ROG Ally vs Steam Deck vs Switch

[@gaborojasjalil]

There's just something about Handheld gaming, that for me the portability is key, but also the ability to be very close and personal with the games too. It's like reading a book if you ask me. I don't mind being plugged in to the wall.

[@Sainsburys_Femboy]

Exactly. A PC is also plugged into the wall, you just can’t easily choose *which* wall

[@PilotPerkins]

I love the touchpads on the Steam Deck. It’s like an Apple Pencil to the iPad….. great addition for when you need it.

[@Jaxv3r]

It can do other things besides navigating the desktop environment and or an alternate aiming mode for FPS, it can also acts like mini menu

[@turismoride6617]

@@Jaxv3rfor the FPS part - but would you wanna play FPS games with that trackpad?😊

[@godisreal2537]

​@@turismoride6617it works great

[@Jaxv3r]

@@turismoride6617 yes and sometimes I used trackpad with gyro

[@catbeans4685]

​@turismoride6617 Absolutely, I use it for shooters and love it. If you experiment with the settings, you can have it close to a mouse, and if you add some slight gyro adjustments, it's just as good as a mouse.

[@sewaraldahab1588]

I have duel boot steam deck and I absolutely love it, it's a great device for the money and I can do anything I want with it, having access to windows as well as steam os makes huge different to me. The best part is that I got 1tb ssd and 512 SD card + the steam deck all for around 365€ and it was absolutely worth it every penny

[@pre9jm]

For me it's the switch! Family friendly, nintendo software, flexibility by having joy cons that detach, ease of use, battery life. I'm sure those other two are great but still not tempted in getting them.

[@kickconnection83]

Just picked up the ROG Ally....the VRR is amazing. The one unique feature on any handheld that was a huge upsell for me to make the decision. The speakers are some of the best I've ever heard. Dolby Atmos was such a nice touch.

[@Vr_Demon_]

I just bought my son one for Christmas and this is good to hear.

[@spookymiraclepreacher6037]

Love mine. Great sound, great picture, comfortable in the hands I have small lady hands, and easy to upgrade internal storage.

[@RyKnocks]

The popping sound on the ROG is due to insufficient power for Dolby Surround at lower power profiles. You either have to pump up the wattage, or turn off dolby surround.

[@Emvymcla]

Thank you for that info, happened to me a few times but couldn’t put together why

[@Archate]

I think Dolby fixed it a week ago…but I haven’t tested fully but seems to be fixed

[@RyKnocks]

@@Archate I did just see a Dolby update, but haven’t tested it. Hopefully it’s fixed!

[@Archate]

@@RyKnocks I played genshin at 10w and it didn’t crack the sound…placed on sleep and went back and no cracking but I play the game at 15w so didn’t tested properly but my best guess is…it’s seems fixed :)

[@Ice_2192]

Creating different control profiles for each game, creating your own configuration of a weapon wheel, as well as 1 button = long combo with the steam deck it makes it like a great and flexible console. And you get the benefit of emulation in it.

[@nonstopdab6101]

The ally can do all these things. Profiles, custom button scenarios. Also, since windows, emulation is easier, and runs better due to the z1 cpu.

[@leorelic]

@@nonstopdab6101 emulation performance doesn't magically get better on Ally coz its "Windows" it is better because it has better hardware.

[@nonstopdab6101]

@@leorelic it is absolutely better due to windows because of drivers, software, emulator compatibility. The hardware helps, but running windows instead of Linux (steamOS) is ABSOLUTELY a benefit. Emulation via windows on steam deck is even better, because, ya know, windows.

[@Q0T0J]

@@nonstopdab6101This is a bad take dude. Some emulators benefit from Windows, but the majority of them are developed for Linux since a lot of them are built for open source linux projects like the retro pie, retro arch etc. As for drivers, that has nothing to do with it what do ever since valve is supplying the drivers directly for the deck.

[@kennymenorias8927]

​@@nonstopdab6101if you don't know much, just keep silent, okay? Your ignorance is showing.

[@amanjyotsingh3879]

That intro of combining the ROG and the Steam Deck looked so sick

[@madjunir]

I think that's how Lenovo came up with their idea for their new handheld 😅

[@marlowencna]

Sick in a good or bad way? 🤮🤩

[@amanjyotsingh3879]

@@marlowencna good way, it looked cool

[@Venomx-nb1jr]

@@madjunirI mean both products were inspired by the vita and the switch. It makes sense that Lenovos new machine would then combine the switch and the deck.

[@dyris2594]

For me I couldn't go without the track pads, since they are absolute life savers when I'm doing stuff in desktop mode and when I'm playing strategy games. Also the ROG ally is a handheld PC with the upsides and downsides of it being a pc, whereas the steam deck is an extremely modifiable console.

[@Dorderhan]

The image grain looks nice! I like the vibe of the color grading

[@rakibshahid7913]

artifacts made me think my gpu was dying lol

[@CosmicApe]

Having owned both, I think the ROG Ally is generally the better gaming experience just given the better internals and screen, but the Steam Deck is the far superior overall user experience. It's so solid and SteamOS is fantastic. The Ally with Windows 11 can be just a buggy mess with tons of annoying quirks.

[@philliplpridgen3819]

what about fps.

[@sharpsteel1986]

I've installed Chimera Os on the rog ally, swapping the SSD. It's like a steam deck on steroids.

