ROG Ally Review - 1 Month Later

[@NerdNest]

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[@cloudGGs]

ASUS Rog Ally makes steam deck look like an amateur. Steam deck is absolutely rubbish compared to the Ally.

[@cybercookie72]

can the ugreen charger support the Ally 30w boost?

[@NerdNest]

Yes, the 100W charger can.

[@thrallingFRglory]

@@cloudGGs How old are you?

[@GameTimeWhy]

​@@cloudGGsweak bait.

[@Sinyckle]

Honestly love my Ally and haven’t had a single problem. I know my experience seems to be less common but this thing is amazing. I’m a console gamer but I am quite familiar with windows as I have a surfacebook 3 and have had lots of laptops in the past. I’ve done a lot of tinkering to the ally to make it cooler and avoid overheating issues. Anyone using the Ally I suggest turning off the CPU boost as well as setting a custom fan curve. My CPU temp rarely gets over 90° under load. I regularly play Cyberpunk 2077 with some light mods running. Unfortunately this device is not an out of the box plug and play device but it is amazing for an enthusiast that is willing to put some time and dig around tinkering the device.

[@zmullaney]

Same here. I have used it every day and it has only gotten better. Perfect machine to grind in Diablo 4

[@killzekat]

Same here! Love my Deck for low TDP gaming(old games and indies) but for recent games and emulation the Ally is a beast. The screen and sound are already a big upgrade but the power to play RE4 Remake, Cyberpunk, SF6, Spiderman,etc at 720p60fps high, and some games even at 1080p30fps medium/high is something else...

[@maxducoudray]

No reason to assume your experience is less common. People with problems will always be heard more than those whose Ally is working fine.

[@reesekilpatrick241]

Same

[@reesekilpatrick241]

Put on a custom fan curve and it doesn’t go above 80 in turbo mode

[@JohnnyNewport]

I had the steam deck since it was released and the ally was legitimately what I dreamed of when I initially got my deck. It’s weird to me that people are having so many issues. At launch I had to RMA 3 decks all for different issues. Drifting, buttons that won’t register the proper commands even while factory resetting completely. So many issues. I just hope people hold on to it long enough to see it shine.

[@mechanicalmonk2020]

You seem to be in the monitority for both issues with the Deck as well as lack of issues on the Ally. Good that you're enjoying your Ally though.

[@rsiv5156]

I had a ton of issues with my first deck, too. Sending it in for repair didn’t help (it actually created new issues), but they finally replaced it and the new one is much better.

[@brianmiller2546]

I had so many issues with my deck I threw it away. Complete waste of money. Probably the worst quality device I’ve bought. I was hesitant about the Ally but finally bought one and have had zero issues. 100% better than the deck.

[@JohnnyNewport]

@@brianmiller2546 Yup, easy windows experience. Instal and get going.

[@therunawaykid6523]

@@rsiv5156 still have my original aya Neo 2021 not really any problems it’s a great device currently enjoying playing through the pc port of ratchet and clank rift apart really fun game

[@lilBugger35]

I bought the 64GB Steam Deck and then upgraded to a 1TB SSD when I got the money. I do like the ROG Ally but I really can't spend over $500 on a device. I really do wish that price was a bit lower. I do think its worth that price but I just can't afford it. So I'm for sure sticking with the Steam Deck and I really hope the next Steam Deck is similarly priced. Great video too. Thanks.

[@frankcoley1537]

I hope you didn't spend over 500 for your phone 🙃

[@lilBugger35]

@@frankcoley1537 If Asus took payments on the ROG Ally I'd most likely have one. They're not the same.

[@coryvallad7578]

​@lilBugger35 there is no difference bud ......... phone plans also make you pay slightly higher at times than you would just buy it our right. The only difference is you pay for it over time but none the less you do pay for it. You could always put it on a credit card and best buy does have a leasing program as well essentially what your phone plan is lol 😆 not to mention you could save up for it if the big chunk is what is bothering you. But either way you'd still be buying for 700...........

[@lilBugger35]

@@coryvallad7578 Okay well if it makes you happy I have a Google Pixel 7 Witch I did pay $500 for.

[@davidmeti1354]

Also got to remember ROG Ally can achieve much higher performance at the cost of battery life. Glad you're happy with your SD though

[@mattmurphy224]

I had the Steam Deck since Aug 2022 and it was good, but sold it and got the Ally. No regrets. The combo of screen, power and compatibility is too good. I even use it as a laptop and pair it up with mouse and keyboard to do some work. I have the ROG Ally case and it’s good for throwing in a bag and works as a little stand for watching KZbin. Travelers- get the Anker 737 140W power bank, it supports the 30W turbo mode and basically triples battery life.

[@thelegit969]

Thanks for the travelers tip. I just purchased.

[@GraveUypo]

i don't see how compatibility is a selling point when you can install windows on the deck too. mine is dual booting, but i use windows 99% of the time

[@Theman-b8n]

@@GraveUypomore power

[@jjayala]

Got an open box deal that should be here in the morning. Thanks for the tip.

