Top Handheld Gaming Consoles for 2025: Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and More

Alright, so here’s the scoop. You’ve got this thing, right? The Asus ROG Ally. It’s like — well, imagine if your regular old PC decided to hit the gym, slimmed down, and turned portable. You don’t need to fiddle with Linux or any technical mumbo-jumbo here, unlike the Steam Deck. Trust me, I’ve tried to wrestle with Linux before. Didn’t end well.

So here’s the deal. The Deck used to be kind of like the lone wolf in this handheld gaming jungle. But then Ally walks in and suddenly, it’s not the only kid on the block. And Ally’s got Windows 11. Huge plus. It’s like comparing a Swiss army knife to, I dunno, a regular ol’ knife. Both cut, but one’s got more utility, you know?

Moving on, yes — the Ally’s got this AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme. Sounds fancy. And it packs an AMD Radeon graphics card too, which is awesome if you’re into tech stuff. But if you’re not, just know it’s enough to run your games smoothly without the thing exploding or anything (we tried).

Here’s something weird though. I imagined the Ally and Deck having this leg race, with processing power and whatnot, and the Ally just kind of zoomed past. But, oh boy, it does feel a bit flimsy, like it might float away if you sneeze too hard? And the battery, don’t even get me started — felt like I was reliving my old-school Nokia days, itching for a charger all the time.

And don’t get me started on this carrying case issue. Imagine buying a fancy gadget and getting no case. At $699.99? Yeah, no thank you. Plus, those back buttons? A bit awkward in my hands. Maybe that’s just me — whose hands were clearly designed for dropping things.

So, the big question: which one do you throw your money at? drum roll — it depends on what you really want. Need something that’s heavy with power and lets you have all your game launchers in one place? Go with Ally. But crave that premium feel, with a battery that doesn’t die when you blink? Maybe Deck’s calling your name.

Whichever way you go, both have their quirks — good and bad. Just like deciding if you want coffee or tea, your call.