Steam Deck vs. Asus ROG Ally: Gaming Handheld Faceoff

When the Steam Deck launched last year, it turned heads, showing gamers how well handheld PC gaming on the go could work. It didn't run Windows (unless you installed it yourself) and was limited to Steam games (again, unless you installed Windows). But it ran games well enough on low settings to turn heads, and Valve's hardware and software integration was well executed.

Now, Asus is fresh out of the gate with the first serious competitor to the Steam Deck in the Asus ROG Ally, a Windows 11-based gaming handheld using a new AMD chip, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme (starting with a lower-end Z1).

While neither are as powerful as the best gaming PCs, it's clear that the burgeoning handheld gaming market has struck a nerve. If you're looking to buy one of the best PC gaming handhelds, here's how they stacked up following our extensive benchmarking and reviews.

Design

Oftentimes, people who love tech prefer something lighter and sleeker. But that's not always the case. Despite being heavier and wider, I prefer the Steam Deck's design to the ROG Ally.

The Steam Deck is a bit of a brick at 11.73 x 4.6 x 1.93 inches and 1.47 pounds. The Ally is 11.04 x 4.38 x 0.84 inches and weighs 1.34 pounds. That's a noticeable difference. If you have smaller hands, you may prefer the Ally. But the Deck is more ergonomic, with rounded grips to hold onto, giving you control of its weight. The Ally is more angular, which can dig into your palms.

The Ally uses an Xbox-style layout, while the Steam Deck's is a bit more controversial, putting the thumbsticks and buttons side by side. I was able to quickly get used to this, so it's a bit of a non-issue, or at least it was for me. The Steam Deck also fits in touch pads, which are great for navigation with a mouse in games like Civilization VI and for precise aiming in first-person shooters. To me, that's worth the extra size.

And when it comes to feel, the Steam Deck simply feels more premium in the hands. The Ally is lighter, but also a bit more plasticky and more like a toy. Everyone should take some design cues, especially on ergonomics, from Valve here.

Winner: Steam Deck

Steam Deck vs Asus ROG Ally Specs

On paper, the Ally makes the Steam Deck look old. To be fair, it also came out more than a year later.

While the Steam Deck uses a custom AMD Zen 2 chip, codenamed "Aerith," with 4 cores, 8 threads and 8 RDNA 2 compute units for graphics, the Z1 and Z1 Extreme both use newer chips based on AMD's Zen 4 architecture. The Z1 has the same number of cores and threads as Aerith, while the Z1 Extreme in the model of the Ally we tested doubles them. The Z1 Extreme has 12 compute units, while the Z1 has 4 CUs.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Tom's HardwareValve Steam DeckAsus ROG Ally
CPUCustom Zen 2 "Van Gogh," 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.4 - 3.5 GHzAMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8 cores / 16 threads, up to 5.1 GHz, 4 nm) or AMD Ryzen Z1 (Zen 4, 4 cores / 8 threads, up to 4.9 GHz, 4 nm)
GPU8 RDNA 2 compute units, 1.0 - 1.6 GHzRDNA 3, 4GB VRAM, 12 compute units at 2.7 GHz clock with Z1 Extreme, 4 compute units at 2.5 GHz with Z1
RAM16GB LPDDR516GB LPDDR5-6400
StorageUp to 512GB m.2 NVMe SSD, SD card slot (UHS-I)Up to 512GB M.2 SSD, SD card slot (UHS-II)
Display7-inch touchscreen, 1280 x 800 (16:10), 60 Hz, IPS, anti-glare etched glass on 512GB model7-inch touchscreen, 1920 x 1080, 120 Hz, IPS touchscreen with Gorilla Glass Victus and Gorilla Glass DXC
Battery40 WHr40 WHr
Power Adapter45 W65 W
Operating SystemSteamOS 3.0 (Arch Linux, KDE Plasma on desktop)Windows 11 Home
Dimensions11.73 x 4.6 x 1.93 inches / 298 x 117 x 49 mm11.04 x 4.38 x 0.84 inches / 280.44 x 111.18 x 21.22 mm
Weight1.47 pounds / 669 grams1.34 pounds / 608 grams
Price$399 for 64GB; $529 for 256GB; $649 for 256GB and anti-glare etched glass$699.99 for Z1 Extreme, $599.99 for Z1

I think the 512GB storage number — the top end for both models — alongside 16GB of RAM are extremely important.

The Ally wins here based on newness alone, with a newer chip. But that comes with an asterisk, as we haven't tested the lower end model with the regular Z1. Every Steam Deck comes with the same processor, but different storage (this means you could upgrade the storage on any Steam Deck and be equivalent — or better — than the highest end model). That's not the case on the Ally. So consider this a feather in the cap specifically for the Z1 Extreme.