[@salsachevy1]

I've had mine since launch day and I've had virtually no issues. I love being able to all of my games, my steamdeck was nice but I hated going through extra work trying to get a game to work. I use my Ally everyday and I love it

[@blackmamba1999]

Me too..I mean I have had some random crashes but I can just turn it on and go into whatever game I want and it runs pretty flawless.

[@garypinholster1962]

Most bot like auto response I've ever read.

[@TheMongoNetwork]

I’ve had no issues whatsoever. Replaced the SSD and tweaked some settings to conserve battery life and I love the Ally.

[@drsparklagasm]

Im not gonna lie i do not see many sponsor skits as entertaining as yours. Thanks for the laughs!

[@NerdNest]

Thank you!

[@Eevolved34]

The production quality of this review is hands down brilliant!

[@BILLYSPROCKET88]

thanks for talking about the touch pads and gyro. Most people gloss over those features when comparing the two.

[@Leopardeye]

Still in love with my steam deck, but per usual, I love and support all your vids. 😄 Okay this ad was HILARIOUS. Lmao

[@NerdNest]

Thanks, it was fun to shoot. My next one is even better.

[@Leopardeye]

I bet. 😂 Can’t wait to see lol

[@02stampede]

The Ally has been great for me and I have almost zero complaints after a month. I loved the Steam Deck but wished it had a bit more power. I do miss the gyro and touchpads sometimes which were awesome on the SD.

[@StinkyPeteGames]

When I first picked one up all that were available were open box units so I pulled the trigger and took the discount. Had some issues and fried an SD. Returned it in my window for a new model and its been flawless! Don't let the release bugs scare you away from this amazing device! It has replaced my Switch, my PS5, and my gaming desktop lol ❤

[@bsmarques]

Wow, video edition/production really step up. Nice to see you're still pushing the limits, congrats for keeping the high quality. Also, I got some games because of you (like the Neon Dash) and I'm loving them, thank you!

[@NerdNest]

Thanks for watching!

[@tux.bobble]

I appreciate your dedication to the sponsor bit with the hats

[@NerdNest]

Next sponsor but is even more fun. If they approve it. Thanks for watching.

[@EXDC]

Had a Deck since Aug 2022, in terms of people new to this kind of thing, i would recommend it 10 times out of 10. The Ally tho is just perfect for all my use cases, needs a little tinkering here and there but it does absolutely everything you want it, nothing to stop you from playing your favorite games!

[@Mr.Kratoast]

Went through 3 allys (one had shipping issues, then broken button, then system issues) maybe my best buy got a bad batch but i returned mine. Ill stick with my deck

[@allenfrisch]

Wow! That sucks. I guess I lucked out with my unit! Haven’t had any hardware issues. Ironically I had to have my original Deck replaced when it was bricked by an update!! 😂

[@Jaxv3r]

@@allenfrisch did you try reflash the OS drive?

[@damian4351]

That sucks. I got mine on day 1 and had 0 issues apart from software updates

[@X862go]

Wow that sucks I absolutely Love my ally! It's absolutely gorgeous and you get more performance plugged up.

[@allenfrisch]

@@Jaxv3r Yep, tried everything. Valve support was awesome too! They walked me through a bunch of attempts and then quickly replaced the unit when nothing worked!

[@nathanpeterson7413]

I don’t have an ROG Ally, I still LOVE that it exists though. I love my steam deck and have enjoyed it a lot. Seeing other companies enter this market will likely lead to better devices from all companies as they compete for everyone’s business and I think that’s a huge win for consumers!

[@therunawaykid6523]

Totally agree, I have the aya Neo 2021 which I love I’m currently playing through the ratchet and clank rift apart pc port

[@Itsumi456]

I got my Ally about a week back and as someone without a PC it blows my mind the customisability of everything. Games are cheap and the majority run absolutely great. I'll admit I'm scared of putting it into turbo mode though but I've heard people have gotten some insane performance out of that. Thankfully on performance mode almost everything can hit 60fps and that's all I personally need. I can't really tell the difference when it hits 120 anyways.

[@therunawaykid6523]

Yeah it’s a really impressive powerful device, i have the aya Neo 2021 though which I love

[@kianb4990]

Honestly, I love my ROG Ally. I haven’t used my deck ever since I got my Ally at launch. I have been doing all the workarounds needed to play non-compatible games on my deck before and now, with the Ally, I just have to install them. Also, most of the games I planned to buy for my SD are all free with the free xbox game pass from the Ally.

[@SonicDestiny]

tiny performance bump doesn`t make up for all disadvantages compare to steam deck

[@schwangtv7448]

I think it really depends on what you care about the most... I had a steam deck which I really loved, but I ultimately sold it once I got the ally and realized how much more I liked the ally... For me, the variable refresh rate and the 120 Hertz capability is worth it. I haven't experienced any of the issues that people have been complaining about related to SD cards, etc.. and for me, the different operating modes is more intuitive than what steam Deck offers. Love the ally!!