[@stevengardner9564]

The game gear/game boy comparison is apt, though back then we didnt have the luxury of portable power banks, which i believe is an essential accessory for either device, especially if you regularly travel.

[@malcolmar]

Great comparison. The fact that we are at this point in video gaming is not lost on me. Love the Game Gear and Gameboy comparison and something I thought of as well. I am loving my Steam Deck. The fact it is more of a console experience in PC mobile gaming is perfect for me and since I already have a large collection of games on Steam made it a no brainer for me and Valve priced it right. With that said, I just picked up an OLED Switch and I love that as well. Just recently Nintendo had an AMAZING E-shop sale and when you buy a game on the E-shop you just know it will work on the Switch with no problems and and ease of use is a big plus for some. Combine that with the beautiful OLED screen, great battery life, the various modes of play on the Switch not to mention it is one of the few if not only game consoles that comes with 2 controllers and you really appreciate Nintendo's focus on couch, co-op play and I have to say Nintendo Labo is some of the most creative uses of a video game system and cardboard I have ever seen. With that said and for the money. Steam Deck and Switch is the winning combo for me and my family. Thanks again and enjoy those games.

[@nenecitosart1405]

True and I like to add that nintendo should be credited though they may not have been first they were certainly the first to push for those quirky and niche ways of playing niches ie rumble, motion controls and now the handheld console hybrid. While other companies will be quick to throw in the towel and play it safe nintendo will always stay the course. What was once considered nich or gimmicky is now standard. Weather you like them or not you gotta admit if it weren't for nintendo pushing the wii u and improving it with switch we wouldn't even be talking about the rog ally the steam deck and all the console/hybrid irrigations. I firmly believe the console/ handheld hybrid is gonna be standard and the wave of the future for gaming. Its only a matter of time before Sony and Microsoft jump on board.

[@malcolmar]

@@nenecitosart1405 I 100% agree. This is why Nintendo has to stay in the video game industry because they are the true innovators and they just know how to make fun games. Just for a moment imagine where the video game industry would be if there was no more Nintendo.

[@shattia]

yea that analogy sent me back in time.. battery life on the Game Gear was TERRIBLE and it needed a lot of AA batteries lol. I miss so much my Game Gear and Game Boy pocket... probably gifted them ages ago

[@malcolmar]

@@shattia Agreed. For these reasons I am seriously looking into getting an Analogue Pocket.

[@RenLacerda]

Great comparison analysis. Unbiased, highlighting objective points for different users needs/wants. Really helped me to make a confident and informed buying decision. Thank you!

[@driver7227]

Check the one by ETA PRIME, it's waaaaaay better

[@Dragonlord-yb8ch]

A little minor correction I wanted to point out, multiplayer games tend to have trouble running on the steam deck due to their anti-cheat implementations flagging Linux (which SteamOS is built on) and it’s up to the game and anti cheat developers to fix this as valve has no control over this. Other than that I’d say it’s a great comparison

[@yooooo6296]

Couldn't you just get around this by running in windows mode? (Given you don't set off the multi pc flag)

[@Dragonlord-yb8ch]

@@yooooo6296 my understanding is that the windows drivers for the steam deck are lackluster at best because valve is expecting many people to just use SteamOS, and many users also don’t want to go through all the steps that is installing windows on the steam deck.

[@investmentking4022]

For me I got the 64gb Steam Deck and upgraded it as in total it was $550 Cad for getting a dock, half tb ssd and 256 sd card. The rog ally starts at 900 cad which is way more and while the performance and screen is better it's a great jump in price. The steam deck also has its desktop mode on it which is nice and it just works and as a student who does not have the most time to play videogames having to not deal with problems is nice.

[@crestofhonor2349]

For me I’d say the ROG ally is the best for me as I have lots of PC games across different stores. Steam Deck is in a close second and Switch very close behind the deck. All of these devices are great

[@Living-gnu-64]

WinDeckOS is a community made version of windows for steam deck and it’s how I use my deck for epic, battlenet, etc.

[@amazingdrewH]

Epic and GOG games run fine through the heroic launcher

[@AintNobodyAtAll]

@@amazingdrewH Not in my experience. They would launch but ignore inputs. Too many compromises on the Steam Deck for me.

[@matthewponton5632]

​@amazingdrewH This is what confuses me. People herald the Steam Deck as the "simplest console like experience" but I have to go through hurdles just to play certain games on it. And even major games like Valorant, Warzone, or Destiny can't be played on it. The rog Ally is as simple as using you windows pc desktop.

[@inixi8ocelot]

Ditto. I love playing smooth Tekken 7 on steam and Armored Core 4 For Answers 120fps, 1080p on RPSC3. Tekken 8 on Steam Deck is struggling on medium settings, while the Ally has smooth 60fps on Medium. Getting ready for Armored Core VI for my Ally.

[@trippg3261]

I thought about both of them a lot, and eventually ended up getting the Ally. However, I will say as an avid switch user the battery life of the Ally makes it definitely not a Mobile gaming handheld. What I learned is, it’s primarily meant to be plugged in and disconnected for the short times that you have to be away from power. I feel like the steam deck would have been much more of a switch replacement. As an example, I carry my switch whenever I have to go somewhere and not really worry about battery life I don’t think I can do that for the Ally mostly because the battery life is extremely inconsistent, which is a hallmark of windows.

