Steam Deck or ROG Ally? The real portable gamer console

My friends, we have officially entered the era of portable gaming consoles Very serious, those who don't give up Elden Ring even when they go to the bathroom.

And here we are not talking about Nintendo Switch with its Mario and Zelda, which I also respect.

No, this is about bringing your PC games triple A everywhere, from the desk to the sofa, without giving up 60 fps (or at least dreaming of it).

But which one to choose between Steam Deck And the ROG Ally? Two war machines, two different philosophies, and a lot of things to discuss.

Ready? If it leaves.

Design and build quality

La Steam Deck It's a tank. Big, sturdy, with an aesthetic that screams: “I'm Valve, and I'm not interested in looking pretty, as long as it works.” The keys are well arranged, the sticks are solid, and the touchpads... well, they'll remind you of those old laptop mice, but you need them.

But it's big, almost intimidating. It makes you feel like a real warrior, but look for a dedicated bag if you want to carry it around.

La ROG Ally, on the other hand, it looks like a futuristic gadget. It's lighter, thinner, with aggressive lines and LEDs that shout 'PC master race'.

Asus has focused everything on style, and it fits. In the hand it is more comfortable, but that lightness pays off a bit in solidity.

In short, between the two, the choice is very subjective.

Performance

La Steam Deck It mounts a custom AMD Zen 2 APU with RDNA 2, which translates into decent power to manage your favorite games. It all works through Linux-based SteamOS. And here comes the magic: Proton, a kind of tech spell that makes Windows games run without too much drama. Sure, every once in a while a few bugs pop up, but Valve is always there to patch it up.

La ROG Ally, on the other hand, is a small monster with AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, a chip that promises superior performance. And it runs on Windows 11. Yes, Windows. Which means you can install everything: Steam, Epic, Xbox Game Pass, even Excel if you're a masochist. But here's the problem: Windows isn't optimized for portable gaming. Expect some disgrace for the drivers and for an interface that seems to be made for the desktop, not for a console.

Display: wow or meh screen?

La ROG Ally It's easy to win here: a screen 1080p at 120Hz, perfect for fast games and a top visual experience. La Steam Deck, instead, it stops at a 800p at 60Hz. Oh yes, it doesn't seem like much, but in reality it helps save battery and makes everything smoother, considering that the Deck doesn't have the power to go any further. In short, is it better to have fewer pixels and more fluidity? It depends on what you're looking for.

Battery: the real challenge

Both suffer here, let's be clear. La Steam Deck gives you about 2-3 hours of battery life with demanding games. La ROG Ally, with its more powerful hardware and demanding display, does even worse if you play at full power. In short, always carry the charger or resign yourself to hit and run sessions.

Price and availability

La Steam Deck It starts from about €419 for the basic model (64GB, but you need a microSD right away). La ROG Ally, on the other hand, is located around €799, offering a more powerful machine, but at a price that makes you sweat cold. Is it really worth it? If your goal is only to play without complications, the Steam Deck It is the king of value for money. If, on the other hand, you want a more versatile experience and are willing to pay, the ROG Ally might be the right choice.

Conclusion: a difficult choice

La Steam Deck is perfect for those who want a ready-to-use, no-frills experience with the full support of Valve. It's cheaper, more practical and more optimized for pure gaming.

La ROG Ally, on the other hand, is for power freaks, those who want everything right away: Windows, Game Pass, 120Hz screen and, why not, the ability to install your grandmother's printer management software.

But remember, gamer friend: in the end, the real goal is only one.

Play. And with both you'll do it great.

And you? Are you more into Deck or Ally?

Write it in the comments and let's open the flame! 🎮