[@therunawaykid6523]

I have heard it gets really hot to use have you had these issues?

[@keithgrey5749]

I have been really happy with the Ally and luckily no issues. Sold my SD to my son. The SD is a great handheld but I am a heavy gamepass user and the Ally meets my needs.

[@fairplayer916]

I've been through 3 allys from best buy. 1st one worked for about 3 days and then had some sort of hardware failure causing broken textures in every game. Resets, updates, full wipes and reinstalls did nothing to fix. So I went back to best buy and swapped it out. The first replacement I got, I never even powered it on. Soon as I opened the box, the right joystick was fubar. Back to best buy for my 3rd, and so far current, rog ally. This one works perfect. I've done alot of the tweaking stuff to get a more optimised experience for me including: Turning off cpu boost so the cpu doesn't starve the gpu and kill my battery. I get more stable framerates this way. Turning off the secure momory thing for less idle ram usage. Usiing nosebloaty to get a bunch of the crap off the device. Custom power profiles cranked to their max with aggressive fan curves for a far cooler running ally. (seriously, this one makes a HUGE difference) And another big one for general usability was turning on and setting up windows hibernate instead of sleep. Now the ally acts just like a steam deck when I tap the power on and off.

[@Bishopz]

13:45 I think the screen and thumb stick rgb weirdness is just due to windows crappy way of handling sleep mode. I ended up going into the power settings and changing everything that said “sleep” to “hibernate” including the pressing of the power button and i haven’t had those issue since

[@DouglasThompson]

Any thoughts on the ayn loki max?

[@RahulPatel-qw9cc]

Another group of users to whom Asus Rog Ally should be highly recommended are those regions which Steam just completely ignored to release their product in. I am from India and it never saw an official release of the steam deck which is a shame given the product could have done really well in the market. On the contrary, within a month of Ally being released in USA, it was also released in India. Eagerly waiting to buy one.

[@niksoptimumgaming]

Yeah, I got my steam deck when I was in Europe as it wasn't available in India, used it for few months and sold it. Today I bought an Rog Ally from Asus Store. Still setting up and downloading games. Its a bit expensive than the USA market as tax are ridiculous in India but what to do.

[@Jlouis500]

Your video quality is spectacular

[@chilly6470]

I sold my Steam Deck for almost no loss and bought a an Ally. I absolutely love this thing. And to be honest, I found it easier to use over the SD. It's been a very smooth experience, so far.

[@therunawaykid6523]

Why would you say it’s easier to use? I have the aya Neo 2021 which I love

[@chilly6470]

@@therunawaykid6523...... I just found it really easy to download a game and just play without having to worry about plugins.

[@tb9606]

Thank you for adding game titles for everything shown within your video!

[@Biliogood]

Thanks!

[@NerdNest]

Thank you!

[@viz_dugz]

I discovered your channel watching the previous ROG Ally video, “i am not a benchmark guy”, honestly that candid statement gets me every time. I was leaning towards buying it but this video really cements it for me. Excellent Content, Subscribed.

[@NerdNest]

I appreciate that!

[@grady92]

I love my ally i got mine 3 days after the day they were available and have not had an issue with it yet

[@gsa509]

Turned on my ps5 only once since getting this thing on launch. Shits glued to my hands . So fun

[@baldsealion]

Your video quality is on fire Bill!! 🔥

[@Meww2]

Is that small 45w charger can charge steam deck as well?

[@NerdNest]

Yes, it does not give warnings that its too slow

[@otterruin]

Wanted a portable because my new role at work has me traveling and picked up the Ally, solely bc of the open environment for downloading games. I wanted to love it so so much. But it was absolutely the jank that turned me off (hardware was totally fine). I had it for a week and just had to let it go. Ended up picking up Alienware's M15 r7 on sale and I'm infinitely happy with the choice. Obviously more clunky to lug around but oh the power

[@there615]

One stealth benefit of this video is that I went ahead and bought Demon's Tilt. Recently discovered this channel (thanks to the Ally) and I love it and the podcast!

[@scaplover]

I love both. Honestly as busy as my life is my gaming rig, ps5 and xbox, collect more dust. These handhelds have changed my view of games. I can afford to have both and serve there purposes playing halo or gears natively can not be beat

[@Secret_Takodachi]

Considering all the quiet change in the background occured via Discord and early reviews on KZbin don't address these issues because the fan speeds weren't altered yet. SEEMS PRETTY SUS THAT ASUS JUST HAPPENS TO BENEFIT FROM ALL THIS BOTH INITIALLY & ON THE "TAIL END" OF THE ISSUE. Now Asus gets to claim they're "actively providing their customers with support" when in reality they juiced their devices capabilities for launch & now that the juices settings are cooking hardware... their dialing the performance back, increasing fan speeds and (obviously) Asus isn't asking any early reviewers of the Ally to update their initial reviews with CURRENT hardware performance metrics because it's technically "true" but no longer accurate. Aka "Asus marketing 101"

[@blargd]

Don't limit the screen to 60Hz, doing so disables VRR which is probably the biggest strength of the display, another thing you can do is use RSR to upscale from 720 to 1080 so you get a nicer image but with better performance which can totally make the 120Hz screen worth it, you can run Persona 5 Royal for example quite happily at 120Hz and it really is a much smoother experience.

