The original Steam Deck ignited a revolution in handheld PC gaming, and the Steam Deck OLED only solidified its position. While other powerful consoles exist, Valve’s offering remains a strong contender. But how does it stack up against the Asus ROG Ally X? These handhelds, both refreshed versions of their predecessors, share more similarities than you might think. This comparison delves into their strengths and weaknesses, helping you determine which device reigns supreme in the battle between the Asus ROG Ally X and the Steam Deck OLED.
Comparing the specs immediately puts the Asus ROG Ally X at an advantage, much like the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme outshines the base Steam Deck. This advantage stems primarily from the improved APU in the ROG Ally X. The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, powering numerous portable mini PCs, significantly surpasses the custom AMD APU found in the Steam Deck. Built on a more advanced 4nm process, the Z1 Extreme boasts twice the cores and threads, along with a higher maximum clock speed.
The differences extend beyond the APU. The ROG Ally X receives a RAM upgrade over its predecessor, further distancing itself from the Steam Deck OLED. Not only does it offer 8GB more memory, but the RAM is also faster. This onboard memory can be dynamically allocated between the system and GPU as needed. Furthermore, Asus equips the ROG Ally X with a more upgradable M.2 2280 NVMe SSD. Asus has also replaced the XG Mobile connector with a USB 4 port, enabling external GPU support. This addition significantly boosts the handheld’s capabilities beyond the built-in AMD APU.
While the ROG Ally X dominates in terms of hardware, the Steam Deck OLED excels in other areas. The Steam Deck OLED launched on November 16, 2023, with an adjusted price for the LCD model instead of an increase. The 512GB model is priced at $550, while the 1TB model costs $650. The console is readily available for purchase. The ROG Ally X was announced at Computex 2024 and released on July 22, 2024. However, it comes with a price increase compared to its predecessor and starts at $800 for a standard 1TB SSD storage configuration.
The design of the two handhelds varies significantly. Instead of focusing on the basic differences between a Steam Deck and an Asus ROG Ally, which can be found in our comparison of those models, this review highlights the changes specific to these newer versions. Notably, both devices now share a similar aesthetic thanks to the ROG Ally X adopting a black color palette instead of white. Asus also redesigned the joysticks on the ROG Ally X, improved the D-pad, and repositioned the macro buttons at the back to minimize accidental activation. Meanwhile, the Steam Deck boasts a substantial screen upgrade, switching from a slightly dull LCD to a vibrant OLED display. This makes a stark difference compared to the ROG Ally X, which features an IPS panel. Although the ROG Ally X screen is decent, the Steam Deck OLED excels with its larger OLED display. On the other hand, the Asus gaming device pushes the refresh rate to 120Hz, whereas the Steam Deck OLED caps at 90Hz. While the Steam Deck OLED wins in this aspect, the ROG Ally X offers a perfectly capable screen.
Valve managed to slightly reduce the weight of the OLED model, while Asus ended up adding a bit of weight to the ROG Ally X. However, with a difference of just 0.09 pounds, the two handhelds feel virtually identical. The most significant upgrade for the ROG Ally X lies in the doubled battery capacity, jumping from 40Wh to 80Wh. This substantially impacts battery life, which we’ve repeatedly observed in our tests. The ROG Ally X now holds the largest battery among its rivals, including the Steam Deck and the Lenovo Legion Go. Although Valve’s battery upgrade isn’t as drastic, the APU’s improved efficiency results in a noticeable difference in battery life. In our tests, the OLED model consumed about 5% of the battery during a 30-minute Dead Cells gameplay session, while the non-OLED model would drain at least 10% or less during the same period. The ROG Ally X showcased its new battery’s prowess in our testing. We managed to complete our entire benchmark suite on a single charge, a feat never achieved by any other handheld before. The console also played Halo 2 Anniversary on Performance mode for an hour, only losing 30% of the battery. The System Shock remake at 1080p without a frame rate cap consumed only 35% of the battery. The choice between the two ultimately comes down to personal preferences. While the Steam Deck’s visuals might be unparalleled, the ROG Ally X’s 80Wh battery takes the crown in that category, and this is undeniable.
The ROG Ally X presents an intriguing handheld. Its primary hardware upgrade lies in the increased memory, which significantly impacts some games while having no effect on others. We’ve tested both the ROG Ally X and the Steam Deck OLED, providing insights into their performance comparison. First, let’s examine their performance at 720p, the Steam Deck’s native resolution. While the Asus console houses a significantly better chip, the difference isn’t as dramatic as expected at 720p. Some improvements are evident in memory-intensive games like Horizon Zero Dawn, but other titles, like Cyberpunk 2077, perform almost identically. In fact, the difference between the two in Cyberpunk, specifically, amounts to a single frame rate.
At 1080p, the Asus mini PC performs better, but a direct comparison with the Steam Deck at this resolution is not possible. However, comparing it to its predecessor sheds light on the impact of extra memory on various titles. Take Horizon Zero Dawn as an example. Despite the APU remaining the same in both models, the ROG Ally X achieves 50 frames per second (fps) at 1080p, while the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme lags behind at a mere 35 fps. Meanwhile, games like Returnal and Dying Light 2 barely show any difference. The ROG Ally X surpasses its predecessor, and consequently, the Steam Deck OLED in terms of performance across various power modes. Asus has slightly tweaked these modes, allowing for 17 watts at the Performance profile and 13 watts on Silent. This puts the 17-watt Performance mode on a more level playing field with Turbo, which starts at 25W when unplugged and increases to 30W when plugged in. Valve’s upgrade from the Steam Deck to the OLED version included performance enhancements as well. Although we’re only talking about a difference of a few frames at most, this can be significant when not already running games at 120 fps. At the Steam Deck’s native 800p resolution, the handheld managed to achieve 60 fps instead of 56 fps in Horizon Zero Dawn and 84 fps instead of 79 fps in Strange Brigade. Nevertheless, the OLED Steam Deck would still be outperformed by the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme. Now, with more and faster RAM, we anticipate that the numbers will lean even more in Asus’ favor. However, a direct comparison between the two will require testing the ROG Ally X ourselves.
Choosing between the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck has never been straightforward, and these two new versions don’t make the decision any easier. The Asus ROG Ally X might be a worthwhile purchase compared to its predecessors. For an extra $100, you get a better battery, more memory, and design improvements that enhance gameplay. However, this $100 premium is no longer valid, as the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme can often be found for $550 to $600. This means you’re paying $200 more for an upgrade that might be subtle in some titles while being a significant boost in others. On the other hand, the Steam Deck OLED boasts a stunning display and is $200 cheaper. The ROG Ally X is undoubtedly faster and performs better, but it’s not as simple as that. Several factors need consideration, including Valve’s proprietary operating system versus the ROG Ally X’s Windows OS with Asus’ Armoury Crate overlay. The personalized user interface in the Steam Deck is also noteworthy. Ultimately, the decision boils down to your priorities – price versus performance. The ROG Ally X delivers higher frame rates, but is an extra $200 worth it? Not necessarily, but it entirely depends on your budget for a gaming handheld.