Winner: Asus ROG Ally

Performance

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the system with the newer, more powerful graphics technology has an edge. Surely enough, the RDNA 3 compute units in the Z1 Extreme (again, we didn't get to test the Z1) often outpace the RDNA 2 CUs in the Steam Deck. But frankly, I was surprised to see how little the differences were in some cases.

Nonetheless, higher numbers are indeed higher. If you already own a Steam Deck, I'm not sure it's worth upgrading to the Z1 Extreme Ally, but if performance matters to you above all else, the Ally offers more of it with Z1 Extreme.

Also note that Steam Deck and its Aerith chip are meant to run the same whether on battery or connected to power, which means you always know what you're going to get. But the Ally doesn't do that. Much like a gaming laptop, it defaults to a "Performance" preset on battery and "turbo" with the AC adapter plugged in. It's in Turbo with the charger where you see the biggest performance differences. I’d argue that scores on battery matter the most here, since these are after all gaming portables. But the Ally does offer a way to get more performance when you're chained to the wall (or a PD power bank).

Winner: Asus ROG Ally

Display

There's no question about it: the Asus ROG Ally has a superior display to the Steam Deck. It's brighter, offers a higher resolution, and offers faster speeds.

While both handhelds have 7-inch touch displays, that's where the similarities end. The Steam Deck has a 16:10 aspect ratio while the ROG Ally is 16:9. The Steam Deck has a lower-res 1280 x 800 screen, and the Ally is higher-resolution at 1920 x 1080. The Steam Deck caps out at 60 Hz while the ROG Ally goes up to 120 Hz.

Asus ROG Ally

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

When tested with our light meter and colorimeter, we found the Ally is significantly brighter (at 465 nits) and more vivid than the standard screen on a Steam Deck. It is nice that Valve offers an anti-glare option for outside play on the 512GB model, though.

The 120 Hz panel on the Ally is great for esports (I used it a lot for Rocket League), and the screen is so bright that I rarely needed to use it at full luminosity. But these screen advancements can cause a hit in battery life, which brings us to the next section.

Winner: Asus ROG Ally

Battery Life

Both the Steam Deck and the ROG Ally have 40 watt hour batteries. And both of them will require frequent charging.

In my own typical use, I found that I could only use the Ally for about two hours, and that was with the display at half brightness. When I reviewed the Steam Deck, a bit over two hours was the norm, though depending on the type of game I often stretched it out to closer to five hours. In general, battery life will depend heavily on the settings you use and the games you play.

But the Steam Deck has a lower resolution screen that’s also dimmer, but far from unusable. Its frame-locking software also is easier to use, and in general I find the system can eke out a bit of time over the Ally, with its weaker SoC, while not as much as I'd like. The Steam Deck wins here, but just barely.

Winner: Steam Deck

Game Library

While Steam has an impressive library of games, the Asus ROG Ally can play those and more.

The Steam Deck, running SteamOS, can run most games on Steam, though certain games can't run because of issues with controls, small text, emulation issues, or anti-cheat problems. There are thousands of games that Valve has verified to run. And eventually, Valve has committed to rating the whole library.

Windows doesn't have the same issues, which gives the Ally an edge here. Games designed for Windows largely run well. There's no emulation here. You can also easily include games from multiple launchers, including Xbox, GOG, Epic Games, Rockstar Games, Ubisoft, EA, and more. That opens you up to basically any PC game. Some games, especially older games, may have some control issues, but there's still a far bigger library overall on the ROG Ally, and you're not limited to just Steam.

One might argue the best answer is (or at least would be) dual-booting, but Valve hasn't made that available yet. You could, if you wanted to, install Windows on Steam Deck, though I don't see most people doing that.

Winner: Asus ROG Ally

Operating System and Software

One of the biggest differences between the two devices is the OS. The Steam Deck uses Steam OS 3.0, a customized version of Arch Linux, with the option to use KDE Plasma on the desktop. Most people will probably never leave SteamOS, which is fine — it works well and is totally integrated with the hardware. If you know Steam on other PCs (especially Big Picture mode), you know SteamOS.

It all, largely, just works. There are options for quick settings like brightness and audio volume, but also more advanced features like locking frame rates and adjusting the TDP. Some sections, like downloads, are basically taken verbatim from the desktop app. Because all the games are Steam games, they launch right away directly from your library.