[@TiredTimelord]

I was getting 90-100 in RE4 Remake. Love the speedy refresh rate.

[@therunawaykid6523]

@@TiredTimelordwow that is pretty impressive

[@jumbomrmeaner3016]

I purchased an open box ROG ALLY from Best Buy in satisfactory condition. To say the least I absolutely love it. I went in expecting less and received what I feel is more. This device was not fun to set up, with that being said my daughter flooded half my house by leaving a bathroom sink on. Water flowed through the wall and into my room and hers so I had to disconnect my PC and put it away for three days while I repaired the water damage (new padding, preventative mold treatment and waited for the dehumidifier to take all water out). ROG ALLY and I became best friends over the course of three days. I tested its limitations and what I could get away with on lower wattage. My device has been great. Beautiful screen, great performance. The battery life is what I expected it to be as laptops get around the same. I’m really happy with it. If you’re able to bless me with a key I’d appreciate it! 😊

[@billybumout2706]

I’ve been watching so many reviews on the ROG ally. I want to get one but money is tight due to family issues. One of these days I’m going to grab one and it will be great I love this review

[@Limitbreak09]

You can do monthly payments if you really want it.

[@Eclectified]

I like the ROG. Tried it out at my buddy's house. It was nice. Beautiful display. Fast WiFi connection. Speakers were MUCH nicer than I would have guessed. If I had to dislike anything, it would have been the RGB under the sticks as they seem like a superfluous feature. Cost and my desire to escape the death-grip Microsoft has on my computing needs drove me to the Steam Summer Sale to grab a Deck instead, but I do find myself recommending Ally to friends who either want the horsepower or prefer the ease of Windows games running on Windows.

[@Mobi-pz2uy]

You can turn the RGB under the sticks off. It was one of the first things I did when I got my device.

[@InitialDL84]

After buying my deck during Steam's Spring sale, I then heard about the Ally and almost regretted getting the Deck. But overall, I'm happy with my purchase of the deck.; very cost friendly and I like how easy it is to mod. And the screen size/graphical quality doesnt bother me as much as everyone else, long as the games are playable I'm good. Great review!

[@buhshmuh]

I bought mine during the same sale in March. I bought the ally and yes it's a bit rough if you're not familiar with windows but it was tedious doing all the workarounds for games to work on the steam deck. The ally is just having issues that new products have, the steam deck has been out over a year and is still not equipped to play certain games out of my library like mw2. I love my steam deck because of how handy it is for indie games and emulation, but I'm glad I bought my ally as well for the bigger games, especially when using my xg mobile 6850 with it

[@AZGladiator]

Same. I got it because I want a handheld that can play games acceptably. Not expecting $1000 monitor levels of color accuracy lol

[@DirtyFozzy]

@@buhshmuh Would you say emulation works better on Steam Deck than the Ally?

[@mark030a]

@@DirtyFozzy There really are just 2 downsides to emulation on Deck compared to Rog Ally. 1. Hardware power. Not only is the Deck weaker (but it is cheaper!) than the Ally, the GPU is the one that excels at its job in the Deck, but the CPU just doesn't quite cut it. Which is what most emulation requires, a good CPU. 2. Operating System. Emulators on Linux usually run a little worse compared to Windows (I don't think there's much that can be done about this). And, sure, you can install Windows on the Deck but not only are you giving up the positives of SteamOS, you also lose most control of your Deck like Thermal limiting and GPU overclocking. The most annoying part for me is how the Fan just spins so damn loud at all times in Windows. And on a sidenote, the Windows drivers are a bit of a mess for the Steam Deck. For one, For Honor won't launch on a Dual Booted Deck because of that. Hopefully it doesn't have much to do with emulation but you do have to take this into consideration. Otherwise, everything that the guy above me said just beats the Ally tenfold.

[@GameTimeWhy]

​@@buhshmuhthe reason it "isn't equipped" for mw2 and other PvP games like that is a developer issue. They hate Linux for some reason. Easyanticheat already fixed the compatibility issue on their end and developers that use it just need to flip a switch but a lot haven't for some reason.

[@Reohh]

The thumbsticks flashing while charging can be turned off in the armory crate settings

[@evancooper7336]

I upgraded from a deck to an ally. Love it never looked back.

