Asus has taken a bold step into the handheld gaming arena with the ROG Ally, emerging as the first significant competitor to Valve’s Steam Deck. Although Windows-based handhelds still lag behind Valve’s SteamOS-based original in terms of overall acclaim, the ROG Ally stands out as the top contender among the initial offerings.
Recently, the excitement around the ROG Ally has intensified with Valve confirming it’s working on a version of SteamOS tailored for this device. This development could elevate the ROG Ally’s appeal even further. For those keen to get their hands on this gaming powerhouse, Best Buy is currently offering a substantial discount, reducing the price of the original ROG Ally to $500.
This deal pertains to the Ryzen Z1 Extreme variant, which boasts significant performance enhancements over the processors found in both the Steam Deck and the more affordable non-Extreme model of the ROG Ally. Key features include a vibrant 7-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 512GB of upgradeable M.2 storage, and 16GB of non-upgradeable LPDDR5 RAM.
The ROG Ally supports video output via USB-C and features a proprietary connection that allows for an external graphics card, although the cost of such a setup can surpass that of the handheld itself. While Windows 11, coupled with Asus’ custom software, may not offer the lightest operating system experience, it provides native access to a wide array of software, including PC games on Xbox Game Pass and numerous free titles from the Epic Games Store.
If you’re considering an upgrade, the ROG Ally X, released earlier this year, brings improvements across the board but comes with a higher price tag of $800. For those on a budget or searching for a deal, the discounted ROG Ally represents an excellent opportunity, especially if the base-model Steam Deck doesn’t quite meet your needs.