The ROG Ally uses Windows 11. The advantage here is that Windows can run more games. It doesn't have to emulate things via Proton, and it can have more launchers, like Epic Games, Xbox, Ubisoft and more. But Windows 11 wasn't inherently meant to run on a system like this, so Asus has built on top of it with its Armoury Crate SE software. This has a section called Command Center with similar quick actions, though I've occasionally had certain settings, like resolution or frame rate, revert on me. Armoury Crate SE has a library section, but it can't launch games on its own — it launches launchers, which launch games.

Windows 11 also isn't as easy to navigate with a controller. There is a desktop mode to use a thumbstick as a mouse, but it's clear that Windows 11 wasn't designed for this specific application. It can be made to work, but it's clunkier.

The best launcher on Windows 11 is actually Steam in Big Picture mode. It works just like the Steam Deck and it feels great.

Winner: Steam Deck

Upgradeability

While at one point, Valve suggested that "you shouldn't do any of this" when it comes to upgrading the Steam Deck, it's still the more repairable system.

Admittedly, it's harder to upgrade the main component, the m.2 SSD, in the Steam Deck than it is in the ROG Ally. On the Steam Deck, you have to remove a thermal shield that shares a screw with the fan assembly. But for most enthusiasts, that shouldn't be too much to worry about.

Asus ROG Ally

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

On the other hand, that SSD is currently the only part you can really replace on the Ally. For the Steam Deck, Valve has teamed up with iFixit to offer new fans, batteries, joysticks, bumper assemblies, and other replacement parts. The company has also opened repair centers for those who don't want to open these machines themselves. It's unclear what Asus will do to support the Ally outside of its one-year warranty.

Both handhelds also have microSD card slots. The Steam Deck's is UHS-I, while the Ally's is a slightly faster UHS-II.

Winner: Steam Deck

Total

Swipe to scroll horizontally
RoundValve Steam DeckAsus ROG Ally
DesignXRow 0 - Cell 2
SpecsRow 1 - Cell 1 X
PerformanceRow 2 - Cell 1 X
DisplayRow 3 - Cell 1 X
Battery LifeXRow 4 - Cell 2
Game LibraryRow 5 - Cell 1 X
Operating System and SoftwareXRow 6 - Cell 2
UpgradeabilityXRow 7 - Cell 2
Total44

Bottom Line

The Steam Deck excels in some areas, the ROG Ally in others. If you prioritize comfort (and don't have smaller hands), play most of your games on Steam and want a tightly integrated platform, the Steam Deck is for you. You could, if you wanted, always install Windows later. For those who want a brighter display and the latest chips from AMD, the Z1 or Z1 Extreme, the Ally is the way to go, especially if you don't mind fiddling more with launchers and software that's a bit buggy.

In some ways, the Steam Deck is a bit more like a console: largely ready out of the box, comfortable to use, but not as powerful. It also starts at a lower price with the same SoC as its more expensive counterparts, though you'll want to update the storage down the line. The Ally is like a gaming PC in good and bad ways, with more fiddling, more component choices, and more options.

Which way you go will depend largely on your needs and what you want to work best. For newcomers, I think the Steam Deck is the way to go, while those who want the latest and greatest (and a better screen) may go for a Z1 Extreme-based Ally, even if the feel of the system isn't as good.

Andrew E. Freedman

Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Threads @FreedmanAE and Mastodon @FreedmanAE.mastodon.social.

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  • colossusrage
    I think I am going with the Ally. Although I really like my Steam Deck, I do want it to be smaller and lighter and more compatible with my game library. I have a huge library on Epic Games (all free), Microsoft Store, Ubisoft, and Rockstar. Just getting RDR2 to run on my Steam Deck required me watching YouTube videos of all the steps to get it to work, I haven't even bothered with the other launchers. I don't see the SteamOS as a win, it needs a lot of work in its desktop mode and besides being less bloated than Windows, it's not really any better.
    Reply
  • atomicWAR
    I would still love some testing on the Rog ally with Steam OS and see how it stacks up then.
    Reply
  • atomicWAR
    colossusrage said:
    I think I am going with the Ally. Although I really like my Steam Deck, I do want it to be smaller and lighter and more compatible with my game library. I have a huge library on Epic Games (all free), Microsoft Store, Ubisoft, and Rockstar. Just getting RDR2 to run on my Steam Deck required me watching YouTube videos of all the steps to get it to work, I haven't even bothered with the other launchers. I don't see the SteamOS as a win, it needs a lot of work in its desktop mode and besides being less bloated than Windows, it's not really any better.
    I returned my steam deck for it being underpowered and while the Steam OS was great for the games it supports, it ultimately doesn't support enough of my Steam library while feeling a little beta (july '22). Anyways Steam OS is great for things like it's game suspend/start feature but its lack of support for other launchers is also an issue for me. I would love to see a system launched with an eight core CPU with 12 CUs, VRR that has dual boot of Steam OS and Windows 11. You give me that and I'd likely be sold as there wouldn't be a game I couldn't play and I could use Steam OS when ever possible (game suspend is their killer feature after being mobile IMHO).
    Reply
  • PlaneInTheSky
    My experience with Steam Deck has been horrible.