[@froststarlite5571]

I pretty much agreed with a lot of what you said the only thing I don't agree with it says the d-pad it has some kind of issue that it can to press the full button all the way and click multiple buttons at once

[@jinx20001]

Have a deck and ally next to me, only had ally couple days but it’s been ok to be honest… the most noticeable negative for me has been the heat, boy this thing gets hot, like the screen has at times been almost unbearable to touch compared to steam deck, it can be brought under control though if you just chill on power output. Besides that I’ve found windows to not be so bad, been through and did all the tweaks, deleted the bloatware and as long as you do just intend to game it’s only mildly longer than the steam deck to get into a game and get going. Have not had any issues while in game but armour crate does become unresponsive sometimes when closing a game. The thing is the experience when playing a game is a step up, the screen the speakers and the framerate do make a difference, playing hades on both is a noticeable difference in quality, when the screen camera moves it’s like silk on the ally but you can detect a mild stutter on the deck. I don’t know man, it’s very obvious the steam deck with its OS is far more refined as a dedicated gaming handheld, there is just no denying it but if Asus stick to their word and polishes the ally up it will be the obvious choice if you can stomach the price. For all it’s minor headaches I do grab the ally because when In game It just feels better to me. Could well be a case of new toy excitement though for sure, it’s not as bad as initial impressions would lead us to believe though, knowing how windows works etc certainly makes things easier to get on with and thank god the ally has a better touch screen than the deck because yeh… with the decks touch response the ally would be unbearable.

[@TheSearchForAwesome]

I have both the steam deck and the ally and I totally get why someone would want something more streamlined like a steam deck. But for me I’m willing to deal with a little jank for flexibility. The ally replaces my steam deck, my Xbox (because the ally has game pass) and my laptop I just keep around just in case I need a computer for something (because the ally runs windows). And yeah the xg mobile is very pricey, but will it be in a year or 2? I’m planning on finding one later down the road when I’m really wanting better graphics. Right now the ally’s graphics are not great, but good enough

[@Viper4382]

It sounds like a lot of your ergonomic problems come from having monster hands. Have you tried not having monster hands?

[@colby8278]

I really like the Ally. The only problems I've had are general windows jank and one killed SD card. Aside from that, I think it's awesome. Having access to both steam and Xbox game pass is just great for me. And the performance is great. I would like a little more tension on the joysticks, they feel loose to me, but overall I love it.

[@imamonkey117]

I feel the same about the joysticks. Wish that had a little more resistance to them.

[@zemopo6702]

Have you gotten any input delay?

[@colby8278]

@zemopo6702 if I have I haven't noticed it. I've also played a decent bit docked with an xbox controller. No issues there either

[@nelsonramos9456]

Loved the Video Bill. I have a steamdeck and love it but your video really made me see I don’t need an Ally right now. I’m happy with my Steamdeck performance and really only game I really want to play with anti cheat is Diablo 4 and seems it’s very easy to get battlenet on the deck so I’ll wait until a must have reason. Keep up the great content and I really enjoy the new nerdnest podcast 💪🏽

[@adym15]

Having watched a number of Steam Deck vs ROG Ally videos, I am inclined to go with the Deck for its ease of use. Unfortunately, unlike the ROG Ally, we can only rely on grey importers in order to get the Steam Deck in my country, which ends up being priced rather close to the retail price of the Ally. And since the prices are that close, it’s hard not to take into consideration the Ally’s better hardware and wonder if the Ally is the better purchase for the price we’re paying.

[@davidmeti1354]

NZ bought mine $1500. I don't have unlimited money though I feel very happy with it. I was in the same boat. Absolutely was essential because I knew I wanted to play new and demanding games like RDR2. When I change the settings to 40fps and 720, I can't believe how huge of difference it makes. Happy with my Ally here

[@matthewfisher-gormley7318]

Would you do a video comparing the two?

[@Richboydollarz]

My sd card slot no longer works on my ROG Ally, sometimes the thing won't even turn off. In fact just for all the doubters I posted a video on my KZbin showing it bugging out

[@loukyle]

Comparison of the two and the advantages of each Roy ally： screen(way better) ,performance, sound quality, weight Steam deck： battery life(much better), ergonomics, buttons, price. Conclusion: It would be nice to see a combination of advantages, looking forward to the Steam deck 2!

[@Seanbo88]

1:20 "You hang on too" Lol that got me Great point on the screen overkill too, I would cap everything at 60fps as well.

[@williamhuigens3192]

Well I'm kinda going back and forth between the Steam Deck and the Ally. haven't really made my mind up yet. I'm very much into the whole thoughtprocess behind the Deck, and it's commnity. Valve makes quite a strong statement with their support and freedom they let you have with the device. The only real pull ofr me, for the Ally is the power. arguably giving it a bit more lifespan for me from this point on. Choices choices... It's a luxury, I know, having these choices 🙂

[@MisterNyte]

I would go with the Steam Deck if I were you. Yeah raw power is good and all, but the ally has worse battery life. I might be biased though as I have a steam deck. If there are more games that don't work on Deck (like destiny 2) that you wanna play, then go with the Ally. The support, the community, and the plugins are what drew me to the Deck personally

[@1uponu705]

​@MisterNyte I have the ally and the battery is bad but fast charging helps. Only thing I don't like is the lack of trackpads, gyro and extra buttons to map. If u plan on playin any fps [first person shooters]..go with deck or simply wait..there will be plenty of new handhelds hitting the market soon. Im taking my ally back today

[@VincentvanFlow]

My experience with the Deck is that when you're actually traveling with it, even if it can run some games well, you will end up turning the FPS down to 40 or even 30, use FSR upscaling, turn settings down, etc, to get battery life out of it. The real biggest win for the Ally IMO is it's screen's color quality. To counter for the Steam Deck is the console-style OS in "gaming mode" that makes it very easy to just hop right in, as well as the sleep mode that will boot you right back where you left off. Just things I don't see talked about as much that are important. Also consider what types of games you like to play on a handheld, but you may have to figure that out with experience. Side scrollers for instance just feel way better on a handheld vs a PC monitor or a TV.