[@critiquetest2594]

Thanks for the review - this is what I was looking for in handheld…how long battery holds in handheld mode…was really impressed with the switch

[@danleakz]

it really depends on the games you’re playing. if ur playing AAA games ofc the battery is going to drain faster but if you’re playing something like Minecraft you can put it on silent mode and that could give you 2-4 hours of gaming without it being plugged in

[@DrakonR]

​@@danleakz2-4 my butt. Try 1.5-2. The Rog Ally is power hungry and is not portable in comparison to competition.

[@NateTheApollo]

Just a note to point out i learned from Jayz2cents' video on the ROG. The popping sound comes from the Dolby app. If you disable it that popping goes away. Hope that helps anyone here trying to figure out what's causing that!

[@jonbee5782]

Thank you so much for this, I’ll disable it today lol

[@jonbee5782]

I haven’t tried the steam deck yet but I really like the ROG Ally that I bought so far. Yes I have had some issues with it but the ROG is truly a handheld gaming computer so you’re gonna have weird issues with it like any gaming computer. What I like about the Ally is since it’s a computer you have a lot of flexibility to basically modify it anyway you want.

[@servare2599]

Switch for me, I’ll trade of some performance and graphics for something that is more comfortable, lighter, has longer battery life and simply no issues. Plug and play.

[@ZaberfangX]

Steam Deck push the market where it is now, Allys is nice but if steam deck was not around looking at easy 1200+ system ally system, but Ally force too did push other handheld to match them is like a chain event.

[@jmelz155]

Legion about to match next

[@ZaberfangX]

@@jmelz155 it's going be a fight for the higher end market for handelds, but let see.

[@nenecitosart1405]

Sorry but like it or not it was nintendo with the switch console/handheld hybrid who pushed the market. They may not have been first in many of the things we take for granted in gaming ie rumble, shoulder buttons, triggers even motion controls but they sure were the ones who would stay the course and not giving up on what many would of considered failures at the time. Heck I'll say the wiiu was the prototype, the switch the revolution and the steam deck the evolution.

[@ZaberfangX]

@@nenecitosart1405 push the pc handheld market I mean, it was to expensive before to take off, Nintendo push the handheld over all made it as big as it's is now.

[@ENGRtube]

I think this too! If the Steamdeck hadn't come out at the aggressive price point it did the Ally would have been much more expensive!

[@Anna_Rae]

The steam deck keeps all the hot air off of the handles. It’s quite hot on certain spots you typically won’t touch

[@lime6862]

It's the case with the ROG Ally too actually. Got mine two days ago and I'm loving it so much. The handles (or rather the sides) remained cool throughout my triple A gaming sessions where I pushed it to the absolute limit. The back of the device and the screen especially got so hot, like a mug filled with hot morning coffee kinda hot, almost too hot to the touch but not quite.

[@dtectatl1]

Non steam games are totally accessible on the deck. People forget desktop mode exsists.

[@Living-gnu-64]

I run windeckos (a modified version of windows) and those touchpads are quite useful. Also running windows can remove not being able to run non-steam games.

[@gluadentus]

I never understand why all reviewers spread misinformation about not being able to play non steam games/programs on the steam deck. You 1000% can and they work just fine

[@calinnilie]

You can, but not without a lot of tinkering, and not at all in the case of Xbox Game Pass (if you care about that)

[@djoj20]

I wanted to love ROG Ally but after it fried my SD card AFTER all the BIOS updates, I had to return it and get a steam deck, which I'm loving so far. I still sometimes miss the extra power that Ally offered

[@WheeledHamster]

Sure your SD card wasn't the problem?

[@djoj20]

@@WheeledHamster yes. It was Samsung, not a cheap one. Asus has acknowledged that it is a potential issue

[@djoj20]

After it suddenly stopped working, I tested it and even took it to BestBuy and they concluded it was completely fried. I wasn't even doing anything power intensive

[@leorelic]

@@WheeledHamster brother Ally is known to fry SDCards , its an issue ASUS acknowledged because its too close to the heat exhaust pipes and it can be melted.

[@user-jm8bj1hd3d]

@@WheeledHamsterROGs been frying TONS of peoples SD cards. Mainly those from SanDisk but others also

[@saiyan981]

I'm so glad I got the asus rog ally . I haven't boot up my ps5,or xbox for a while .when you have kids it's hard to find time to game . dont get me wrong my daughter is amazing and wouldn't trade her for anything. But now I can get more playing time . Sometimes i take it to work and play during lunch . Or even before go to bed laying down . I was debating getting the steam deck. I'm so glad I went with the asus plays most of the games super smooth and having gamepass games download native was a win factor for me .

[@Venomx-nb1jr]

That’s exactly where the conversation starts with the ally. And I don’t think most of these people talking about the deck really get that. The fact is you can’t play everything on the deck unless you do a bunch of OS BS. With the ally is mostly plug and play and it carries over your desktop and that’s exactly why I want to get one is so that I don’t have to be stuck at my desk to play a few hours of a game. My daughter can be in my lap or I can be in bed with my wife and kids and still carry on with what I was doing. And I expect it will top tier for exactly that purpose.

[@saiyan981]

@@Venomx-nb1jr yup it is I was skeptical at first because it's alot of money to just drop. Good thing best buy has a 2 week policy where if you don't like it you can return it for a full refund as long as you don't break it of course lol. The graphics aren't better than ps5 or xbox but for a handheld it's amazing and I enjoy it more because like you said I can be anywhere with it .

