He ASUS ROG Ally The price has been reduced to $500 at Best Buy, which is a $150 discount and a new all-time low for the configuration with AMD’s Z1 Extreme chip. This deal comes with one big caveat: ASUS recently launched the ROG Ally x, an upgraded model with better battery life, more RAM and storage, improved ergonomics, an additional USB-C port, and slightly improved performance. It should also avoid overheating issues. That hindered The microSD slot on the first model. If you can afford it, get that one.
The x, however, costs $300 more. If you can't afford that amount but still want a portable Windows gaming console, the original has the same chip and a 7-inch, 120Hz display, so it can run many graphics-intensive games on the go. Because it's a Windows device, it can also run titles from virtually any gaming client, be it Steam, the Xbox app, or the Epic Games Store.
We still think the Steam Deck OLED is the better choice for most people looking for a portable gaming PC, as its software is much easier to learn and use. Windows may be more flexible, but it can be a pain to navigate without a mouse and will likely force you to tweak settings more often to get your games to run optimally. Valve’s handheld console is also much cheaper than the Ally x, but it offers a more vibrant display and performance that’s pretty close.
All that said, the Ally is lighter and a bit more powerful, plus its screen has a variable refresh rate so that games run smoothly. If you can live with the short battery life and Windows-related quirks (and really want a portable console that can run big-budget games from stores other than Steam), it's an easier sell at this price. Check out our review from last year for more details.