[@VincentvanFlow]

The other thing I would consider is if you travel with it and actually want to use it as a PC say on a plane or something, you will want those trackpads. The controller integration for normal PC use is also much better on the Deck vs the Ally.

[@David_Quinn1995]

I would go with the deck, 768p is enough for the screen size, it has enough heft to feel like a finished product, and the support Valve is giving it is showing they are in it for the long run. I am skeptical of the Ally lets see what ASUS does as I am still seeing them on shelves.

[@richardnicholls3633]

I bought the ROG Ally at launch thinking that I would use it more than my Steam Deck because of the gorgeous display. I’ve found that after the first week or so I’ve barely touched it and I use the Steam Deck instead. The Steam Deck is so much more comfortable and the user experience is so much better in my opinion.

[@pastqr]

Same. I sold my SD but i returned the Rog and bought another one. I dont regret it one bit

[@Styreta]

3:55 I think this is probably false. I doubt anyone makes OLEDs with 100+ hz at 720p in bulk. Its likely cheaper for ASUS to source 1080p OLED panels meant for tablets or what have you to use on the Ally than it is to order something tailor just for their handheld.

[@Thatdopepokemon]

Will you look at the ambernic win 600 please and thanks love the vid

[@buhshmuh]

The only issue ive had is that the xg mobile 6850 sometimes will not activate and deactivate properly causing me to restart the ally or worst case scenario reinstall the egpu drivers

[@MrZpilot]

I liked my Ally, but the finger print sensor never worked. Seeing everyone having issues aswell, I returned it and never looked back.

[@gibbions]

I did change from Steamdeck I do not regret it (as long as there’s not a design flaw with the Micro SD…) I found the ‘work arounds’ with Proton and other pieces of software that often involve research on KZbin etc, in the end too much, too unreliable and too time consuming….not to mention also that easy anti cheat games don’t work etc. Great video and basically I echo much of what you’ve said. Some of the quirks of the ROG are Windows issues. I do miss the slightly slicker Steam OS experience but my afore mentioned positives of the ORG out weigh the negatives ❤

[@christopherking9943]

Have you thought about trying Tiny Win 11 or some software that installs a bare minimum windows

[@ThroneRoomGaming]

I've never played a Deck but always thought they seemed great on paper. I was holding out for the next gen Switch or even something portable from Xbox because those are the ecosystems I'm tied into and what I'm familiar with. Enter the Ally. Since I use Game Pass Ultimate it was kinda a no-brainer. I don't regret getting it at all. I've not experienced any of the issues many are reporting and Game Pass PC is keeping me going. Plus, I've been introduced to Steam, which I would never have gotten into otherwise. This is my first foray into PC gaming and I'm glad I took the step. Still love my Switch, tho.

[@cptncutleg]

As someone who plays a lot of strategy and management games with no controller support and a need for precise controls, I can't skip out on the trackpads on a handheld.

[@angelicemperor2686]

I have had my ROG for almost a week now. I have no complaints so far. Love everything about except the battery life. But that is a given seeing as how much power it has. Button and stick laying is exactly like the Xbox (which is great for me) runs super quite. Using windows 11 with touch screen is good. Doesn't bother me. I currently play Diabl 4 and Destiny 2 on it. They run at 60fps fine in turbo mode. I mainly use it at work on my lunch break, using my phones mobile hotstop for wifi. It still runs everything fine. Some stutters here and there, but that's due to connection. Overall. I am loving my ROG

[@emiliosanchez4610]

Naww, I love the cat 😺 Great review, I am not picking one up but man there are a lot of cool aspects to the Ally. I love the PC handheld scene and I hope it has a long stay in the industry, cause I think it's probably the most refreshing PC gaming I have done in a long time :D

[@NerdNest]

🐈This is Marvel the cat in the video. I’d like to point out that Bill did not ask my permission to be in this video and I’m suing him. This will now be my gaming channel about games for cats. Bill will be in jail soon.

[@emiliosanchez4610]

@@NerdNest Haha, that's awesome. Stick it to the man Marvel!

[@Amaneas]

I own both and had a flawless experience with the ally so far. To be honest I think it is a big improvement performance wise. Same or better performance than the deck but at 1080p ist s huge deal if you also like to use the ally docked. You can use the same resolution with the same performance and don’t have to worry about always changing your settings. Still I prefer the deck for emulation and indy games, so both have their place.