[@RecluseSports]

I use Steam deck- Emulation Rog Ally- Triple A games / Gamepass machine Switch- Nintendo games(duh but mainly Fire emblem) I love all of them tho I must say the Ally has a lot of work to do to make it feel like not just a small laptop. If the rumors of Microsoft working on a handheld compatible windows then the Ally will be true competition

[@JoenHarlver]

Microsoft implementation will be prob the most basic stuff tro navigate, after over 20 years i dont expect much from adding features like this unfortunately. Steam Deck - Emulation & Retro/Pixelart (2-3+ year old games) otg - Fully agree Switch is kinda a shame, i had one too but sold it after i didnt played anything on it anymore for over 1 year since there were barely any games to play (for me) Ally -> i have a way more powerful PC, so doesnt make sense to get it.

[@ENGRtube]

I've been able to emulate Switch games very well on my ROG Ally. I haven't touched my LED Swtich in a while lol

[@redring4083]

I am very much on the fence when it comes to handheld PCs. Because the primary reason to buy games on PC is to experience them on high settings and for that you need a desktop. A handheld PC like the Deck and Ally can only pack so much power. They do run older games on the highest settings but then again I cannot justify spending like $500 just to experience older games on very high settings in handheld mode.

[@khanbestopped]

I agree! I guess some just prefer portability over graphical fidelity. I for one prefer the latter and want to experience the game at its best.

[@LamontJohnson23]

Think of the name Asus picked. It's not your Ally. It is an Ally to your desktop gaming PC. Play the games on your high end rig, then take it with you without a hitch.

[@khanbestopped]

@@LamontJohnson23 Not so sure about that. Has ASUS confirmed this or is this your own take? I’m pretty sure the are competing directly with the steam deck and so its not just targeted to people with a desktops but even casual gamers alike.

[@jordan5111]

you just ne an aokzoe a1 pro. he can run the latest games on higher settings

[@crestofhonor2349]

@@jordan5111aokzoe has pretty much the same GPU as the Ally. Both have an AMD 780m GPU so mentioning it is pointless. The main issue comes from AMD and drivers

[@klausschwab11]

I own all three as well and they all complement each other. I love my OLED switch as a physical collector but had to get a Steam Deck since I have been using Steam since the release of Half-Life 2, so I have a large digital collection on there. The ROG is great as a handheld PC. Actually watching and typing this out on it right now. I like it for all the games the Steam Deck can't play, and just for doing PC stuff on it. I use all three quite frequently.

[@t9inedts897]

what one would you pick and use the most? I have a steam deck and want to see if i should get the ROG?

[@klausschwab11]

@@t9inedts897 Honestly I use them all pretty equally. I have found myself using the ROG Ally for actual computer stuff which has been awesome to do work tasks from my livingroom TV. I also use it for games that don't play nice with the Steam Deck/Linux. If the games you want to play already play well with Steam Deck then maybe save your money. I personally think it was well worth it to have both. The Ally also can crank up the fps and graphics a bit more than the Steam Deck too. I have no regrets.

[@willwidrick8039]

For me the Switch is the overall winner here, but it may not be fair to compare the Switch with Theses 2 PC handhelds. I recently got a Steam Deck, and it’s my first time purchasing and playing games from Steam. Overall I’m enjoying the experience. Lastly it seems like you really can’t go wrong with any of these systems. Thanks for the video

[@lynncantrell2782]

I also have a switch, the problem I’m having is the games that are watered down and some like farming simulator 23 is a mobile port. I want games like car simulator 21 which will never come to the switch. One of my favorite games is Dying Light. I was so excited when they ported it to the switch. 1 hour in, I was so angry and disappointed on how bad it was running on the switch. Maybe because I was so used to playing it on my Xbox one. It had so much stuttering. I will either get a Rog or steam deck so I can play games that are not watered down. Or mobile ports

[@carlosm.8422]

Idk but I’m still finding myself using the deck more still

[@Archate]

Ur not the only one…I got both and I’m using deck everyday. I would pick the rog if the deck struggles with any game at 40fps…love the deck it’s very hard to beat it

[@dipplodocus]

I was contemplating getting rog ally this morning already have deck with dual boot to windows but online multiplayer was unplayable on windows on deck because valve wifi drivers for windows are terrible before I went to buy one this morning i tinkered around and found a wifi driver that fixes the online multiplayer lag on windows on deck so now I can play all the games onkine that I was gonna buy a rog ally for so pleased I've sorted out the windows wifi drivers on my deck now no need for me to buy the rog ally now

[@Archate]

@@dipplodocus can’t blame u. I see the rog as “I got enough money to burn” but to be truly honest…I don’t like it that much…it’s got a lot of potencial but ASU’s are lazy or just don’t pour enough resources on this device…it may take years to see anything to get to the level of the deck. Power wise yes really good but the software is so lame it’s not taking full advantage. On the deck I feel we use almost all its potencial…if ur happy with the deck…keep it…don’t burn 700 on the rog like I did…

[@johnlarson7573]

I'm using the Rog Ally more than the Steam Deck since some games like Tales of Arise I found to perform too poorly on the Steam Deck. But the sleep/hibernation implementation right now on the Rog Ally really sucks. Frequently it won't wake up and I have to hard power it off and boot it from scratch again. And other times it is asleep with the game music running continuously in the background and the in-game clock still counts it as running. I really wish the Steam Deck just had a more powerful option to help it handle those more demanding games as it is a way better experience for everything else. Oh, and having a screen that supports variable refresh rate is awesome for a handheld PC to make the experience a little bit easier to accept when pushing the device near its limits...

