"ASUS ROG Ally eclipsing Steam Deck hype, now costing under $500 as strong Windows 11 competitor emerges"
The ASUS ROG Ally, a compact and powerful handheld gaming PC, has been making waves in the gaming community. One of its most frequently used applications is the ASUS Armoury Crate launcher app.
But what sets the ASUS ROG Ally apart from its competitors, particularly the dominant Linux-based Steam Deck? According to recent findings, installing SteamOS on the ASUS ROG Ally instead of Windows 11 can significantly improve gaming performance, battery life, and thermal efficiency, thereby enhancing the overall handheld gaming experience.
Better Gaming Performance
SteamOS can deliver substantially higher framerates compared to Windows 11 on the same hardware. Benchmarks show up to 75% higher FPS in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 at 800p, with smoother gameplay and improved stability.
Longer Battery Life
SteamOS is more power-efficient, roughly doubling gaming battery endurance versus Windows 11 on comparable portable devices. This means that during heavy gaming sessions, the ASUS ROG Ally can last over 4 hours, compared to about 2 hours with Windows 11.
Improved Thermal Management
Running SteamOS produces less heat and fan noise, contributing to more comfortable long gaming sessions on the handheld.
Optimized User Interface
SteamOS offers a console-style, game-first UI designed specifically for handheld use with joystick, touchscreen, and touchpad inputs, making navigation and game launching seamless without the complexity and desktop metaphors of Windows.
Better Native Integration and Customization
SteamOS, built on Linux, supports Proton for running most Windows titles out of the box and allows users to tailor game profiles, performance settings, and system services for optimal gaming.
While Windows 11 offers broader software compatibility and multitasking, SteamOS’s streamlined design and Linux-based architecture make it superior for maximizing the ASUS ROG Ally’s handheld gaming capabilities in terms of FPS, battery, thermals, and user experience.
Despite the advantages of SteamOS, the ASUS ROG Ally can still run on Windows 11, and users can check for updates through the system. The device is also compatible with playing PC games on the go at up to 120Hz.
The ASUS ROG Ally is currently available at Best Buy for $499.99. It is rated as the second-best option behind the dominant Steam Deck by readers. The device is also rated highly for its ability to run multiplayer titles with mandatory anti-cheat that do not function on the Steam Deck.
For older games, community-made Steam Input controller profiles are preferred. Manual AMD Radeon graphics driver updates can be applied, and the 512GB storage can be manually upgraded to a 1TB SSD variant.
Playing games on the ASUS ROG Ally through Steam is enjoyable. The Xbox app for PC Game Pass titles can be accessed, and the device is compatible with Steam's Big Picture mode. However, it's important to note that the Steam Deck OLED variant can struggle to run some of the writer's favourite games, and the ASUS ROG Ally has a post-launch issue with overheating card slot when using a microSD card.
In conclusion, the ASUS ROG Ally offers a compelling alternative to the Steam Deck, with its superior performance, battery life, and thermal management when running SteamOS. Despite these advantages, users may find themselves using the Windows 11-based ASUS ROG Ally more and more due to its broader software compatibility and multitasking capabilities.
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