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

Okay, let’s dive right in. So there’s this gizmo—the Asus ROG Ally—strutting around like it’s the king of portable gaming gadgets. And maybe it kinda is? I dunno. Anyway, if you’ve ever been totally annoyed by the Steam Deck and its sorta limited game launcher situation, like, ugh, the Ally swoops in like a superhero. It’s basically just a small PC you can carry around, working like a buddy with pretty much all your apps. No stress about Linux or anything techy.

So, here’s the story: the Steam Deck used to be flying solo in the handheld gaming scene, right? Not anymore. Now, boom, here comes this Ally thing, squaring off like a feisty cousin at a family party. It’s all Windows 11-based which means, wow, less fuss and all-access pass to your game stash. Unlike the Steam Deck, where you might need to channel your inner techie magician, with the Ally you can just dive straight in. Epic, Xbox, EA Origin—heck, even Steam—whatever. Your games are there waiting for some button-mashing love.

Now, onto the Ally flexing its muscles. It’s got this fancy AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and AMD Radeon graphics card combo. Sounds impressive, right? Which means it’s ready to tackle some beefy games without freaking out or anything. During my playtime shenanigans, it stayed chilled, not huffing and puffing like it just ran a marathon. Yeah, I hit a few speed bumps, but nothing deal-breaking. Add a gleaming Full HD LCD display and a construction that’s feather-like, you got something less wrist-breaking than the Steam Deck, letting you game on and on. Until, well, the battery taps out, but more on that later.

Okay, sure, the lightweight thing is a double-edged sword. It’s comfy, but hello, plasticky vibes, anyone? Compared to the Steam Deck, it kinda feels like a plastic toy you’d find in a cereal box. Also, the stand is…um…let’s just say ‘flimsy’ is putting it kindly. Speaking of downsides, I can’t ignore the battery life. On a full charge, you might squeeze out two hours of gaming on Ally—three tops if you’re just chilling in desktop mode. The Steam Deck might not win any endurance awards either, but it still outlasts the Ally. Best advice? Stick close to a power source if you’re gonna dive into a gaming binge.

Also, tiny pet peeves: no carrying case included. Boo. At this price, seriously? And the back buttons? A tad tricky to reach, but maybe that’s just me.

So here we are. Do you grab the Steam Deck or the Ally? Big question, right? It really all boils down to what floats your gamer boat. Want freedom, expansive game library access, and power? The Ally’s calling your name. Craving something high-end with better travel stamina and nifty extras like a carrying case? That’s all Steam Deck. Honestly, both are pretty darn cool in their own quirky ways.