[@Archate]

@@johnlarson7573 yes its got that but still not quite enough to put the deck down for long periods…i find myself choosing the deck more often if the game runs well enough. So the rog is my second choice.

[@shattia]

Fair review but having both I must disagree on some of the points here: Temperatures: The ROG Ally it's not hotter than the Deck and has some crazy cooling capabilities. You just need to set a manual profile for 30W when plugged and not using the Turbo mode with its crazy Wattage (up to 40-50W) which is a nonesense. Using a manual 30W you never see anything above 80C and usually stay at 65-75C for less demanding games. The deck in my experience runs considerably hotter with demanding games. Screen: the ROG Ally screen is not "slighty better", is night and day difference and significantly better than the one on the deck. Has much better contrast and much better colors. Even with Vibrant deck the screen on the Deck is pretty meh. Comfort: Deck has a better grip but is really heavvy, Ally is much lighter and feels less fatiguing for longer period of times. IMHO they are quite on pair here. Battery life is better on the deck but not if you play with unleashed settings (60hz) with demanding games because there you are pretty close to the Ally. With the latter you usually play at the highest possible fps (even more than 60) and with higher resolution so you usually see short battery life. The advantage with the deck, thanks to the magic of Steam OS, is that you can limit the refresh rate getting incredible battery life with even demanding games (like 2-3h with heavvy games and 4-5h with light stuff). With the ally limiting the refresh rate is quite useless and you end up with the same battery life more or less. I'm keeping both device btw because they are wonderful machines.

[@unkown34x33]

I choose the best of both worlds. So I bought a 1tb steam deck SSD, and installed the windeck with steam tools. I absolutely dislike the ally approach... So! I went rogue :) feels good!

[@Nevercash]

There are an alarming amount of Steam Deck users that have to justify there purchase in every comment section, it's okay that the Asus Rog Ally is a more versatile and powerful handheld.

[@iameverything6464]

​@@Nevercashand there are an alarming amount of people that need to justify buying an ally instead of a gaming laptop

[@natebobdog23]

​@@Nevercashit's also more expensive and way harder to set up every game

[@schikey2076]

@@Nevercash versatile? Steam Deck has more inputs (trackpads and 2 more back buttons) than Rog Ally .... so i disagree with you on that regard... more powerful than Steam Deck? that i agree.

[@Nevercash]

@@iameverything6464 Did you think that was an intelligent response? Why on earth is that even a comparison youre making? Yeah just get your laptop out in the car lol, I have a gaming PC already, I need something I can play while travelling and I don't always have a seat and table around!

[@jjcranfill]

I'd argue that with just a little bit of tinkering the steam deck gets a lot closer compatibility wise. I've been using the heroic launcher to play GOG and epic games with little to no issues.

[@Cristian-et5bg]

I agree, but we’re still locked down to games with native controller support. I think I prefer the ally over my SD for the ability to play games that don’t even have controller support since the key mapping is so advance

[@danielsher5439]

​@@Cristian-et5bgAdding games through steam through heroic allows you to use steam input, which some would argue is far more advanced than the Ally's key mapping system, with software menus, multiple keybinds, and actions layers. Not to mention the track pads.

[@Vageta1999]

Get back to me when you can actually play online games with anti cheat. Not being able to play most of the biggest games out is almost unforgivable

[@itiswhatitis-yes]

Dude! Your film look looks awesome!!!

[@TheGamerGuy1981]

The Ally is hard to consider when it's own forums is still filled with peoples MICROSD cards being cooked, and ASUS legendary bad customer support just ask any pc gamer. To me it's between deck and switch. I'd go with the MSI claw if you want a windows based handheld, more reliable and better support. Or the Legion Go.

[@noahc6246]

All I want is a handheld where I can play some cool game while being connected and not connected to the internet. I would pay a monthly game pass fee if steam offered such a thing so we can try some games . Some of these games suck and don’t convert well . I want it all to look good and be easy to navigate .

[@cede30]

I'm not purchasing one until there's a clear winner. I'll continue to wait. It's fine. 1080p minimum. Good battery life. Windows OS without headaches. Good grip and comfortable button placement. No heat issues. It just seems like a lot of the issues and differences being pointed out are ones that happen early in a product evolution cycle. PC handhelds need more time.

[@aaryscare214]

I recommend Steam Deck to everyone to purchase when asked. I haven't used it much since I got an Ally. Switch is great, but a different experience all together. I don't know, I flip/flop between my Steam Deck and Ally both are great. I never really touch my PS5 at all anymore.

[@GCSUPPLY]

Honestly think getting the nitro deck for the switch will drastically improve the handled/grip experience. Still not released

[@GalactusTheDestroyer]

Excellent comparison video. Also I really love my Steam Deck. Even stock I find it the most attractive handheld on the market. I love my Switch too BUT it's a whole different ball game on the Deck as far as game selection. My next tech purchase is going to the Xreal Air glasses with the Beam adapter. I have an Hawaiian trip in January that it'll be perfect for!

[@shattia]

I sold my switch oled as soon as I got my steam deck.

[@GalactusTheDestroyer]

@shattia I'm not going to say you'll regret that but... yeah. Unless you sail the high seas, not sure how you'll get your nintendo exclusive kick. Unless that's not your thing. Enjoy the Steam Deck! It's freaking amazing.

