Despite the obvious performance boost, I went for the Steam Deck instead.

Here’s the method to my madness.

Unfortunately, it was also marred by some glaring hardware issues.

Inzoi character in front of an area where people are on a bench and people buying stuff.

The most obvious of these are the trackpads.

They’re great for strategy titles or mouse-heavy games likePapers, PleaseandReturn to Monkey Island.

They also make navigating the desktop UI with a pointer far more pleasant.

Anbernic-Handheld-Gameboy-Emulator

The Steam Deck, on the other hand, runs using a modified version of Linux.

SteamOS, which uses Linux as its base, is made specifically for the Steam Deck.

ASUS relies on software like Armory Crate to better adapt the Windows UI to its handheld form factor.

8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller on a table surrounded by gaming items.

This has quickly become the new standard for handhelds with its 90Hz refresh rate and HDR support.

Fortunately,you have plenty of options when it comes to handheld gamingeven outside of these two.

Steam Deck vs ROG Ally laying next to each other.

Goran Damnjanovic / How-To Geek

Steam Deck vs ROG Ally sitting on a desk.

Goran Damnjanovic / How-To Geek

The right side of the Steam Deck OLED model with the trackpad underneath the joystick.

Zachary Cimaglio / How-To Geek

Asus ROG Ally and Steam Deck being held in hands.

Bill Logudice / How-To Geek