Steam Deck's hype is being usurped by the ASUS ROG Ally, a new Windows 11 competitor priced under $500, causing a stir in the gaming handheld market
The gaming landscape is expanding beyond traditional consoles and PCs, with handheld devices like the ASUS ROG Ally and MSI Claw 8 AI+ leading the charge. These devices offer portable, high-performance gaming experiences, but they differ in terms of performance, price, and user experience.
Performance
The ASUS ROG Ally X is powered by an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme CPU with 8 cores/16 threads, boosting up to 5.1 GHz, paired with an AMD Radeon 780M GPU based on RDNA 3 architecture (12 CUs up to 2.7 GHz) and 24GB LPDDR5X RAM at 7500 MHz. It targets high performance at 1080p with good power efficiency.
On the other hand, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ uses an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU and Intel Arc Graphics 140V GPU, with up to 32GB LPDDR5X 8533 MHz RAM. Its 8-inch 1920 x 1200 display is slightly larger and higher resolution. While it delivers strong performance, the GPU (Intel Arc) may lag behind AMD's RDNA 3.5 GPU architecture seen in newer Ryzen Z2 Extreme handhelds.
Gaming benchmarks show both can run AAA games at 1080p high settings with 60+ FPS, with the ROG Ally X somewhat more optimized for gaming performance on RDNA 3, while MSI brings AI-assisted enhancements in future iterations but slightly higher power draw.
Price
ASUS ROG Ally models generally retail around $649–$699 but with discounts often lowering prices below $650, presenting solid value for high-end specs. The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is priced near $899 to $999, reflecting higher RAM and a slightly bigger display but some reviewers consider this steep given the performance gap relative to ASUS.
User Experience
The ASUS ROG Ally X has a 7-inch 1080p 120Hz IPS display with good color accuracy and battery life (80 Whr cell), plus Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. Its controller ergonomics and software support receive praise, especially for a balance of power and portability.
MSI’s device is noted as the best handheld they’ve tested but less justified at its higher price compared to ASUS's more affordable and still powerful offering. It features a larger 8-inch 1920 x 1200 120Hz IPS-level touch display with 500 nits brightness and 100% sRGB, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and USB4 Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 compatibility, appealing for connectivity and screen real estate. Battery life benefits from an 80Wh polymer battery but the device’s higher power draw can reduce stamina compared to ASUS.
Summary Comparison
| Aspect | ASUS ROG Ally X | MSI Claw 8 AI+ | |------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------| | CPU | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8 cores) | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | | GPU | AMD Radeon 780M (RDNA 3, 12 CUs) | Intel Arc Graphics 140V | | RAM | 24GB LPDDR5X @ 7500 MHz | Up to 32GB LPDDR5X @ 8533 MHz | | Display | 7" FHD (1920x1080), 120Hz | 8" FHD+ (1920x1200), 120Hz, 500 nits | | Storage | 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD | 1TB or 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD | | Battery | 80Wh Li-ion (4-cell) | 80Wh Li-Polymer (6-cell) | | Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Thunderbolt 4 | | Price (Approx.) | ~$649–$699 (often discounted) | $899–$999 | | User Experience | Good ergonomics, balanced power | Larger screen, better connectivity, higher price, higher power draw |
In conclusion, the ASUS ROG Ally X offers slightly better value with balanced gaming performance and portability, while the MSI Claw 8 AI+ offers a larger display and higher specs (RAM, ports) but at a higher price with somewhat reduced battery stamina. Both are capable 1080p handheld gaming PCs suitable for demanding AAA titles, but ASUS is generally favored for performance per dollar and battery efficiency, whereas MSI emphasizes screen size and connectivity at a premium cost.
The ASUS ROG Ally is available for $549.99 at Walmart.com and Newegg.com. It is a handheld gaming PC that runs on Windows 11, and can be used with SteamOS instead. Playing games on the ASUS ROG Ally is as enjoyable as on Valve's Steam Deck, particularly when launching games from Steam itself. Community-made Steam Input controller profiles are preferred for older games that didn't support traditional joypads on the ASUS ROG Ally. The ASUS ROG Ally can be purchased at Best Buy, with My Best Buy membership as an option. It can be found at BestBuy.com, and it can replace Windows 11 with SteamOS. The ASUS Armoury Crate launcher app is frequently used on the ASUS ROG Ally.
- The ASUS ROG Ally runs on Windows 11 and can be used with SteamOS, offering a gaming experience comparable to Valve's Steam Deck when launching games from Steam.
- Community-made Steam Input controller profiles are preferred for older games that didn't support traditional joypads on the ASUS ROG Ally.
- The ASUS ROG Ally can be purchased at Best Buy, with My Best Buy membership as an option, and it can be found at BestBuy.com, where it can also be replaced with SteamOS.
- The ASUS Armoury Crate launcher app is frequently used on the ASUS ROG Ally.
- The price of the ASUS ROG Ally models generally retails around $549.99, presenting a good value for a high-end handheld gaming PC equipped with hardware and software technology. (Note: This sentence is slightly rephrased to fit the context.)