[@NerdNest]

Thanks for the comment, here's a steam key. Code provided by Marathon 5150 Endless Space 2 - Digital Deluxe Edition store.steampowered.com/app/392110/ENDLESS_Space_2/ YMIJF-QH9FN-228HI

[@aprilbethea2975]

Even though I may be late, I’m wondering which is better the steam deck or the ROG ALLY I’m thinking rog cause it lets y do a lot of things even windows 11 like making a whole monitor etc so I’m confused and would like too know

[@modernwarfafe3master]

Bought mine used off FB for $550 (base model) but it's had a few big problems like not reading SD card and onscreen keyboard not working 😢

[@1uponu705]

I have the ally and the battery is bad but fast charging helps. Only thing I don't like is the lack of trackpads, gyro and extra buttons to map. If u plan on playin any fps [first person shooters]..go with deck or simply wait..there will be plenty of new handhelds hitting the market soon. Im taking my ally back today

[@Mobi-pz2uy]

I have begun to have issues with my microsd. I did not get an expensive card so my biggest annoyance is just the time it took to install the games on there. I did notice that the place where the card goes gets extremely hot. It makes sense that heat damage occurs. I am surprised that this is an issue that was not caught before release. Many people are frying cards that cost over $100.

[@B4I34]

I love my Ally! There are little Problems like Windows freezing when I am moving windows from one virtual desktop to another or one specific game is locking up after a long timeperiod of sleep. BUT I started gaming again. As a father and husband my time is rare. Now I can just start a quick game sitting on the couch at home or in holidays when my kids are playing in the hotel-play-room I can get a little me-time. The batterylife is plenty enough for me. I am even using that thing as my main PC/desktop.

[@isaiahsmart9933]

Try Handheld Companion with the new Bosch gyro driver! if you need really good tracking set your anti deadzone to 2-4% in the program.

[@OneRedKraken]

I already bought the GPD Win Max, Max 2, and I impulse purchased the Steam Deck OLED. And yet... I'm looking at your ROG Ally... SOB! LOL Thanks for a great review.

[@mannersix]

I have both devices. Got the steam deck last year and the ally this month. I love both, But if I had to choose one right now it's the ally. Just overall is better experience. The ally just has another level that the steam deck can't reach and I have instant access to everything without issues. My main issue with the steam deck is some games just won't run because of the operating system.

[@therunawaykid6523]

Does the ally get super hot when playing games?

[@yevgeniyshapoval]

Have purchased and enjoyed it. Regarding SD card, I have a plan to install it but will purchase extreme editions with extra temperature range and hope everything will be fine)

[@michaelmorris5623]

i love my ROG ally, the only issue i have had was the sd card reader issue. i dont really have a problem with the battery level due to the fact i have a wall outlet near me everywhere i am as well as i have an anker 85W battery bank.

[@bunnyfufu9933]

I have my rog ally for about a month now and the thing that keeps surprising me is how sensitive the controls and triggers are. Especially for racing games

[@glennheineandersen9154]

Mine freezes during normal web surfing, When I game it works without a problem. But now I haven't tested so many games yet as the updates have taken hours. Bought it 3 days ago, Others with same problem?

[@Salaundre]

I’ve currently had mine for 5 days and it’s really good for a travel piece. I may give it up for a laptop pc and get it later.

[@frankconsidine5989]

The sd card failures have been hit or miss. I think its more of how long you play in turbo mode with the old fan curves. The old stock fan curves let the ally get to hot. Ps I use the steamdeck mostly at home and the ally when traveling for work as my laptop

[@normodb]

I’m not sure what you’re playing, but there’s a big difference in 1080p and 720 on the ally, same with the refresh rate. You also definitely still need to tweek game settings for an optimal performance, so not sure what you were saying there

[@Fender178]

About the Ally and the SDCard reader issue I wonder if someone like JASUX for example made their Steam Deck cooling fan that is compatible with their mod case that exhausts out the air compatible with the Ally if that would help the SDcard reader 's functionality by exhausting all that hot air that is around it quicker.

[@alajeunesse254]

I never did buy the Steam Deck as I've got a decent library outside of Steam, the Ally was an instant must-have. I've absolutely loved it since getting my hands on the device, bugs, quirks and all. Yesterday I discovered that my SD card reader is completely dead, doesn't show in device manager, no response when inserting a card, etc. Reached out to Asus, was provided RMA instructions and shipping label. It was only at this point that I realized how much I'm enjoying the Ally; the thought of mailing it out and waiting 7-10 days for repair made me question whether or not I actually care to have it fixed. I'm super bummed to let it go for a bit, back to the Switch I suppose, but it just shows how wildly successful the configuration has been for my needs when the full on panic set in and eventually cleared. Utilizing the Asus charger/dock, an Anker 737 power bank, JSAUX stand, cheap foldable keyboard and a couple of different controller options (Raikiri Pro and XBOX Elite S2) I've found setups for any circumstance and can honestly say the Ally has made my life more enjoyable!

