The ROG Ally X is nice, however the Steam Deck OLED simply beats it in 4 key methods

I am a large fan of the ROG Ally X. It is a premium-feeling, highly effective, Home windows-powered handheld that offers me entry to all of my Xbox Sport Go titles on the go. Nonetheless, it is from good. The dearth of an actual sleep mode, difficult updates, and confusion brought on by Home windows 11 simply not being made for a handheld, are just some of my key points with Asus’ moveable.

That is the place the Steam Deck OLED is available in. The ROG Ally X may beat the Steam Deck when it comes to uncooked energy and flexibility, however Valve’s deal with surpasses it handily on the subject of being a simple, Change-like handheld console that just about at all times works while you want it to. After I know I’ll be ready round at an appointment or have a short, however nonetheless prolonged flight or prepare trip, I virtually at all times attain for the Steam Deck OLED over the ROG Ally X.

• 

  Steam Deck OLED

  Valve’s Steam Deck OLED characteristic an ergonomic design and a powerful OLED display screen with HDR.

• 

  ROG Ally X

  Asus’ ROG Ally X is a strong Home windows-based handheld with a 1080p display screen that is able to a 120Hz refresh fee.

See our course of

How we check and evaluation merchandise at Pocket-lint

We do not do arm-chair analysis. We purchase and check our personal merchandise, and we solely publish purchaser’s guides with merchandise we have really reviewed.

1 The Steam Deck OLED simply works

Home windows 11’s versatility is nice, however it will probably additionally get annoying

Home windows 11 is each the ROG Ally X’s key energy and likewise its weak spot. Whereas it makes working just about something on Asus’ handheld a risk, Home windows 11 simply is not constructed with a touch-screen gaming handheld in thoughts. This will result in odd on-screen keyboard points, video games crashing, and an updating course of that feels needlessly difficult. Asus tries to resolve this challenge through the use of its Armory Crate SE to maintain all the things in a single location with an intuitive UI, nevertheless it simply would not examine to the swift responsiveness and simple nature of the Steam Deck OLED and SteamOS.

For instance, if you wish to replace your ROG Ally X, first it is advisable navigate to the replace display screen inside Asus’ Armory Crate SE app. Subsequent, swap over to the usual Home windows 11 desktop mode and replace the hand-held that manner, too. Then lastly, be sure to open up the Microsoft Retailer and replace your apps from there. Oh, and do not forget to launch Steam and replace your video games there. With the Steam Deck, this course of is streamlined. The console is up to date immediately from the the hand-held’s settings and video games are up to date from their location within the menu.

SteamOS simply feels prefer it was designed to work with the Steam Deck. I’ve points with the hand-held’s Desktop Mode, however even its trackpads and onscreen keyboard make the admittedly unwieldy OS simpler to navigate than Home windows 11 on the ROG Ally X (except you plug in a mouse and keyboard, after all). Video games do not crash as typically and glitches happen far much less steadily on the Steam Deck. It feels just like the super-powered Change of my goals. Additionally, why is there a Home windows 11 lock display screen on the ROG Ally X that you could’t flip off? It would not make any sense.

Associated

Samsung’s newest idea is the Galaxy Fold and Steam Deck crossover I did not know I wished

Samsung is showcasing a handheld gaming system idea at Cell Phrase Congress 2025, however with a twist: the console folds in half.

2 Sleep mode is extremely helpful for on-the-go gaming

Correctly shutting down the ROG Ally X could be a chore

Whereas I do most of my handheld gaming at residence, generally I take my portables with me once I’m out and about. That is the place one among my key points with the ROG Ally X seems — there simply is not an actual sleep mode. After I faucet the console’s energy button, it goes into hibernation, however there is not any assure I am going to nonetheless have the ability to resume my recreation. In a whole lot of instances, no matter recreation I am enjoying crashes or glitches out by the point I choose the console up once more. Generally the ROG Ally X’s battery can be almost depleted.

Whereas this is not a deal-breaker, it makes it troublesome to make use of the hand-held in conditions the place I would have to shortly flip the moveable into sleep mode. I’ve learn there are third-party apps that clear up this challenge, nevertheless. Nonetheless, sleep mode ought to work out of the field, similar to it does with the Steam Deck. When Valve’s console, all I have to do is faucet the sleep button and the console’s display screen snaps off. When I can begin gaming once more, I simply faucet the button, and I am again in motion.

It is a very Nintendo Change-like expertise and is probably going what most individuals count on from a conveyable console. Relating to fast gaming periods, the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED are far superior.

Associated

I did not want a sensible mug, however now I am unable to think about life with out one

The Ember Mug 2 is the kind of good gadget you do not know you want till you really strive it – the good mug is extremely helpful.

3 The Steam Deck OLED’s battery life is nice

The ROG Ally X might have a giant cell, nevertheless it would not final lengthy

If you’re gaming on-the-go, battery life is integral. Whereas the ROG Ally X has a much bigger battery than the Steam Deck and its extra highly effective Ryzen Z1 Excessive processorbeats out the Customized AMD Zen 2 APU Valve opted for, it is also extra power-hungry, even when enjoying older, much less resource-intensive video games.

In fact, battery life fluctuates based mostly on what recreation you are enjoying, the hand-held’s energy setting, body fee, decision and extra. You may enhance the ROG Ally X’s battery life by reducing its decision and refresh fee. Nonetheless, in just about each case, I used to be in a position to get extra battery life out of the Steam Deck OLED regardless of its brighter panel, sometimes amounting to a minimum of an hour or so relying on the sport. If you’re on a prolonged flight with out a plug simply accessible, that additional battery life will be very important.

Associated

The 13-inch M4 MacBook Air is the proper laptop computer for me (and most of the people)

With the M4 MacBook Air, I’ve lastly gotten my arms on the 13-inch model of Apple’s in style laptop computer for the primary time – and I have been blown away.

4 Valve’s handheld is general extra snug and feels higher-quality

Asus must step its build-quality recreation up

The ROG Ally X may characteristic higher {hardware} specs, however its build-quality is not as much as par with the Steam Deck OLED. Asus’ handheld is constructed of sentimental, easy-to-scratch plastic, in comparison with the Steam Deck’s tougher, extra sturdy plastic shell. Including to this, the Steam Deck OLED’s buttons have a satisfying pop to them in comparison with the ROG Ally X’s mushy buttons.

I am additionally not keen on the ROG Ally X’s rear grips (the dbrand Killswitch case I take advantage of helps a bit). They’re superb, however are a bit recessed, making the weighty handheld troublesome to carry for longer intervals. Alternatively, whereas the Steam Deck OLED is roughly simply as heavy, it has extra conventional gamepad-like rear grips that make it simpler to make use of moveable for longer intervals. General, the Steam Deck OLED looks like a better-made gadget. Hopefully, Asus improves the ROG Ally X 2’s construct when it inevitably releases.

The Steam Deck OLED and ROG Ally X had been supplied to Pocket-lint by Valve and Asus, respectively.

Associated

4 causes upgrading to the iPad Air (M3) is perhaps price it for you

The iPad Air (M3) sits within the center space of Apple’s lineup, however should you’re a selected kind of Apple pill person, you may get rather a lot out of it.