After the Steam Deck was released a little over a year ago, I put off buying one. It experienced numerous flaws, lengthy shipment delays, and considerable doubt over how much dedication its creator, Valve, actually had for their most recent hardware experiment at the moment. About two months ago, I finally caved and bought one, and I’ve been using this vastly improved gadget ever since.
The Asus ROG Ally, however, which boasts an allegedly (store-leaked) $700 price tag and an allegedly (store-leaked) 55 percent faster AMD Ryzen Z1 CPU, is now available. Additionally, it runs Windows 11 (possibly in “handheld” mode), giving users an easier way to run a variety of games, including popular online games like Fortnite and AAA blockbusters. The Ally boasts a screen that is clearer, brighter, and has a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. It also appears to be a little bit flatter and lighter than the Steam Deck. According to brief hands-on experiences posted by reporters, it might even operate cooler and quieter. It appears to be coming in early May or soon after.
As you might anticipate, the gaming press, which, like all press, is inherently bent toward battle, applauds the entrance of a new adversary. The Steam Deck is in “serious peril” as a result of Asus’ device, which is “gunning directly at the Steam Deck.” One author is “ready to ditch my Steam Deck” because of it. In his article for Digital Trends, Giovanni Colantonio claims that “nearly every single issue I have with the Steam Deck is fixed with the ROG Ally.”
Ordinarily, I might be shocked by this information. I have a tendency to buy odd tiny laptops on the spur of the moment and then regret it greatly later. And yet, just two months after I gave in, a version of my handheld Computer that appears to have undergone significant improvements will be made accessible. It’s fine with me.
Specifying your expectations for handheld gaming
Think about the Switch. Nintendo’s console is fantastic for me, but not because of its impressive graphics, which were already a little lackluster at its 2017 release. Nintendo’s own games, the system’s portability, and its firmly ingrained pick-up/put-down design are what most consumers find appealing. Nearly all games allow for instant pause and resume (a developer friend once told me that including this functionality was the most challenging aspect of his game’s Nintendo certification). My system for airports, couches, vacations, and other ambiguous periods of downtime was The Switch. The Steam Deck now fulfills the same function for me, although weighing 150 percent more and having Linux and numerous additional buttons.
I use my gaming PC to play games if I want to have the most comfortable controller or keyboard-and-mouse configuration, the highest audio quality (within my means), high-quality headphones or surround speakers, and possibly voice chat. Sometimes that means streaming my PC to my TV and playing it there; a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series S/X would work just as well for this manner. In my early middle age, I have no shortage of games to play. I can’t play a game for a long period without being distracted, at least not without messing up my sleep schedule. I’m not very good at playing calendar games. I’m thrilled to get some Steam Deck time when I can’t do that, although usually with different games.
This line has been somewhat muddled by the Steam Deck, for sure. Some video games are suitable for both settling in and leaning back on the couch. But there will always be some friction. Elden Ring plays oddly well on the Steam Deck, but it never quite feels right to play a game that complex, which calls for split-second timing, numerous menus, and a huge field of view. Playing first-person shooters can be enjoyable, but I typically feel like I’m operating at around 70% of my potential—and this isn’t just due to the frame rate and controller. This is especially true for games like John Wick Hex and BattleTech that demand a lot of mouse-pointing activity. The trackpads on the Steam Deck, which are absent on the ROG Ally, are undoubtedly helpful. But even with them, I sometimes get the impression that I’m only playing a preview of the full game.