Hello everyone, welcome back to TechNuovo, my name is Stef and this video is going to do a bit of the talking, as last week we participated in a virtual event for the Asus ROG Ally handheld console. We know that. As for the Steam Deck, as you know, this is probably the most notable handheld to date for PC gaming.
So what impressed me most about the new ROG Ally is its specs and what’s driving the device. Inside you can find an AMD Z1 series CPU, model to be exact 7840U7, which is part of AMD’s Zen4 architecture and is also running RDNA3 graphics. Now, compare that to the Steam Deck, and you’ll see that Valve is using an inferior processor, running AMD’s Zen 2 CPU architecture with RDNA 2 graphics. Both devices run 16GB of RAM and of course be careful with these as we haven’t had time to practice with ROG Ally to really compare the numbers generated, so while Ally on paper is better than spec, there are factors other may also have an effect.
For example, the Steam Deck is running a version of Steam OS 3.0 which is Linux at its core, which we’ve known to be pretty light when it comes to performance and from my experience so far. with Steam Deck, works really well. For comparison, ROG Ally is running Windows 11 out of the box. Again, this may not be an issue when it comes to draining power on the battery, but it’s interesting to see that Windows may need more power to run depending on background tasks going on. And this can affect your device’s battery life in the long run between charges. Valve gives users different options to limit power or power in the performance menu to really extend that battery life, and Windows currently offers very limited options when it comes to power saving.
SteamOS is also a very light store, and it’s an incredibly convenient system that’s easy to navigate on a handheld, and being Steam, access to the world’s largest game store is a huge bonus right now. determined. The advantage with ROG Ally, though, is that it runs Windows, as it will give users access to Steam, Origin, Epic Games, Games Pass, Battle.net, and other launchers in the first place. that, as well as games that require some form of anti-cheat, which Linux may not be able to access, or to gain access to these game launchers, you will need to dual-boot anyway, or install Windows on its Steam Deck, which isn’t really hard to do, but it’s jumping through hoops to get extra game launchers. But Asus has a lot of work to do to keep that battery life at a decent level. They already have a Command Center, which has options to change the mode of operation, but it’s too early to know if this will have any practical impact. The Steam deck will last for a few hours, maybe two or three, maybe even four if the CPU and GPU aren’t pushed at all, depending on the requirements of the game you’re playing. So if Asus can match that, that’s a good start. But if Windows gets too power hungry then Valve’s Steam Deck could be the ultimate winner here, especially for those who really want a mobile experience and don’t use docking stations, that would be the choice. better handheld.
With Windows capable of drawing a lot of power, ROG Ally also has a superior display, having a 1920 x 1080 resolution at 120Hz at 500 nits, while the Steam Deck has a 1280 x 800 resolution at 60 Hz. at 400 nits of brightness. Now the Steam Deck has an impressive display. I’ve always found it perfectly fine for the types of games I’ve played, like Hollow Knight, Maneater, or games from the Sega Classic Collection, nothing too difficult. In theory, ROG Ally has a much superior display, but what’s remarkable is the battery performance that ROG Ally can have. Moreover, ROG Ally to achieve that resolution and refresh rate will have to work much harder, although it has superior graphics and chip performance, it still may not be enough to run the game completely. at 1080p at a constant 120Hz.
In the end, however, the big elephant in the room, and what I believe will make or break ROG Ally, is the price. The 512GB variant of the Steam Deck that suits Ally best when it comes to storage is currently £599. This ROG Ally handheld should at least match that, but in an ideal world, they would want to beat it, win favors, and steal consumers their way. You also have to keep in mind that there’s an entry-level 64GB Steam Deck that costs £399, which comes with a smaller storage capacity of course, but overall it’s a more compelling offer. And you can install your own SSD later on this device for a relatively cheap price. Both handsets also have the option for expandable microSD memory. So again, Valve could still be the winner here based on price alone.
So considering battery life and price, which one do you think will come out on top? Let us know what you think in the comments section. Is ROG Ally worth it? Will it beat the Steam Deck? After all, it has some pretty cool specs! But who knows. Let us know what you think. Thanks for watching, hit the like button if you liked it and subscribe for more ROG Ally videos once we get our hands on one. If we can that is. Thanks for watching, and have a great day!
