While the Steam Deck helped set the scene for the mobile gaming PC market, it was inevitable that others would want a slice of the action, and the specs of the upcoming ROG Ally show that Asus could be onto a winner. In the past, Valve has had a shaky history when it comes to hardware, with the Steam Link, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine failing to make an impact. Then the Deck came along, which has paved the way for a new era in portable game systems.

So popular was it that it was hailed as one of the best pieces of tech for 2022. The Steam Deck has been lauded due to its ability to play PC games on the go. While the device primarily targets Steam users, it can also be used for emulation and is also suitable as a basic home PC when connected to the right peripherals. Of course, it's not perfect by any stretch. There are a number of issues, such as compatibility, that Valve continues to work on, but this could be where a competitor comes in to take the Deck's place at the top.

RELATED: Steam Deck Users Discover New Hardware Revisions

The Asus ROG Ally could spell trouble for the Steam Deck when it launches on May 11, if the hardware specs are anything to go by. The Ally's 1920x1080 screen with 120Hz refresh rate could one-up Valve's machine, which only offers 1280x800. The Asus system will also feature RDNA 3 graphics, the generation after the Deck's RDNA 2. The former will also feature 512 GB of storage as standard, while the latter only has this in the more expensive model. The Ally only having one storage option could be a disadvantage, though the fact that it will have Windows 11 instead of a Linux-based OS means it should be much better at compatibility out the box.

Asus ROG Ally Hands-On Header

Originally thought to be an April Fool's joke, the Asus ROG Ally was announced in early April as an alternative to the Steam Deck. Whether it will be able to usurp the Deck cannot be said at this stage, but Valve will probably want to up its game if it hopes to stay on top of the portable gaming industry.

Alongside this, Microsoft has been toying with a Windows 11 Handheld Mode which, as the name implies, could adjust the UI of the operating system to make it more suitable for handheld devices. That's not necessarily a bad thing for the Steam Deck, as non-Steam software can be installed on the machine, but it does mean that others are starting to see the value in portable PC gaming.

Asus ROG Ally Hardware Specs

Design and connectivity

  • Weight: 608g
  • Dimensions: 280x113x39mm
  • Xbox-style controls with 2x rear macro buttons
  • Dual Dolby Atmos speakers
  • Dual cooling fans
  • 1x USB-C with DisplayPort
  • 1x Asus XG connector (for external GPUs)
  • 1x headphone jack
  • 1x microSD slot
  • WiFi 6E
  • Bluetooth
  • Fingerprint unlock
  • Haptic feedback

Display

  • 7in IPS
  • 1920x1080 resolution
  • 120Hz refresh rate
  • AMD FreeSync support
  • 1000:1 contrast ratio
  • 100% SRGB gamut coverage
  • 500cd/m2 peak brightness
  • Gorilla Glass DXC anti-reflective coating

Performance and storage

  • AMD Ryzen Z1 or AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU based on Zen 4 architecture
  • RDNA 3 graphics
  • 16GB LPDDR5 RAM
  • 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD (M.2 2230 form factor)
  • UHS-II microSD support

Software

  • Windows 11
  • Asus ROG Armoury Crate SE
  • Control panel overlay
  • AMD RSR
  • Customisable key mapping

MORE: Asus' ROG Ally Needs Its Own Steam Deck Launch Features

Source: Rock Paper Shotgun