[@shattia]

Hey@@GalactusTheDestroyer, don't worry, I still hava NSW at home lol. Of course I'll be buying a new Switch eventually when the new model comes out. I mean, Switch Oled was great but when you play with the Steam Deck and the Ally that hardware really feels WAY to old. And yea, since I bought plenty of Nintendo exclusives (like all Xenoblade games) I still can emulate them all on my Desktop rig or on my handleds (or my partner's switch lmao). I'm not into Pokemon and Mario btw so I was mostly playing games also available on PC just because it was portable.

[@booshting3520]

The battery on the Rog just doesn't support the performance. Its just not good enough.

[@greg-hemroid]

You can play non-steam games on the steam deck. I just downloaded Minecraft java edition today and added it to my steam library and it runs great!

[@Athithan_2000]

I’ll be honest I hooked up my Sony camcorder as an external monitor plus my graphic calculator as my controller and that setup is 10x better than those 2 products and I get way more compliments for how cool it is!

[@ade9654]

Thank you for this video. I've been in between buying either the ROG Ally or the Steam Deck. You've helped make up my mind. Thank you again.

[@arjun7011]

so what did you go for?

[@EliZeusYT]

​@@arjun7011a ps5 lol (?

[@DOFIXERR]

Thank you for this excellent review and analysis. I was a bit on the fence about the Steam but then you mentioned that it leans more toward a traditional console experience. That sold me. I was concerned it was going to be more like how you described the ROG.

[@raythomas7623]

I like the steam deck because the devs listen to the gamers more

[@Nomgoose]

I see you watching that Polyphia music video at 2:59 Good shit! EDIT: And at 5:32!

[@mychannel11231]

I own both Switch v2 and steam deck. I find myself play Switch much more than SD, like 90:10.

[@techno_otaku]

Each console is best suited for for someone and their preferences. Before the Steam Deck came out, I thought it'd be "the one", but even it has it's couple of drawbacks. In the end I still find myself using my Switch out of most consoles and I plan to buy a Deck with it's upgraded capabilities it had missing on launch. For the time being, I think I'm make use of my Mini PC a bit much longer ☺️

[@eduardorivera8996]

This is it, after owning both for more than a month this review is the one that articulates what I feel about them both the best.

[@StikbotShins1669]

As Someone With A Razer Kishi I See ThisAs An Absolute Win

[@miro_trendafilov]

Thanks for the video! Can't wait to see the comparison, been wondering whether to get an Ally myself!

[@MarkGibbons]

Ally is an absolute mess riddled with serious QC issues and performance hits every update. Buy LITERALLY any handheld other than an Ally, although I like the Steam Deck the most.

[@JoenHarlver]

if u dont have a PC, or have one but barely handles any modern gaming, it would be worth in your case, but u could try out the refurbished Steam deck too just to try it out if u even like it this style of handling. From my knowledge; yes ofc the Ally is way more powerful, but either the worst Battery life, so u have it plugged in 24/7 while gaming intense games or as said, the resolution & quality + lock the FPS which makes it somehwat equal to the Deck in certain games. i see the Ally more as a "mini PC" having it docked connected to a high res screen, keyboard & mouse while at home & when moving/traveling overnight etc. still have it to play in a hotel etc without any problems. While the Steam deck can provide it too the experience is "worse" compared to the ally (sounds too harsh, both are great. when it works)

[@MrRippyMcBaked]

I owned the Steam Deck for six months before selling it, since i have a gaming rig at home. However, as my son went from infant to toddler, and i am traveling for work, i was regretting my choice. I grabbed the Asus, since i heard the sound and screen was better. It defintely is. The games look top notch on the screen. Steamdeck was dark and muddied to be honest. Even though you can only run games in medium mostly, it looks like high-ultra on the small screen. This is coming from someone who has a 3090ti desktop, playing on a Qled 8k samsung. It looks almost as good.

[@SheddysGaming]

Dual boot a deck and you blur the lines a lot. I'll upgrade eventually, sure. But the deck + gamepass is a freaking magical combination for some of us.

[@EXDC]

Ever since getting the Ally i really didnt have a reason to use the Deck, it just does it all and everything works! The Deck is however a more comfortable device

[@Nima7766]

Nintendo Switch still offers the best portable experience after 6 years. Would people really make these huge devices with low battery life portable? People have to accept that this hard work is still not as pleasant as it is

[@JZrez]

If I had to pick one, rog ally hands down, even with the minor issues it has(which the SD also had at launch that for some reason everyone has forgotten about). It's more versatile than the SD, I use it as a guest PC for gaming and it works AMAZING. My switch? It collects dust for the most part, I take it out when my friends with kids come over and want to play Mario kart. 🤷

[@Rafael-d5e1n]

Honestly the vibrant mod on the deck makes that difference imo. Steam makes so many constant updates to make games run smoother I’d rather have that as opposed to very few more demanding games run slightly better. More over games look so much shaper on smaller screens.

[@Theman-b8n]

It’s not slight at all it’s very noticeable I’d rather wait for the deck two and get something else.

[@Theman-b8n]

It also depends on the user if you like pc more then you should get rog.

