As someone who’s been through their fair share of handheld gaming devices since the days of the Game Boy Advance, I can confidently say that the ASUS ROG Ally has taken the crown as my go-to gaming companion. The $100 price drop at Best Buy makes it an even sweeter deal!
It seems you’ve been anticipating a price reduction on the top-tier handheld gaming device, even better than the Sega Game Gear? Great news, as Best Buy is extending a generous offer during this non-Prime Day season!
At Best Buy, you can now get the ASUS ROG Ally for $100 less, bringing its price down from the original $649.99 to a more affordable $549.99. This compact device with a 512 GB storage boasts impressive power and is an excellent match for services like PC Game Pass, Steam, and other PC marketplaces, thanks to the robust performance of Windows 11.
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Why the ASUS ROG Ally is the best gaming handheld on the market right now
The ASUS ROG Ally stands out as an iconic portable gaming device, spearheading the competition to create superior handheld PC gaming experiences. Going head-to-head with the Linux-driven Steam Deck, ASUS opted for the raw power of full-fledged Windows to construct its inaugural PC gaming handheld. This decision brings both advantages and disadvantages.
The Z1 Extreme chip in the ASUS ROG Ally gives it significantly greater power compared to the Steam Deck, but using Windows 11 on this device can be quite tricky without an attached mouse. Navigating Windows 11 with just the touch screen might prove challenging. Nevertheless, if you’re willing to deal with the inconveniences, this device performs exceptionally well in terms of gaming. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Diablo 4 run smoothly on the ASUS ROG Ally, providing better resolution and a more stable frame rate compared to similar devices. Additionally, it boasts a VRR-enabled display for smoother visuals.
For $100 off, the ASUS ROG Ally becomes the perfect companion console for any PC or Xbox gamer. Using PC Game Pass, you can easily roam with any Game Pass title between your Xbox and your ASUS ROG Ally, with cloud saves synchronizing easily across the internet. Many games also sport cross-buy functionality too, like the recently released Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection, as well as Metaphor: ReFantazio. More games are expected to follow, too.
For non-PC Game Pass users, an alternative is Steam. With Steam’s Big Picture Mode activated, you can effectively operate the ASUS ROG Ally similarly to a stronger version of the Steam Deck, all controlled via your ROG Ally’s own controller.
I say this is the best of the PC gaming handhelds owing to its power, but also its design. It feels a lot nicer in the hand than similar Z1 Extreme options, such as the Lenovo Legion Go. Also, it has a Windows Hello-enabled fingerprint reader for security, which is an incredibly nice touch I find myself missing when I don’t have it. These devices don’t have the best battery life, however. Playing 2D games can net you around 3-4 hours, but intensive games will be best experienced plugged into a power outlet or a battery hub. They are essentially just handheld-shaped PC laptops, too, so you can expect any USB-C or Bluetooth peripherals to work as they would on any other Windows PC.
What’s the ASUS ROG Ally battery life like?
For gaming devices like the ASUS ROG Ally, the battery life is fairly good. By playing 2D games using energy-saving modes (accessible through a dedicated button on the device), you can expect around 3-4 hours of gameplay. However, more demanding games in high-power modes will drain the battery quickly, so it’s best to play these while the device is plugged into a 65w power source for optimal gaming experience.
Is the ASUS ROG Ally better than the Steam Deck?
Personally, I think the answer is yes. The Steam Deck is very optimized for the handheld experience and gets tons of updates, and doesn’t need to deal with the weird issues Windows sometimes throws at PC gaming. However, it also doesn’t benefit from having full-blown Windows natively. This means you can’t take advantage of PC Game Pass or third-party launcher games very easily, such as games via Battle.net or the HoyoVerse app. If you do enjoy playing lots of 2D indie-style games, the Steam Deck might be better for you overall, but the ASUS ROG Ally is better if you want to push into 3D games and use a variety of PC gaming stores.
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2024-10-08 11:39