Steam Deck vs Asus ROG Ally X: Which Is the Best Handheld Console for Gaming in 2024?
The Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally X are among the best handheld consoles in their own right but the former does do better in areas that matter the most.
- The Steam Deck is a polished offering from Valve aimed at gamers looking for a no nonsense handheld that does its job well.
- The ROG Ally X is a viable option for those who remain uncompromising on getting the best out of their gaming handhelds.
- The Steam Deck edges ahead of the Ally X on account of a better, more polished and optimized interface.
Handheld consoles are a new additions to a video game industry that has been rapidly evolving to keep pace with current-gen hardware on both PCs and consoles, developers have been creating experiences that push the boundaries of narrative complexity and visual fidelity in modern gaming. Several examples come to mind with Sony’s evolution of Kratos’ poignant story in God of War, or Activision’s latest thrilling take on global espionage in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 being great examples.
However, the modern gamer is not content with being restricted to their desktops or couch as they play the best of what the industry has to offer, often preferring to take the experience with them while they are on the move. It has been a cue for some of the gaming industry’s best minds to come up with the concept of handheld gaming systems like the Steam Deck that build on what previous offerings from manufacturers like Sony have come up with in the past to take the segment into the future.
A Full-Fledged Gaming Experience in Players’ Pockets
Gamers on PC are fortunate to have a number of options at their disposal that offer a truly handheld gaming experience with devices that are capable of providing the best possible graphics while remaining uncompromising on performance as well, with their console counterparts like Sony’s PlayStation Portal being unable to emulate their utility while Nintendo’s Switch offers a selection of titles that may not be attractive options to PC gamers considering the range of titles that are on offer on storefronts like Steam.
The Steam Deck immediately comes to mind when one thinks of a viable handheld option that is capable of running the best titles on Valve’s storefront, many of which remain on the list of best games available on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. However, Asus has an equally enticing device in its ROG Ally X which brings some serious firepower and a feature list that promises an extraordinary experience for PC gamers on the go.
It can be hard to choose between these two capable handhelds considering that they both offer a ton of utility and performance. However, diving into their capabilities could make that choice a little easier for most gamers looking for their next handheld gaming device.
The Rog Ally X Takes the Fight to the Steam Deck
The Steam Deck is a capable offering from Valve that has arguably inspired Asus’ own take on gaming handhelds alongside other devices like the Lenovo Legion Go and MSI Claw. With a design that screams utility and an IPS panel that does the job it’s supposed to do with SteamOS facilitating a clean and intuitive user interface, Valve certainly has a winner on its hands.
However, Asus’ follow-up to its original handheld named the ROG Ally X brings a lot of firepower, a larger battery, and a better display to the table, taking the fight to the Steam Deck in ways that matter to many gamers. It is a showcase of intelligent choices by Asus as it aims to dethrone Valve in the handheld gaming console segment.
Beginning with a factor that is likely to influence many purchasing decisions, the Steam Deck’s price point puts it well ahead of the ROG Ally X with the latter being nearly $250 more expensive than the Steam Deck’s OLED version. The ROG Ally X’s price point puts in competition with more than a few dedicated gaming laptops, making it an impractical choice for any gamers looking for a handheld console considering that they could, in theory, put their cash to better use on a more powerful machine. The Steam Deck edges ahead of the ROG Ally as far as pricing is concerned.
Both handhelds measure up quite well in terms of their respective designs although several reviews of the ROG Ally X point to an improved design over its predecessor and elements like its joysticks aimed directly at addressing minor gripes with the Steam Deck. Asus deserves to be recognized for bringing down the weight of its latest handheld to match the Steam Deck despite having a larger, more capable display and a bigger battery. However, looks being subjective, it is a tie between the Deck and ROG Ally in the design department.
Innovations Galore in the Handheld Gaming Segment
The larger battery on the ROG Ally X is sure to worry Valve considering the purpose of handheld gaming consoles is about gaming on the go. However, focusing purely on battery capacity without understanding the way in which the larger battery performs under duress is a mistake.
Making full use of the ROG Ally X’s superior display and specs would see more gamers scrambling for the nearest AC power outlet more than Asus would have hoped with games like Cyberpunk 2077 drawing a lot of power to maintain steady framerates and resolutions. The Steam Deck could be a smarter choice although the ROG Ally X might edge ahead in this area depending on a gamer’s individual needs.
Performance on both machines is excellent although the ROG Ally X is the clear winner with its superior specs aimed at putting it ahead of Valve’s handheld. However, Asus’ decision to stick with Windows 11 might have given Valve an edge considering that installing games and navigating Steam OS is far simpler than a messy implementation of Windows on the ROG Ally X that only serves its purpose for gamers who play titles from multiple storefronts – a feature that could be achieved on the Steam Deck with a few tweaks. Although it is a close contest, the Steam Deck is the more appealing choice considering that it provides an intuitive, simple, and clean interface for its users despite the ROG Ally X’s superior hardware.
Deciding between the two consoles comes down to a matter of priorities. The Steam Deck is a viable choice for gamers looking for a gaming handheld that is easy to use and capable enough to run the best of modern gaming on a capable device that does not take away too much from the experience on offer from their PCs. However, the ROG Ally X is sure to appeal to gamers with vast libraries across different storefronts who want to carry the best possible experience they can get as they move around.
However, it seems that Valve continues to hold the crown for the best gaming handheld in 2024 although Asus has come dangerously close to taking its place.