[@Rafael-d5e1n]

@@Theman-b8n thought the same at first but honestly games look much sharper on small screens even at those lower resolution still looks really good. I have my 3080 ti and I still play deck more lol

[@Rafael-d5e1n]

@@Theman-b8n you don’t need much tbh deck can run most things including games Nintendo didn’t want to have available aka black 2/heart gold/Zelda etc

[@YoungThos]

Game Pass is the killer app for me on the ROG Ally. As well as the library of Xbox Play Anywhere titles that give you access to both console and PC versions with cross-progression. Playing on my living room Xbox and then seamlessly transitioning to the ROG Ally really does make it feel like a Switch Pro. But yes, Windows on a handheld is pure jank and an external battery back is highly recommended 😅

[@Alexander-ix2jp]

We went with the Steam Deck for our household and we fricking love it! Best thing about it is that it doesn't run Windows but Linux instead. Well done Valve!

[@kaiichinose9590]

For me the best hand held combo is my rog ally and my switch oled. I sold my steam deck after getting my ally settled in. Its just better all around for me. I dont have to dual boot or mess around with any of that, all of my launchers just work.

[@Tb19355]

The exact video I was looking for. Posted exactly when I needed it. 🎉

[@cheese5194]

Kevin, I love your videos but please we don’t need the film grain filter. Keep it on intro for the “aesthetic” but please remove it during the actual meat of the content. Thanks. Love ya man keep up the amazing content.

[@Hellodude-el1sp]

The ultimate handheld would be the games and specs and performance of the ally, the battery life and features of the steam deck, and the detachable controllers of the switch

[@reddeviluk]

Gameboy Vs Game Gear.... Those were the days. Currently in holiday for 3 weeks and have brought my Steam Deck with me, no regrets at all, playing through Borderlands 3 and it's been perfect so far. 2-3 hours play, charge overnight so it's ready for tomorrow.

[@RJH755]

Way I see it the Switch is the least powerful but is the most user friendly, ROG Ally is the most powerful but requires more knowhow to get the games you want to play working, Steam Deck is a pretty good compromise between the two

[@GokuDUchiha]

Rog ally (windows 11,u can play valorant)> switch(games+battery) > steam deck (indie games + old aa games)

[@TylerKhan]

as old as the tech is. there is still something about the Switch that I love. every version of the switch feels amazing in the hands and the OLED version just feels like quality in your hands. It has been the console I have played the most in the past year. Mainly for my in between big AAA games each year. The battery life is amazing as well. But when I need a break from or finish games like BG3 or soon to be starfield. I'll for sure be gaming on my Switch.

[@seantan4207]

How switch cross(x) station and play outside the box. The rest is catching up - sitting in front of a tv and play on a console is so passé

[@edogmx1605]

At 3:02, gotta say i respect the music choice if thats yours

[@prdsatx4467]

Both the Ally and Steam Deck ARE PC's. Just because the Deck runs linux, doesnt make it any less of a PC. What you are referring too is the OS being used and the difference between compatibility of traditional Windows applications. Yes, Windows will run .exe files. Most software out there was built specifically for Windows. But to say that its more of PC than the Deck, is false.

[@Tazer_Silverscar]

When you put 'vs Switch' I was kinda expecting more of a comparison, you kinda mentioned it briefly and then didn't say anything more. The Switch has a library that is comparable in places to the Steam library (particularly with independent titles), and its price is largely down to the fact it has extra hardware that the Steam Deck doesn't (speaking of, wasn't the whole point of the Steam Deck that customisation was an option? I've not seen anyone really cover that, so my knowledge of how much Valve has actually implemented that is, well, nil). I know that there's a big gaping hole because the Switch is a handheld console, while these are PCs, but I just thought this required discussion, because it's kinda something that nobody's really talking about (at least that I'm aware of).

[@mrdrwdry]

Thanks for the info? I'm confused, other videos said Linux has good compatibility with non steam lunchers. 😅

[@RandomizationShow]

If you want as many playable games as possible as well as a weird looking but surprisingly functional windows laptop, get the ROG. If you prefer ease of use, great optimization and slightly higher battery at the cost of less playable games, get the Deck. If you have absolutely no idea what you're doing with either device and would be ok with a drastically smaller library made up of mostly exclusives and mediocre 3rd party ports while having bettery battery life than the prior 2, get a Switch. Get the ROG. It may be more of a pain than the Steam Deck at times, but in the long run its capable of doing far more and doing it better. Maybe not with battery life or controls, but it does beat the steam deck in virtually every other area.

[@ENGRtube]

My ROG Ally hasn't had any of the issues reviewers are always reporting, either I'm lucky or there is an odd bias against it for some reason, but I'm very happy with my Ally purchase since I travel A LOT for work and the Ally has been a god send for my gaming needs. Still shocked at the games I can play on it! I purchased a Grip Skin (which made it much more comfortable to hold) and a Carrying case on Amazon. Overall if you're already a PC gamer that is used to the Windows jank I would recommend the Ally whole heartedly, if you are a console guy mostly go with the Steamdeck since Windows will be frustrating to work with.

[@TrollTigerrr]

I disagree. I’ve been an Xbox guy for 15 years, never used PC before. I got the ROG Ally about 3 days ago and I love it! Super easy and simple to use. Battery life sucks, but it forces me to only play for awhile which is more healthy anyways

[@adrian_veidt]

It's amazing how switch can be emulated now. Been playing Diablo 3, SRW 30 and Mario kart 8 deluxe.