    -The Steam Deck device is loud and big. I thought I would be able to use this device on the train, but the size of the device and noise the fans make is too attention grabbing. I don't want to advertise to everyone around me that I'm holding a big $700 gaming device.

    -A significant number of games from Steam do not work on the Steam Deck. I'm sure one could get some to work with a lot of tinkering, but I don't want to tinker on a mobile device. I want stuff to work out of the box.

    -GoG and Epic Games are not natively supported on Steam Deck, and while you can install a 3rd party launcher, the games would not work for me. The Steam Deck feels like an Apple device that tries to lock you into the Steam Store, I did not like this feeling of being so locked into the Steam ecosystem at all.

    So I am definitely on the look-out for a Windows device that will work with all the games I have (not just some), and that is smaller, lighter, and makes less noise than the Steam Deck.

    Either I will get a Switch Light, or some device like this Rog Ally.
    Reply
  • Elusive Ruse
    Thanks @AndrewFreedman for the comparison. You pretty much covered everything and I agree with your observations and conclusion. I'd add that if one is torn between a high-end Deck and the Z1 Extreme Ally, the clear option is the Ally.
    PS: I have to bring up Asus' latest scummy moves in regards to the overvolting of CPUs and their warranty voiding BIOS release etc as something that soured me on buying anything from them in the future.
    Reply
  • ajpaolello
    I think the price for the steam deck is incorrect, at least aside from the 64GB. Should be 256GB at $529 and 512GB at $649. Other than that nice comparison. The tie makes sense
    Reply
  • husker
    My grandson has a steam deck and bought a razor chroma keyboard to pair with it. The keyboard works okay with it, but there are some major features that cannot be used because the steam deck does not support the drivers needed to fully utilize a chroma keyboard. I think there are likely to be many other peripheral/driver issues like this, which should have factored into the assessment of the best operating system.
    Reply
  • mac_angel
    I'd be interested in finding out if there's a performance increase in installing a Tiny11 version of Windows. On regular PC's there is, so I'd think that it would be even more noticeable on something like this. I also don't think the battery life is an issue, you can easily buy an external battery power bar since both use USB-C for power.
    Reply
  • JTWrenn
    This review makes me happy I already have a steam deck, and makes me think if you haven't taken the plunge yet waiting for the Deck 2 makes more sense than going for the ROG. Screens are cool and all but the resolution seems like it is overkill right now. If they went lower res with the extra power and efficiency and didn't go crazy on the screen I think it would have been a killer. Really I just wish we had screens that could adjust better to odd resolutions...but that is a big ask.
    Reply
  • PEJUman
    I have steam deck 64GB + 200GB mSD + cheap antiglare from amazon. Very happy with it:
    Around the house, I stream (instead of local play), from desktop (3090 + 5950) it works very well.
    emulators (this is a major 2nd benefit, https://www.emudeck.com/) also works very well.
    Streaming the LCD to samsung 8K TV (that is driven by the 3090 normally) using steamlink also works very well.
    2nd player on Bluetooth while streaming also works well.
    notice the trend?

    streaming emulated NES/SNES to the 8K, playing 2 players with my kid.... priceless. And it's only 2 minutes to fire up. and literally 45 minutes to setup when I got the deck. Great ROI on your setup time investment.

    For me, SteamDeck is a new frontier: it enables new scenarios with polish that windows simply can't touch. It just works. This review captures it well, but maybe in more objective manner, if you're still reading, it's clear I am a fan of the deck.

    I am at a point I just want my portables: phone, steam deck, and laptop to just work. Even if it means the experience is little more limited. Happy to tinker at my desktop, but don't want to do every day, at the bus, or the train, etc.

    I am sure Tom's reader can fix any issues on Ally with Windows, with the help of google and reddit, and gobs of free time, only to do all over again after an update or two. An obscure Z1 processor that ASUS / AMD makes very little money on? that's a recipe for engineered obsolesce.

    Valve on the other hand, wants to sell their ecosystem, even if that means taking a loss on hardware.

    With steam deck, someone else is fixing these issues. For free, every time... all for ~ $450 and very little time on your end.
    Reply