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

Alright, so let’s talk about the Asus ROG Ally, this little machine that’s kinda stepping up to the plate against the Steam Deck. You know, the Steam Deck was doing its thing with limited launcher access, and then boom—here comes Asus with something that doesn’t make you jump through hoops. Windows 11, baby! Yeah, no need to be some Linux wizard to get your game on.

Anyway—no, wait—where was I? Oh yeah, just pop open whatever game launcher you fancy. Epic, Xbox Game Pass, even Steam if you’re still into that. No more fiddling around trying to make stuff work. Everything just… runs. Magical, right?

And don’t even start on processing power. The Ally is like a pocket monster, packing an AMD Ryzen and Radeon—yeah, that’s jargon for “it’s serious.” Games run smooth, and you don’t feel like you’re holding an overheated slice of pizza by the time you’re done.

Okay, so it’s lighter than the Steam Deck too. Like, your hands won’t scream at you after a couple of hours. But—and this is a big but—it does feel kinda plasticky. Some folks might say that’s a dealbreaker. The stand, too, feels like they designed it in five minutes. Come on, Asus, step it up!

Oh, battery life… where do I even begin? You’re looking at like two-ish hours in gaming mode. Steam Deck isn’t a marathoner, but it’s still better here. Basically, keep it plugged in, just saying.

And you would’ve thought they’d toss in a carrying case for 700 bucks. But nope. Steam Deck gives you one with its cheapest option. But hey, maybe that’s just me bellyaching.

So which one’s your sidekick? The Deck or the Ally? Honestly, it depends. If you’re a library hoarder and love raw power, Ally’s your guy. But if you want something that just feels premium and can survive a longer day out, the Deck calls louder.

In the end, both are pretty darn cool—like, a real “look at what we’ve done here” moment for portable gaming.