Asus ROG Ally vs Steam Deck: the battle of the PC handhelds

There was a time when Steam Deck ran the handheld gaming PC show. Valve's device has been considered the gold standard for on-the-go PC gaming for the last year, without any competitors coming close to matching its offering. There's a new kid on the block, though, and according to newly released spec information, the Asus ROG Ally is coming for Valve's crown. 

Of course, the Steam Deck has been out in the wild since February 2022, whereas we're still awaiting release date information for the Asus ROG Ally. That means this comparison isn't going to be the final word on which handheld gaming PC you should buy in 2023. Rather, we'll be keeping this updated with all the latest information on the the ROG Ally to help you work out which device might be better suited as each new reveal is announced, culminating in a final launch verdict once we've had the ROG Ally in hand. 

And more information is coming soon. The Asus ROG Ally launch event is on the way today, May 11, promising pricing, release date, and spec information in full. That means you'll know plenty more about whether the Ally or Steam Deck is best for you in just a few hours. 

Asus ROG Ally vs Steam Deck: Specs

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The Steam Deck may have only released a year ago, but the Asus ROG Ally is about to smoke Valve's offering in the specs department. On paper, this is a far more capable device with AMD Zen 4 processing (vs Steam Deck's Zen 2) and RDNA 3 graphics. Of course, all of that comes with a pinch of salt - we don't know how well the Ally will handle all this power in the real world. The Steam Deck may well still win in the performance department, but right now, with specs in front of us, this is going to be a hard battle for Valve. 

On top of that, the Asus ROG Ally is also promising a superior display to that of the Steam Deck. They're both 7-inch panels, but Asus has upped the resolution to true 1080p with a much faster 120Hz refresh rate. If all goes to plan, that's going to leave you with crisper images and far less motion blur - especially with AMD FreeSync running in the background. 

We only know about one configuration of the Asus ROG Ally at the moment, a 512GB model. Right now, the Steam Deck is the more flexible option, with models sporting 64GB, 256GB or 512GB of storage space and variable prices to match them. 

Asus ROG Ally vs Steam Deck: Design

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The Asus ROG Ally and Steam Deck both share the same design language, the same central screen and side control form factor that has reigned supreme in the handheld space for so long. However, there are some easily discernible differences in the fine print. 

For starters, the Steam Deck is a chunky device, with a width and heft to each side that the Asus ROG Ally is looking to avoid. That means some of the stability we enjoyed with Valve's option may be lost in Asus's iteration, with less to physically hold onto and reduced grip size around the back. However, the angled sides and skinnier profile to the ROG Ally may prove more comfortable for those with smaller hands. 

Both devices have a slick look to them. Where the Steam Deck opts for a classic black and gray aesthetic, though, Asus is moving into the future with bold white, RGB accents around the thumbsticks, and angular accents along the back. The better design will be down to personal preference, but it's well worth considering the additional LEDs piled into the ROG Ally - for better or worse. 

Asus ROG Ally vs Steam Deck: Features

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If you're deciding between a Steam Deck and the upcoming Asus ROG Ally, the feature sets may certainly help you out. While the Steam Deck concerns itself with buttons galore, the Ally focuses its strengths under the hood. If you're looking to keep all your macros right at your fingertips, we'd recommend sticking with Value. There are four additional buttons around the back (double that of the ROG Ally), as well as those two classic pressure sensitive touchpads. That's a pretty comprehensive control system to serve a massive range of genres. 

However, Asus's option comes with a Windows 11-shaped silver bullet. While the Steam Deck runs off a Linux-based operating system (running SteamOS), the Ally will be able to run far more launchers far easier. From Epic to Game Pass, all your games will be quickly accessible, with special thanks to the Armoury Crate SE software bringing everything into one scannable home screen. By contrast, Valve requires some pretty time consuming tinkering behind the scenes to be able to fudge anything other than Steam. 

That flexibility is also present in your docking options. Yes, the Steam Deck can connect to a separate display via its USB-C port, but the ROG Ally will be able to do all that while also boosting its power through an Asus ROG XG Mobile GPU. Budget permitting, that means you'll be playing handheld when on the go and taking advantage of an RTX 4090 graphics card when hooked up to the big screen.

Should you buy the Steam Deck or wait for Asus ROG Ally?

All of this is to answer one simple question. Should you dive in with the Steam Deck today or wait for the Asus ROG Ally this summer? While we're still working with theoretical numbers and a few press shots, I would recommend holding off until we know more about how the Asus ROG Ally handles in the real world. That doesn't mean we should all be rushing out and picking up the Steam Deck while we wait - in fact, the numbers are pointing towards the Asus ROG Ally being the better buy in 2023. 

If you're after more portable options, be sure to check out the best gaming phones and the best gaming tablets. For more PC on the go, though, take a look at the best gaming laptops on the market right now.