The Steam Deck has been a favorite of mine ever since it was announced, and I was lucky to snag one right when they started shipping. After more than two and a half years, I’m still recommending it to most of my friends. It’s incredibly user-friendly, though not without its limitations. A big downside? I can’t enjoy games like Black Ops 6 on it. Now, with the ROG Ally hitting an all-time low price on both sides of the pond, I’m seriously considering making the switch.
I Love Steam OS, But It Can’t Handle Everything
Steam OS is my go-to system, hands down. Its user interface is superb for a handheld compared to how Windows 11 fares with custom overlays by ASUS or Lenovo. Most of my games are housed in Steam, and getting other platforms like Battle.net or Epic Games on there isn’t too challenging. Usually, Linux doesn’t pose a problem—until it does, often because of anticheat software like Ricochet, which blocks games such as Black Ops 6. Not every piece of anticheat tech is incompatible with Linux, but the situation is far from ideal and seems to be deteriorating. Titles like Call of Duty, Fortnite, Destiny 2, and now Apex Legends, which used to be Deck Verified, just don’t run on the Steam Deck. I had managed to shrug it off—until Black Ops 6 swung by.
These days, Black Ops 6 is hogging all my gaming time, and it’s opened my eyes to the importance of Xbox Game Pass for my gaming on both PC and console. But using Game Pass on the Steam Deck requires either installing Windows or relying on cloud gaming. The real reason I’m even playing Black Ops 6 is because it’s on Game Pass—I didn’t have to shell out 70 bucks for a game I might not like, which is a perk I’ve grown to appreciate lately.
Reports on Black Ops 6 running on the ROG Ally indicate it’s quite the pleasant experience. It can hit 60 FPS, largely thanks to the AMD Z1 Extreme, which is definitely a notch above what the Steam Deck offers. It may not be my device of choice for competitive ranked play, but for relaxed, zombie-slaying sessions on the couch, it seems perfect.
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Say Goodbye to the Windows 11 Price Premium
I’ve always found Windows handhelds a bit too pricey to seriously consider over my trusty Steam Deck, but that’s changed lately. Earlier price tags were hefty due to the so-called Windows 11 tax, but Black Friday has leveled the playing field, pushing me closer to making a purchase.
The ROG Ally is becoming incredibly tempting to me. It’s not only more powerful but also offers a superior display and more storage right out of the box compared to my current Steam Deck. I also favor the ROG Ally’s controller layout, which borrows the Xbox’s offset stick design, something I’ve come to really love. I do wish it had touchpads, though, as they’re more useful in my opinion than on the Steam Deck. Unfortunately, Windows 11 isn’t exactly optimized for small touch displays.
When I first tried the ROG Ally X, I was nearly sold, but that hefty price tag deterred me. With the original model now available for just £399 in the UK, holding back seems almost impossible.
While my affection for the Steam Deck will never wane, at this current price, I’d find it hard not to recommend the ROG Ally. Sure, Windows 11 might be a bit more tedious on a handheld, but its broader game compatibility, without the need for workarounds or facing anticheat barriers, kind of makes it a no-brainer.
