 120Hz 1080p LCD display, an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU, a generous 16GB of RAM, and a spacious 512GB of SSD storage. Keep an eye out for another configuration priced at $599, which will come with an AMD Ryzen Z1 chip. It’s expected to hit the market sometime in Q3 2023.

Now, let’s talk about the Steam Deck! It offers three different models, but the main difference lies in their storage sizes and displays. You have options like 64GB for $399, 256GB for $529, and 512GB for $649. Oh, and don’t forget, the 512GB model also features an anti-glare etched-glass display for an enhanced gaming experience. No matter which configuration you choose, you’ll receive a sleek black carrying case with the iconic Steam Deck logo on top. However, the $649 unit’s carrying case has an added touch of style with its gray lining on the inside, and it even comes with a handy cleaning cloth.

Now, here’s the exciting part: The highest-priced ROG Ally model, priced just under $700, is only $50 more than the top-of-the-line Steam Deck variant. And guess what? The ROG Ally comes with a plethora of technical improvements over Valve’s nifty device. It’s truly a compelling option that can catch the attention of gamers who crave a portable gaming device with cutting-edge features. But let’s not forget, the Steam Deck still offers accessibility in terms of pricing, with the lowest-tier model starting at just under $400. So, there’s something for every budget!

Features And Performance

When it comes to these handheld devices, one of the standout differences lies in their display quality. Here’s where the Asus ROG Ally takes the lead, offering a 7-inch 120Hz 16:9 display with a crisp resolution of 1920 x 1080. On the other hand, Valve’s Steam Deck also has a 7-inch screen, but it falls behind with a maximum resolution of 1280 x 800 and a refresh rate of 60Hz. While the Steam Deck provides a bit more screen space with its 16:10 aspect ratio, keep in mind that games with a 16:9 aspect ratio won’t fully utilize those extra pixels.

Now, let’s get into the exciting part: the lab test results! We took out our trusty Klein-10A colorimeter to put these displays to the test. The ROG Ally’s display truly shines, achieving an impressive average brightness of 465 nits. In comparison, the Steam Deck didn’t quite reach the same brightness level, coming in at 169.7 nits. But that’s not all—when it comes to color reproduction, the ROG Ally delivers with flying colors, covering 108.6% of the sRGB color gamut and 76.9% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It even scored an excellent Delta-E of 0.17 (the lower, the better). On the other hand, the Steam Deck achieved 68.5% of the sRGB color gamut, and 48% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, with a Delta-E of 0.25.

Now, let’s switch gears and talk about software compatibility. The ROG Ally running Windows 11 gives you the advantage of seamless compatibility. You can easily install additional launchers like Epic, EA, GOG, Steam, and Xbox directly on the device, just as you would on your PC. However, it’s important to note that the Ally lacks one cool feature found in the Steam Deck— the ability to suspend and resume a game at the touch of a button. So, if you need to take a break for an extended period, you’ll have to save and quit the game, then start fresh when you’re ready to play again. This aligns with the standard practice on desktop PCs.

Which Is Faster: Asus ROG Ally Vs. Steam Deck?

When it comes to speed, there’s no doubt about it—the ROG Ally leaves the Steam Deck in the dust. In a direct comparison with the same resolution and APU wattage, the ROG Ally surges ahead with a whopping 50% or more speed advantage over the Steam Deck. And hold on tight, because the ROG Ally has an extra trick up its sleeve—it can scale even higher! While the Steam Deck maxes out at 15W, the ROG Ally can turbocharge itself to a staggering 30W when plugged into the charger. Talk about a speed demon!

From the get-go, it was crystal clear that the ROG Ally would outshine the competition in terms of speed. But guess what? It doesn’t stop there. This beast of a device also sports a higher-resolution screen, adding an extra layer of visual delight to your gaming experience. However, it’s worth noting that when operating at 1080p, the ROG Ally’s performance may experience a slight dip. But fear not! It still stands as a remarkable performer, easily handling even the most demanding games available today at Medium settings while effortlessly maintaining close to 30 frames per second (fps).

Comparing Specs, Design, And Gameplay – The Ultimate Face-Off

Get ready for an immersive journey into the world of handheld gaming! The ROG Ally isn’t just a sight to behold, it’s the powerhouse hardware underneath that truly sets it apart. Brace yourself for AMD’s Z1 Series processors, custom APUs that combine Zen 4 CPU cores and RDNA 3 GPU cores, bringing unparalleled excitement to Asus’ handheld. But hold on, there’s more to explore! No matter which models you choose, the Steam Deck offers four Zen 2 cores and eight RDNA 2 cores, providing up to 1.6 TFLOPs of theoretical performance. And let’s not forget, the ROG Ally takes it to the next level by reaching up to 30W in Turbo mode, while the Steam Deck caps at 15 watts. Are you ready to unleash this beast?

Hold on tight, because the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck share some common ground too. Both come equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5 memory, ensuring smooth multitasking and seamless gameplay transitions. Need more storage? Not a problem! They both feature a Micro SD card slot, offering convenient storage expansion options. And charging? Easy peasy! USB-C is the name of the game for both devices, ensuring fast and hassle-free charging. Plus, they both come with a trusty 3.5mm headphone jack for an immersive audio experience. Just imagine the thrill of gaming on these cutting-edge devices!

Now, let’s dive into the gaming experience. The ROG Ally, as a Windows 11 device, opens up a world of possibilities. Install your favorite games from a wide range of launchers like Steam, GOG, Ubisoft Connect, Xbox Game Pass, EA Origin, and more! It’s like having a portable gaming PC at your fingertips. But wait, there’s a catch! Asus’ Armoury Crate app might not be as intuitive as SteamOS on the Steam Deck. While Armoury Crate lets you easily access and select your downloaded games, you’ll still need to use their respective launchers for a seamless experience.

Get to know everything about Steam Deck at one place. Whether you want to know features, specifications, price, or compare it with other devices!

In a nutshell, the ROG Ally offers a tantalizing game library filled with the titles you already own, giving you the freedom to choose from a vast selection of PC gaming gems. Just keep in mind that some games might require a bit of trial and error to find the optimal settings, similar to the Steam Deck. Speaking of which, Valve’s handheld focuses on the Steam library, boasting over 2,000 “Verified” games for the ultimate gaming adventure.

WHICH ONE WILL DOMINATE THE GAMING WORLD? – CHOOSE YOUR GAMING COMPANION

Are you ready to embark on this thrilling handheld gaming journey? The choice is yours, but whichever path you take, rest assured that both the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck will bring the excitement right to your fingertips.