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To that end, Asus includes a 3-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in with the Ally.

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This means you’re free to get your games from other storefronts, such as Epic, GOG, Itch.io, or perhaps most notably, Xbox Game Pass.

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In the plus column, it means that any PC game will run on the Ally without issue, while the Steam Deck is limited to Steam games only, at least without a significant number of hoops and caveats. This is both its greatest strength and a significant weakness.

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Where the Steam Deck runs Valve’s custom Linux-based SteamOS, the Ally runs on plain old Windows 11. One of the biggest differentiating factors between the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck is the operating system. With the cheapest Steam Deck only costing $399 (maxing out at $649 for the priciest model), and the Ayaneo 2 costing anywhere between $1099 to $1499, $699 isn’t the most extravagant price we’ve seen and actually comes across pretty reasonable for what you’re getting.

In the context of handheld PC gaming in 2023, the Ally tends to run somewhere in the middle of overall affordability. As much as the ROG Ally is a handheld gaming device, it’s also worth remembering that it’s pretty much a mini Windows PC, and packs the specs to warrant such a price tag. The ROG Ally is available for $599 for the 256GB model, running with the AMD Ryzen Z1 chipset, while the Z1 Extreme model with 512GB of SSD storage will set you back $699 instead. I/O: USB Type-C (top), headphone jack, MicroSD expansion, Asus PCIe port.Here are the specs on the unit I was sent from Asus. Details can occasionally get washed out, but in my experience, the screen does exceptionally well for those who choose to travel on some of the brighter days of the year.įull HD+ resolution can be difficult to manage for a lot of devices, but the new AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU does a fine job of splitting its duties between graphics and processing. On its 7-inch LCD, 1920x1080p touch screen, with 500 nits of brightness, the Ally is incredibly vibrant and works remarkably well when outside or in direct sunlight. It can make the playing space seem a little confined when you first use it, but all is quickly forgiven once the screen fires up and you get lost in its impressive visuals. Unlike another handheld competitor, the Ayaneo 2, the ROG Ally deploys bezels on every side of its screen. Ergonomically, it can lack a bit of heft which does diminish some feelings of it being 100% secure in both your hands, but its angled sides and sleeker profile do aid in keeping it comfortable for longer play sessions (especially if you’re blessed with smaller hands). Swiping up at any moment on this screen will quickly grant you access to the Windows toolbar, which is very valuable for navigating the device at all times.Īt 280 × 113 × 39 mm and weighing only 608g (Steam Deck weighs 669g for comparison), the ROG Ally has an incredibly sleek and lightweight design. Overall I’d still recommend connecting to a wireless keyboard and mouse if you plan to use it like a regular computer at any time. This doesn’t feel the best but is very passable. While you’re not gaming, the joysticks act as a mouse cursor which can further support touch controls if you need a little more accuracy.

The touchpads make controlling mouse-based games much easier on the Deck, especially when combined with the wealth of community control profiles available, so lacking them here is definitely a tick in the Steam Deck’s column.

This won’t be the biggest deal to a lot of gamers, but it’s still a notable omission that can potentially restrict you when choosing what genre to play on the go. I don’t want this whole review to just be ROG Ally vs Steam Deck (albeit the comparisons are already inevitable), but it is hard to ignore something that is lacking from the Ally: the Steam Deck’s pressure-sensitive touchpads.

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