Performance and Battery Life
The ROG Ally — and especially the ROG Ally X — offer some of the best performance of any handheld gaming PCs on the market. While one might think its Z1 Extreme processor is getting long in the tooth, it debuted in 2023, it’s faster than the Steam Deck, and more capable than the Z2 Go that failed to impress us in its 2025 debut device, the Lenovo Legion Go S.
You’ll get the best performance in the pricey ROG Ally X (let The Verge’s Sean Hollister show you some game-by-game frames per second breakdowns in his review), thanks to its faster memory and more efficient cooling compared to the standard ROG Ally. But even the more affordable models offer a more-than-acceptable baseline, running many popular games at over 60 frames per second at 720p, and in some cases, at 1080p. Several titles can run above 100 frames per second.
The ROG Ally runs at higher power levels than the Steam Deck, yet it’s unclear whether that’s the case for the Nintendo Switch 2 as well. Nintendo is promising up to 120 frames per second with some Switch 2-exclusive titles that offer performance modes, but we’ll have to wait and see what kinds of visual compromises were made to achieve such a rare feat for a handheld.
Battery Life
In terms of battery life, Sean Hollister was left wanting more out of the ROG Ally consoles. While its 40Wh capacity matches the Steam Deck, it spends its battery reserve faster, even in low power modes. Hollister said in his ROG Ally review that four hours of battery life was the best case scenario compared to the Steam Deck’s seven. A lot was improved on in the ROG Ally X, beyond its impressively large 80Wh internal battery. Hollister reports that the Ally X is less power-hungry than the original, letting you game for longer.
Nintendo is currently being cagey about battery specs in the Switch 2, only sharing that it contains a 5,220mAh lithium-ion battery. It advertises battery life ranging from two to six and a half hours, depending on the game.
Joysticks and Controls
Both the Switch 2 and ROG Ally models use fast internal storage, albeit different types. The Switch 2 features 256GB of UFS storage (non-upgradeable), and can be expanded with microSD Express cards, which are classified as PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs but have the same microSD card form factor many of us are accustomed to.
The ROG Ally supports microSD cards, including UHS-II versions with faster read and write speeds. The latter can be expensive and tough to find in stock, so I recommend going the SSD upgrade route if you really want more storage.
Docking
Moving on to docking, the Switch 2 and the ROG Ally were both designed as hybrid consoles that can be enjoyed as a handheld, or by linking up to an external screen. Docking is more core to the Switch 2 experience, just as it was with the original Switch, since Nintendo includes a TV dock with the console. With it, you can game at up to 4K resolution, capped at 60 frames per second over HDMI. The dock is low-frills, containing an Ethernet port, a USB-C power plug, an HDMI port, and two USB-A 2.0 ports.
None of the ROG Ally consoles include a dock (only a 65W USB-C power adapter), though Asus makes one that’s similar in execution to the Genki Covert Dock. It’s a 65W power brick with an HDMI 2.0 port to connect to a display, and one USB-A 2.0 port for connecting an accessory. It costs $64.99 through Best Buy, but you’re better off getting something cheaper on Amazon from JSAUX or Anker, both of which make docks that rival the official Steam Deck docking station in terms of ports.
Games and Software
Many games coming to the Switch 2 in 2025 are already out on PC, including Cyberpunk 2077, Split Fiction, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, and more (and are sometimes discounted, no less). But how you buy games on them is different, and that comes down to the software. While the Switch 2 is limited to titles on the eShop, the ROG Ally runs Windows 11. As such, you’re free to install any game platform available on that OS. That includes Steam, the Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, and others. Games are more affordable on PCs (the ROG Ally is a PC, despite its handheld form factor).
Specifications
| Specification | Nintendo Switch 2 | Asus ROG Ally X | Asus ROG Ally | Steam Deck LCD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Custom Nvidia chipset (details TBD) | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme | Custom AMD APU |
| Screen type | 7.9-inch LCD | 7-inch LCD | 7-inch LCD | 7-inch LCD |
| Resolution (handheld) | 1,920 x 1080, up to 120Hz, VRR, HDR | 1,920 x 1,080, up to 120Hz, VRR | 1,920 x 1,080, up to 120Hz | 1,280 x 800, up to 60Hz |
| Resolution (docked) | 3,840 x 2,160 at 60Hz, or 1440p/1080p at up to 120Hz | 3,840 x 2,160 at 60Hz | 3,840 x 2,160 at 60Hz | 3,840 x 2,160 at 60Hz, or 1440p at 120Hz |
| Internal storage | 256GB (UFS, non-upgradable) | 1TB or 2TB (PCIe 4 M2-2280, user-replaceable) | 512GB (PCIe 4 M2-2230, user-replaceable) | 256GB (M2-2230, user-replaceable) |
| Expandable storage | microSD Express (up to 2TB) | microSD UHS-II | microSD UHS-II | microSD (up to 2TB) |
| Wired connectivity | Ethernet (docked mode) | Ethernet via optional dock | Ethernet via optional dock | |
| Built-in mic? | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Speakers | Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers | |
| Weight (grams) | 399.16g (or 535.24g with Joy-Con 2 controllers attached) | 678 grams | 608 grams | |
| Dimensions | 4.5 x 10.7 x 0.55 inches | 4.37 x 11.02 x 0.97-1.45 inches | 4.6 x 11.7 x 1.92 inches | |
| Starting price | $449.99 | $799.99 | $499.99 |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Nintendo Switch 2 brings a new level of performance to the handheld gaming world, offering a unique and more features that set it apart from the ROG Ally. The Switch 2 is an excellent choice for those who want to experience the power of gaming in a handheld.
