Battle of Titans: ROG Ally X VS Steam Deck - And The Winner Is...

Summary

In this video, ETA Prime compares the Steam Deck OLED and the Asus ROG Ally X, focusing on performance, battery life, ergonomics, and display quality. He highlights the Steam Deck's 90Hz OLED display and the Ally X's 120Hz IPS display, both with their unique appeal. The Ally X's superior IO and the Steam Deck's Linux OS are discussed, along with performance tests at a 15W TDP, revealing the Ally X's edge in FPS. Battery life tests show the Ally X's 80Wh battery outperforming the Steam Deck's 50Wh, with considerations given to power management and user preference for the ideal handheld gaming device.

Takeaways

• 🎮 The video is a comparison between the Steam Deck OLED and the Asus ROG Ally X, focusing on performance, battery life, and ergonomics.
• 📱 The Steam Deck OLED is said to be more comfortable for long-term use and features a 7.4-inch 90Hz OLED screen, which is preferred by the reviewer for its quality.
• 🖥 The Asus ROG Ally X has a 7-inch 120Hz IPS display and improved ergonomics over its predecessor, offering a good alternative for those who prefer a 120Hz refresh rate.
• 🔌 The ROG Ally X has more I/O options with two USB Type-C ports, including one with USB 4 protocol, and additional features like a fingerprint scanner and Micro SD card slot.
• 💻 Both devices have powerful specs, with the Steam Deck OLED having a custom AMD APU and the ROG Ally X featuring a Ryzen Z1 Extreme CPU and a more advanced iGPU based on RDNA 3.
• 💾 Storage options vary, with the Steam Deck OLED offering 512GB or 1TB SSDs, while the ROG Ally X is available in a 1TB variant and can be upgraded to 8TB.
• 🔋 The Steam Deck OLED has a 50Wh battery with 45W fast charging, while the ROG Ally X has an 80Wh battery capable of 100W fast charging.
• 🔋 In terms of battery life, the Asus ROG Ally X outperforms the Steam Deck OLED, especially when considering its larger battery capacity and power management optimizations.
• 💰 The Steam Deck OLED is the more affordable option, with a significant price difference compared to the ROG Ally X.
• 🛒 The choice between the two devices ultimately depends on personal preference, whether it's the operating system, display type, or price point.
• 📊 Performance tests conducted at a 15W TDP show the ROG Ally X generally achieving higher average FPS across tested games, though the Steam Deck OLED offers better frame pacing in some titles.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video by ETA Prime?

The main focus of the video is a comparison between the Steam Deck OLED and the Asus ROG Ally X, covering aspects such as performance, battery life, ergonomics, and personal preferences.

Which handheld device does ETA Prime find more comfortable to hold for longer periods?

ETA Prime finds the Steam Deck OLED more comfortable to hold for longer periods due to its design and screen.

What is the refresh rate of the Steam Deck OLED's screen?

The Steam Deck OLED has a 90 Hz refresh rate.

What are the main differences in screen technology between the Steam Deck OLED and the Asus ROG Ally X?

The Steam Deck OLED features a 7.4-inch OLED screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate, while the Asus ROG Ally X has a 7-inch 120 Hz IPS display.

What is the significance of the IO (Input/Output) ports in the comparison between the two devices?

The Asus ROG Ally X has more IO options, including two USB Type-C ports, one of which is a USB 4 port, providing flexibility for connecting peripherals like an eGPU.

What are the main specifications of the Steam Deck OLED's AMD APU?

The Steam Deck OLED's custom AMD APU has four cores, eight threads, and can run up to 3.5 GHz.

How does the Asus ROG Ally X's Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor compare to the Steam Deck OLED's AMD APU in terms of cores and threads?

The Asus ROG Ally X's Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor has eight cores and 16 threads, with a higher clock speed of up to 5.1 GHz compared to the Steam Deck OLED's 3.5 GHz.

What are the storage options available for the Steam Deck OLED?

The Steam Deck OLED is available with either a 512 GB SSD or a 1 terabyte SSD, but it uses the more expensive 2230 M.2 SSD form factor.

How does the battery life of the Asus ROG Ally X compare to the Steam Deck OLED in terms of capacity and charging capabilities?

The Asus ROG Ally X has an 80 watt-hour battery with support for up to 100 Watts charging, while the Steam Deck OLED has a 50 watt-hour battery with up to 45 W quick charging.

What is the difference in weight between the Steam Deck OLED and the Asus ROG Ally X?

The Steam Deck OLED is lighter, weighing 640 grams, compared to the Asus ROG Ally X, which weighs 678 grams.

How does the pricing of the Steam Deck OLED compare to the Asus ROG Ally X, and what is the potential savings?

The Steam Deck OLED is cheaper, with a 512 GB unit priced at $549 and a 1 TB unit at $649, while the Asus ROG Ally X with a 1 TB drive starts at $799. Choosing the 512 GB Steam Deck OLED over the Ally X could save $250.

What is the performance difference between the two devices when tested with games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Horizon Zero Dawn?

In the benchmarks for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Asus ROG Ally X had an average of 57 FPS, while the Steam Deck OLED had 45 FPS. In Horizon Zero Dawn, the Ally X achieved an average of 79 FPS, and the Steam Deck OLED had 60 FPS.

How does the frame pacing in Red Dead Redemption 2 compare between the Asus ROG Ally X and the Steam Deck OLED at a 15 watt TDP?

The Asus ROG Ally X experienced some stuttering with a minimum of 8 FPS in the benchmark, while the Steam Deck OLED had a minimum of 24 FPS, indicating better frame pacing.

What are the average power draw and estimated runtime for the Steam Deck OLED and Asus ROG Ally X when playing Hades 2 at 720p High settings?

The Steam Deck OLED, with a 50 watt-hour battery, drew 7.3 watts for an estimated runtime of 6 hours and 50 minutes. The Asus ROG Ally X, with an 80 watt-hour battery, drew 8.2 watts for an estimated runtime of 9 hours and 45 minutes.

Which device performed better in terms of battery life during the higher TDP usage test with Cyberpunk 2077?

The Asus ROG Ally X performed better with an average power draw of 22.1 watts compared to the Steam Deck OLED's 23 watts, indicating a more efficient battery usage.

What is the conclusion of the video regarding the choice between the Steam Deck OLED and the Asus ROG Ally X?

The conclusion is that the choice depends on personal preference. If one prefers a higher price point with Windows, a 120 Hz display, and an 80 watt-hour battery, the Asus ROG Ally X is recommended. For those who prefer an OLED display, a Linux operating system, and a lower price point, the Steam Deck OLED is a great choice.