[@luisneumannp2748]

The colors and light in your video look amazing man, but I would tone down the grain a bit. It's a little much😅

[@zainkagalwala3000]

I want to buy a steam deck or rog ally I don’t know which one to get

[@muhahahake7158]

I usually have my fully charged portable power station with my steam deck 😊 it helps with boosting the setting while I am waiting in the car. Works so well for me

[@CRYPTiCEXiLE]

dude SteamOS is arch linux based it uses a Linux desktop with KDE.. it has a desktop like the ASUS handheld does but it doesn't use crappy windows it uses Linux which is better and you forgot to mention that it uses LINUX and it having a DESKTOP it is more than a switch lol

[@playingindies6730]

I didnt like the armory crate app, but did find if I add every game to Steam, even the xbox Gamepass ones, and just use big screen, it works great. The switch really feels like a downgrade gameplay wise. The Nitrodeck makes the Switch a little better but it's not a great system. The only reason to still use it is that the battery outlasts the Ally, so for going on trips, the Switch is better. But I don't play very demanding games on it. Still looking for more games that do play good on the (OLED) Switch for those situations. Games like Tiny Tinas Wonderlands play wonderful on the Ally, and it keeps up nearly 2 hours without plugging in. But I mostly play indies on it.

[@Timothyapollo220]

Best detailed review yet thanks🧔🏽‍♂️👍🏽

[@corey2232]

I wish someone would do a comparison of the ROG Ally & Steamdeck vs Xbox Series S So many people are saying "All I want for Switch 2 is for it to be *AT LEAST* as powerful as Series S," without realizing what that would look like. Because of all the "Series S is holding back current gen" talk, people think it's literally a potato. But getting that performance in a handheld consistently, while also meeting all of Nintendo's criteria, seems like a HUGE ask. Nintendo prioritizes battery life over performance (downclocking the Switch's GPU/CPU specs to conserve battery), selling hardware at a profit from day 1 (so production costs have to come in underneath MSRP), and also includes things like added costs like physical media support/dock/joycons (which the Steamdeck/ROG Ally do not), it would eye-opening for people to see what $450-$700 handhelds achieve vs Series S to put things into perspective. Unless Nintendo isn't concerned with affordability & targeting a price over $400, it would be pretty much impossible to see a Switch 2 on par with Series S.

[@drpantz7732]

ROG Ally kills it. Most powerful handheld yet and you can ditch your gaming laptop now too! Running Windows as the OS is a boon I for one PREFER!

[@taylornicty1170]

Had a Steam Deck oled and didn't like how limited Steam OS was. So I sold it and got the Ally and love it!

[@DrakonR]

Bot comment

[@cian.horgan]

I'm kind of glad the Ally didn't exist when I was buying a Steam Deck because it would have made the decision so much harder. I am absolutely a bit of a fanboy, but I do think I'd like my Deck either way and the extra stress and potentially cost would have been a lot

[@AbdulAdas]

I have the Steam Deck. Just having one of these PC handhelds is surreal.

[@kagemara277]

Even with the drift( which my Play Station has too anyways) Only Switch has Zelda Tears of the Kingdom. It’s probably the best game I have played in the past 25 years! And it’s coming from a game collector who has owned ever portable and home console out there except for Xbox. Switch needs some improvements, but the games on it outshine the competition by miles!

[@arclightsama_]

Researching for a long time, finally got my Asus ally, hope I made the right decision

[@Diosky27]

I haven't read through the comments but I think a use case that a lot of these comparisons seem to keep missing is people that want an all in one. Many seem to think that the only people that want these have money to burn on an ADDITIONAL gaming device. From my experience traveling across the globe, there are many real life situations where this portable style of computer would greatly be appreciated by the less "economically" privileged .That's exactly why I am currently comparing devices. The ability to upgrade (egpu) and overall cpu strength matter a lot. I'm looking at a divorce and likely bouncing between housing. Having a portable PC that can do it all with an even smaller/less cumbersome situation than a laptop would be ideal.

[@madjunir]

The interesting thing is The New Lenovo Legion Go handheld seems to be a combination of the 3 (Deck. Ally and Switch).

[@LizaPlz]

my biggest issue with the rog ally is that it runs on windows. 60% of your processing power is going to useless garbage where steam runs on 💪 LINUX 💪

[@GokuDUchiha]

But steam deck rdr 2 30-40fps(1.30hr) Rog ally 50-60fps 🙌(1.20hr) on battery

[@TechNerdGamerDad]

Regarding the sound crackling it’s a windows issue. Do this to fix it. In Windows go to Settings>Sound>Speakers> scroll down to Spatial Audio and turn off. Fixed the issue.

[@egress99]

Love the subtle Polyphia hints throughout the video.

[@theteznathel]

Forgot which reviewer figured out the popping with the speakers but it is related to the power allotment in the settings and the dolbe program not working well without enough juice.

[@marthiousknowledge9]

The Switch wins!! Overall, better battery, overall better AAA games, overall better price, overall better flexibility, and overall color variations! 🏆 ✌️

[@thetechnosaiyan]

Wrong,wrong,wrong,wrong,wrong 😢

[@Misaac]

intro was nutty!

[@sc239]

I just got an Ally on the weekend.. My take.. It takes some getting used to. There is room for Asus to tidy up the Armory Crate and handle some of the Windows stuff. 100% recommend a docking station to setup games/system.. Plug in, install games and test using monitor and KB/Mouse then its ready to use as a handheld.. Everything runs great but setup is a hassle. I would say a docking station is so much of a necessity it should come with a basic one. Dont expect to be playing games straight away.