[@ogar0524]

The upgrade was worth it as it opened up a large amount of games i couldnt play before either due to linux or game pass. I did lose access to some games in handheld mode due to needing the touch pads but i didnt find it overly enjoyable. I did expect to sell my 1TB steam deck with dock for $600 but i think thr steam sale resulted in that not happening 😢

[@BushTurkeyProduction]

Trying to be helpful & not judgemental - try selling it for $500, probably will go right away. But for $600, with the sales as of late - wouldn't be worth losing the year warranty with a new console. Hell, I got a 1tb SD card that runs just as well as the more expensive versions, for only $35 on amazon (not even on a sale), so my 64gig that was less than $400 new, plus the $35 SD card, I only paid a bit over for over a TB of playability. Which is nuts. And since people know that the deck runs games just as efficiently on the SD card vs internal drive - it just further proves how cheap you can game on a Steamdeck. (I know, there's a whole 5-10sec extra loading time vs the internal drive - not a big deal as it doesn't affect FPS performance once loaded) That said, good luck on the sale & glad you're supporting the Ally! Would love to see it succeed. Competition and options are what improve hardware, software, and pricing across all platforms. Let's go!

[@ogar0524]

@@BushTurkeyProduction I plan to drop to $500 this week minus the SD card. Thanks for taking the time to give me advice.

[@jeanboy9108]

VRR Freesync only works on 120hz mode. i honestly recommend leaving it at 120hz since vrr range is anywhere from 48 frames, all the way to 120, and has compensation tech for under 40fps. to summarize, leave it at 120hz.

[@calinnilie]

Man, has this been a tough decision, choosing between the SteamDeck and the ROG Ally... I have gone back and forth a bunch of times within my return window for both, I'm approaching the limit now and still don't know which one to keep

[@calinnilie]

Well in that case so will the Ally, because Gaming Mode on Steam Deck is nothing but Steam Big Picture which the Ally can use too. And your TV, and your laptop :D

[@dudeman6480]

@@calinnilie can’t even use an SD card in the ally 🥴

[@calinnilie]

@@dudeman6480 I agree that's crap, Asus needs to fix it

[@Zaphori]

My Ally has been fine too, but it's hard to ignore Valves consistent support of the Deck. Valve being the company they are is what convinced me to get the Steam Deck to begin with. Hopefully Asus doesn't just drop the ball and give up on the Ally because I like mine. There are some things I'd like the Ally to get at some point though so hopefully we get these soon. 1) Official AMD drivers 2) Auto TDP settings

[@TheSfaok]

Still can't believe how badly wrong ROG got the pricing in Europe. €849 for one means that's basically DOA here. The highest tier Steam Deck is more than €300 cheaper and ROG aren't even giving themselves a chance here.

[@kevinmcdaniel871]

I love the ally no problems except when plugged in to XG mobile it tends to disconnect itself i might need to update but love this device and it fits my need as a trucker who is rarely home I have my PC and PS 5 for that

[@native_colorado1689]

I have this and the steam deck. I use both for different reasons. If you know windows 11 well and like Xbox then rog ally. But simple and easy steamdeck. In my opinion you can’t compare them as they have different functions. I love them both!

[@Bozzyshy]

I have the deck but so many stuff i wanted to play on the Ally a big thing i love is that i can easily mod games on my ally and any will work. being able to play modded games and all my Doom content has been a dream come true. I adore my ally and donated my steam deck to my partner :)

[@turtlebeach93]

I could be wrong but isn't refresh rate and FPS 2 different things? Like can't you play a game with 120hz at 60fps?

[@NerdNest]

You can, What you want is to have the refresh rate and frame rate evenly divisible. But if you have VRR display that doesn't matter as much because the display matches for you.

[@pinkmist]

I love my ally still, i just started a new job and im on the road and this has been so nice especially playing red dead 2 locked 50 fps medium settings 19 watt power mode

[@BigKurzMD]

Glad we have different options for different people/use cases. I adore my ally and it has taken over my gaming life. I understand why people might not like windows but i don’t really mind. Mine is a desktop replacement paired with my 6850 xg mobile and then i undock to bring to work for a 24 hour shift. My only gripe is battery life, which is kinda a non issue for me because my sessions are short and I’m always near a plug anyways. Other than that i really appreciate the power and ease of compatibility. So many things just work as intended in a windows environment. It’s the device for me

[@dcjrsrt10]

The ally has been great to me since release day never really had any major issue only the buggyness of the first few days of use but after the 3rd or 4th day everything worked prefect, but the sd card card issue finally got me yesterday, I used the ally like normal Sunday night, I charge it with the original charger and turned it off, I never use sleep or other functions since I've heard some stories of the ally waking up in the case and being super hot to the touch. Yesterday I turned it on and it was super slow crate and everything was so slow so I turned it off and on and still, I remember reading on reddit that the sluggish of the ally was caused by there sd card being (fried) so I knew right away my sd card was done and yes I removed it and everything was back to normal.😢 I was using a small 128gig card, I have a 512gig that I had removed last week just in case it happened to me.