The main difference between the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck OLED is the screen.
The Steam Deck OLED has an OLED screen with true blacks; the ROG Ally uses an IPS panel.
Other differences
- The Steam Deck OLED carries a 6,470 mAh battery, the ROG Ally 40 mAh.
- The ROG Ally runs Windows, the Steam Deck OLED runs Windows or Linux.
- The ROG Ally runs on the AMD Ryzen Z1, the Steam Deck OLED on the AMD Sephiroth.
Which is better
Which fits in a pocket better?
ROG AllyThe ROG Ally (280 x 113 x 39 mm, 608 g). The Steam Deck OLED is 298 x 117 x 50 mm, 640 g. Neither fits a jeans pocket; think jacket pocket or bag.
Which is better for PS2 games, the ROG Ally or the Steam Deck OLED?
TieAbout the same: 100 and 100 out of 100.
Which costs less?
ROG AllyThe ROG Ally, at about $599 at launch against $790. Prices today vary by store and the used market.
Which is better for GBA games?
Steam Deck OLEDThe Steam Deck OLED. GBA games fill 94% of the Steam Deck OLED's screen at 5x with even pixels, against 67% of the ROG Ally's screen at 6x.
Which has the bigger battery?
Steam Deck OLEDThe Steam Deck OLED, at 6,470 mAh against 40 mAh. That is capacity only: the chips differ, and the heavier the system you play, the faster either one drains.
Side by side
| ROG Ally | Steam Deck OLED | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $599 | $790 |
| Released | Jun 2023 | Nov 2023 |
| Plays well up to | Wii U | Wii U |
| Shape | Horizontal | Horizontal |
| Software | Windows | Windows or Linux |
| Chip | AMD Ryzen Z1 | AMD Sephiroth |
| Memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Screen | 7.0 inch IPS 16:9 | 7.4 inch OLED 16:10 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1280 x 800 |
| Battery | 40 mAh | 6,470 mAh |
| Weight | 608 g | 640 g |
| Size | 280 x 113 x 39 mm | 298 x 117 x 50 mm |
| Analog sticks | Double, asymmetrical | Double, symmetrical |
| Hall effect sticks | No | ? |
| L2 and R2 | Yes, stacked | Yes, stacked |
| Analog triggers | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Video out | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes |
Green marks the better value where one is clearly better. Prices are launch prices.
Emulation
- ROG AllySteam Deck OLED
- Game Boy
- NES
- Genesis
- GBA
- SNES
- PS1
- DS
- N64
- Dreamcast
- PSP
- Saturn
- GameCube
- 3DS
- Wii
- PS2
- Switch
- Wii U
- PS3
100 means the system runs at full speed with no known issues.
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More comparisons
Why this pair: buyers weigh these two against each other. 42 comments by 34 different people compare them in community discussions, and 8 post titles name both. Specs, emulation scores and launch prices from the retrocatalog.com handheld database.