I HATE being lied to… but I love the ROG Ally

Summary

In this video, the ROG Ally is pitted against the Steam Deck, highlighting its impressive performance at varying power levels. The Ally delivers superior gaming experiences, especially at higher wattages, outperforming the Steam Deck in most cases. With a 1080p, 120Hz display, faster charging, and a quieter, cooler design, it holds strong advantages. However, its software and button issues remain, leaving some room for improvement. The Ally is a strong contender, but the Steam Deck still edges out in terms of ecosystem and software maturity. Both devices offer distinct benefits, but the Ally’s price makes it a disruptive force in the market.

Takeaways

• 😀 The ASUS ROG Ally is priced at $700, offering strong competition to the Steam Deck with better performance at higher power settings.
• 😀 The Ally’s Z1 Extreme SOC, featuring Zen 4 cores and RDNA3 graphics, provides solid gaming performance, but only surpasses the Steam Deck significantly at higher power draws (25 watts and above).
• 😀 At lower power levels (10 watts), the Steam Deck outperforms the Ally in titles like Metro Exodus and Forza Horizon 5, showing its superior efficiency at lower power consumption.
• 😀 At 15 watts, the Ally offers smoother gameplay, surpassing the Steam Deck by 15-20% in most tests, but still falls short of the promised 50% increase in performance.
• 😀 The Ally’s 1080p 120Hz display with excellent color accuracy (95% SRGB) and a 500 nit brightness provides a richer and more vibrant viewing experience compared to the Steam Deck’s 800p display.
• 😀 The Ally features a more efficient cooling system with a zero-gravity thermal design, keeping the device cool under heavy load, while the Steam Deck tends to get warmer around the hands.
• 😀 The ROG Ally is impressively quiet during gaming, especially compared to the Steam Deck, which has a noticeable fan noise.
• 😀 ASUS’ Armoury Crate SE software provides customization options, but has a less refined user experience than SteamOS, with some usability issues such as non-intuitive UI behavior.
• 😀 The Ally is lighter and more comfortable to hold than the Steam Deck, making it a better choice for prolonged gaming sessions.
• 😀 While the Ally supports a wide variety of games and apps via Windows 11, its software experience still has some rough edges, especially with issues like touchscreen responsiveness and app management.
• 😀 The ROG Ally offers competitive pricing, especially considering its superior display, performance, and features like external GPU support with ASUS’ XG Mobile, but still faces challenges such as non-upgradable Wi-Fi and soldered components.

Q & A

How does the ROG Ally compare to the Steam Deck in terms of power consumption?

At lower power consumption levels, particularly at 10 watts, the Steam Deck outperforms the ROG Ally. However, at higher power levels like 15 watts and above, the Ally starts to outperform the Steam Deck, offering smoother and more responsive gaming experiences, especially in titles like Metro Exodus and Forza Horizon 5.

What advantages does the ROG Ally have over the Steam Deck in terms of display?

The ROG Ally has a higher 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, which provides a smoother visual experience, especially in games that can hit higher frame rates. Additionally, the Ally's display has better color accuracy and a wider color gamut compared to the Steam Deck, which makes its display appear richer and more vibrant.

Why is the Steam Deck still preferred by some users despite the ROG Ally's advantages?

Despite the ROG Ally's superior hardware, the Steam Deck remains the more mature option due to its well-established software ecosystem, better battery life in low power mode, and more robust accessory support. Its user interface and SteamOS are also more refined, offering a smoother experience overall.

What performance improvements does the ROG Ally offer over the Steam Deck at 25 watts?

At 25 watts, the ROG Ally demonstrates a significant performance boost, with anywhere from a 40% to 70% advantage in gaming performance, particularly at 720p medium settings. This leads to much smoother gameplay, approaching nearly 60 FPS in titles like Metro Exodus, compared to the Steam Deck's 30-ish FPS at lower settings.

What issues with software and user experience were highlighted for the ROG Ally?

The ROG Ally suffers from some user experience issues with its Armoury Crate SE software. Notably, it has bugs like not automatically pausing games when opening the app, and some UI quirks, like the confusing organization of settings. Additionally, there are problems with the touchscreen experience and cursor control, though these are expected to improve over time.

What are the thermal advantages of the ROG Ally compared to the Steam Deck?

The ROG Ally has a more effective thermal management system, keeping the device cooler during extended gaming sessions, especially around the hands, thanks to its dual heat sink design and dedicated vents. In contrast, while the Steam Deck also stays relatively cool, its heat tends to spread more through the device, which can be less comfortable for users.

How does the ROG Ally's charging compare to the Steam Deck's?

The ROG Ally charges faster than the Steam Deck due to its higher 65-watt charger, compared to the Steam Deck's 45-watt charger. This gives the Ally an advantage in terms of charging speed, though both devices have a similar battery life when running at balanced power consumption levels.

What are some of the ROG Ally's limitations in terms of build and design?

Despite its strengths, the ROG Ally has some limitations, such as the lack of touchpads, a smaller 16:9 display (as opposed to the Steam Deck's 16:10), and less responsive face buttons, which may cause some frustration during gameplay. Additionally, the device lacks a full-length M.2 SSD, which could have improved its storage flexibility.

How does the ROG Ally's performance compare to higher-end gaming devices?

While the ROG Ally offers impressive performance for a handheld device, especially with the Z1 Extreme SOC and RDNA3 graphics, it falls short when compared to higher-end gaming devices like PCs with discrete GPUs. However, it still holds its own by providing a solid gaming experience, particularly with the ability to connect to external GPUs via the XG Mobile interface for desktop-like performance.

What is the expected future of the ROG Ally in terms of competition and availability?

The ROG Ally is expected to face increased competition as more companies release similar devices. However, its competitive price point and performance make it a strong contender, and while it may face stock shortages initially due to high demand, ASUS is likely to keep the Ally in circulation as long as it remains relevant in the handheld gaming market.