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Asus ROG Ally is finally launching in India something that Valve failed to do. For the uninitiated, the Asus ROG Ally is a handheld Windows PC gaming console that is designed to be a true companion for gaming enthusiasts. It aims to revolutionize the gaming landscape by offering high performance, portability, and versatility. The handheld device did have a global launch recently and reviewers praised it for its power, thanks to the latest AMD Z1 Extreme APU. Despite the high-end specifications, Asus has managed to keep the price tag competitive at ₹69,990, which is a sweet spot for many Indian PC gamers.
In comparison, Valve's Steam Deck, which boasts similar functionality, failed to officially launch in India, resulting in a grey market price surge. Gamers who sought the Steam Deck had to shell out ₹60,000 to ₹70,000, an exorbitant price considering its specs. And not to mention, a grey market also eliminates the device's warranty, which is a potential risk.
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The Asus ROG Ally trumps the Steam Deck with its custom AMD Z1 Extreme APU + RDNA 3, providing superior computing power and graphical capabilities. In comparison, the Steam Deck uses an AMD APU with Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architecture. The ROG Ally supports a powerful 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and offers storage options up to 512GB PCIe 4.0, significantly faster and larger than Steam Deck's maximum 512GB PCIe Gen 3 x2.
ROG Ally features a 7" 120Hz FHD touchscreen with GG Victus, offering a smooth and responsive gaming experience. The Steam Deck, on the other hand, is equipped with a 7" 60Hz optically bonded IPS LCD, limiting the gaming visuals to a lesser frame rate.
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The Ally also includes Dolby speakers and a microphone, enhancing the immersive gaming experience further. On the contrary, the Steam Deck provides stereo channels with embedded DSP and dual microphone array, offering a lesser auditory experience.
One feature that stands out in the ROG Ally is the support for XG Mobile eGPU, which can significantly improve gaming performance when docked. Steam Deck doesn't offer this kind of flexibility.
As for the operating system, the ROG Ally comes pre-loaded with Windows 11, which supports every game marketplace, unlike Steam Deck which uses SteamOS 3.0, a Linux-based OS.
Despite all the additional power and features, the ROG Ally weighs less than the Steam Deck, coming in at 608g as compared to the latter's 669g.
The Ally will officially be launched on the 12th of July, with a special Flipkart Flash sale happening on the 7th of July, 2023. Plus, the first 200 customers who purchase the ROG Ally from Asus Eshop or Asus Stores will receive a complimentary ROG Ally Case worth INR 2000.
All said, Asus ROG Ally seems to be a perfect gaming partner for the Indian gaming community, proving itself a true Ally while Valve's Steam Deck fails to make the cut.