As someone who has spent countless hours exploring digital landscapes and battling virtual foes, I can confidently say that the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is the ultimate handheld gaming device for those of us who refuse to compromise on our gaming experience.
I love my Steam Deck, but ROG Ally is superior to it. That’s just a fact.
I often find myself rotating among my Steam Deck, Legion Go, and ROG Ally devices due to their frequent usage. Each one offers unique advantages that cater to diverse user preferences. However, it’s clear that the ROG Ally stands out as the most impressive of the trio, particularly for gamers who crave the latest graphically intense games. The recent launch of STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl brought back memories of handheld gaming experiences, and it became evident that in terms of performance and compatibility, the Steam Deck falls short compared to its counterparts.
Why doesn’t Steam Deck support as many games as ROG Ally and Legion Go? There are primarily two reasons for this: firstly, the hardware specifications differ between these devices; secondly, affordability is a significant factor that continues to draw consumers towards the Steam Deck. However, at present, some attractive Best Buy Black Friday deals have brought down the price of the ROG Ally considerably.
ROG Ally has more powerful specs than Steam Deck
Whenever a game with high graphical requirements is released, it falls to me to discover the optimal settings on various gaming handhelds (such as Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Legion Go) so I can compose guides to enhance the playing experience. Consequently, I downloaded STALKER 2 onto each of my devices during the past month. By the way, if you’re curious about my guide for optimal STALKER 2 settings on gaming handhelds, feel free to take a look!
I was able to play several hours of decently smooth STALKER 2 gameplay on both my ROG Ally and Legion Go. However, while I can get this post-apocalyptic shooter to run on Steam Deck, it’s such a choppy experience that I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. I don’t know how many times the game lagged on me, only for an enemy to kill me. It was very frustrating.
Compared to ROG Ally or Legion Go, the Steam Deck boasts less powerful hardware and operates on an uncommon software platform.
This is similar to some other playing experiences I’ve had on Steam Deck this year, including while playing Dragon’s Dogma 2. Despite not being playable on Valve’s handheld, I was able to play Dragon’s Dogma 2 on ROG Ally after adjusting settings.
A significant factor behind the disparity in handheld performance between ROG Ally and Legion Go, on one side, and Steam Deck, on the other, lies in the fact that the former two devices boast an AMD Z1 Extreme APU that is twice as potent as the custom AMD Zen 2-based APU found in the Steam Deck. The latter’s APU comprises just four cores and eight threads, whereas the AMD Z1 Extreme sports a more robust configuration of eight cores and 16 threads. This makes the AMD Z1 Extreme significantly more efficient and capable of managing multiple tasks concurrently more effectively.
As a tech enthusiast, I’ve noticed that if a game developer fails to optimize their game for Steam Deck’s less powerful specifications, it can result in a very laggy and freezing experience. In some cases, it might not run at all on Valve’s handheld device. On the other hand, devices like ROG Ally and Legion Go have specs that are more similar to those of a gaming laptop, making them more capable of handling graphically demanding games without any issues right out of the box.
If you prefer playing games that are older or don’t require high graphics, the Steam Deck would work well for you. But if you enjoy challenging your system with more graphically demanding games, the ROG Ally might be a more suitable choice.
The PC gaming world runs on Windows
Additionally, it’s worth noting that unlike traditional Windows devices, the Steam Deck operates on Linux-based SteamOS. This means it primarily focuses on running games from your Steam library without any additional setup required. However, for the purpose of this discussion, let’s focus on other aspects.
Linux is open-source software, allowing anyone who understands the system to develop new programs or incorporate new applications easily. Yet, the majority of PC games are primarily designed for Windows, with Linux and macOS versions often being secondary considerations. Essentially, developers must intentionally create a version of their game compatible with SteamOS if they want it to run smoothly on the Steam Deck.
The problem is that many developers don’t have the time, money, or inclination to optimize games for Linux. So, by default, more games are playable on the Windows-11-toting ROG Ally and Legion Go, even if the developer didn’t specifically optimize its title for handhelds. And, of course, Windows 11 also makes it easier to jump on a browser and access any online gaming service, including Steam, Battle.net, Epic Games, and more. If you want to play games with anticheat software as well, the biggest support for that is on Windows.
Currently, the primary advantage of the Steam Deck over the ROG Ally or Legion Go is its lower cost. However, during Black Friday sales, these starting prices have been significantly reduced, making them more competitive.
ROG Ally is far more affordable right now due to Black Friday deals
As an observer, I’ve noticed that the Steam Deck has garnered significant attention due to being the initial major PC gaming handheld on the market. The ROG Ally entered the scene about a year and half later, followed by the Legion Go four months afterwards. Despite the arrival of new competitors, the Steam Deck continues to attract users thanks to its competitive pricing and straightforward SteamOS interface.
Opting for the LCD screen and 64GB SSD will set you back $349 on Steam for the Steam Deck. However, if you prefer an OLED screen and a 1TB SSD, the price can escalate up to $649. If affordability and console-like functionality are your priorities, then the Steam Deck is an excellent choice, even though it may limit your gaming options compared to more expensive models.
Currently, the standard ROG Ally Z1 (not the Extreme version) typically retails at $499.99, pricier than the Steam Deck. However, due to early Black Friday discounts, you can grab it for $349.99 at Best Buy, the same price as the basic Steam Deck model. Interestingly, if you’re after the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme, it usually costs $649.99, but right now, it’s on sale at Best Buy for only $499.99. Therefore, this could be an opportune moment to consider getting an Ally.
Absolutely, you can purchase the freshly launched ROG Ally X at Best Buy for $799.99, however, as it’s a new product, there are no current discounts available. Fingers crossed, we might see some savings in the future!
Recommended ROG Ally configurations:
Why is ROG Ally better than Legion Go?
I absolutely love the Legion Go’s relatively massive 8.8-inch IPS touchscreen with its crisp 2560 x1600 resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, which is better than the ROG Ally’s 7-inch, 1920x1080p, 120Hz IPS touchscreen. However, ROG Ally supports VRR (variable refresh rate), and Legion Go doesn’t, which results in games playing far more smoothly on ASUS’ handheld.
VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) technology synchronizes a device’s screen refresh rate with the images produced by the GPU, thereby eliminating screen tearing and ensuring smooth gameplay without lag. This results in significantly improved motion clarity for many graphically demanding games on the ROG Ally as compared to the Legion Go, making it a superior choice over its Windows 11 counterpart in this regard.
Another point worth considering is the matter of affordability. The base model of the Legion Go, priced at $699.99 for 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD from Best Buy, is more expensive than the starting price of ROG Ally. Additionally, it appears that the Legion Go doesn’t go on sale as frequently as the ROG Ally, making it more probable to secure a good deal with ASUS’s device.
ROG Ally is for people who play the latest graphically demanding games
The Steam Deck offers an economical price tag and streamlined SteamOS user interface, creating a handheld device that resembles a gaming console rather than a laptop for less graphically intensive games. If you’re primarily into playing lighter games or timeless classics, the Steam Deck is tailor-made for your requirements.
If you frequently play a wide variety of games, even those demanding high performance, then the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is the ideal handheld device for you. Its powerful specifications enable it to run more games, including titles not explicitly optimized for portable systems, making it a better choice over Steam Deck.
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2024-11-21 19:09