The handheld gaming era is coming back, and we got Nintendo Switch VS Asus ROG Ally in this comparison to find which one is worth buying.
Almost a decade ago, we thought the handheld gaming era was officially dead. But in the past couple of years, it seems like a new era of the best handheld gaming consoles is about to hit the market. Speaking of the best, the rivalry is between Nintendo Switch VS Asus ROG Ally, which seems like a fair comparison as both consoles have earned serious reputations since their releases.
The Asus ROG Ally is like a mid-range gaming PC running on Windows 11 and Asus’s legendary Armoury Crate firmware. On the other hand, Nintendo Switch keeps the decades-old legacy alive by introducing newer games like Mario Kart and The Legend of Zelda.
So which console should you buy? This article is about Nintendo Switch VS Asus ROG Ally to compare technical and non-technical features. We will go through specifications, pros, cons, and price comparisons to state which console is the best value for the money.
Nintendo Switch VS Asus ROG Ally: Technical Specifications
Before comparing and reviewing both consoles’ gameplay experience and optimization, let’s compare the technical specifications of Nintendo Switch VS Asus ROG Ally to state which one is winning on paper.
| Asus ROG Ally | Nintendo Switch | |
| Dimension | 11.7 x 4.6 x 1.9 inches | 9.5 x 4 x 0.55 inches |
| Weight | 1.34 pounds | 0.88 pounds |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme | Nvidia Tegra X1 |
| GPU | AMD RDNA 3-based graphics | Nvidia Tegra X1+ |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 | 4GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | 512GB SSD | 32GB/64GB eMMC |
| Wireless Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E & Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 5 & Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Display | 1920×1080 120Hz refresh rate 7-inch IPS Touch Screen | 6.2-inch IPS, 7-inch OLED, 5.5-inch IPS (LITE) 1280×720 |
| Dock Output | Up to 4K at 120Hz | Up to 1920×1080 at 60FPS |
So, there you have it. After looking at the technical spec sheet in the Nintendo Switch VS Asus ROG Ally comparison, we can confidently say that Asus has won the game statistically. But that’s not entirely true. It depends on the gameplay experience, performance, and console optimization to decide which one is worth buying.
Nintendo Switch VS Asus ROG Ally: Specifications and Performance Gameplay
Below we have discussed various factors against which we will perform a Nintendo Switch VS Asus ROG Ally comparison from a gamer’s perspective to state which is better.
Performance
Regarding performance and gameplay output, there is no comparison between Nintendo Switch VS Asus ROG Ally. The Switch does come with a custom-made Nvidia CPU that gives decent output. However, it lacks modern-day graphics features like DLSS support and ray tracing. It can barely reach 60 Hz on the 720p screen. For a higher resolution, you may have to dock the Nintendo Switch.
On the other hand, we got the Asus ROG Ally’s powerful AMD CPU. Imagine getting 120 Hz of refresh rate in your hands with 1080p support. If you dock the ROG Ally, you can achieve up to 4K resolution with Display Port or Ultra High-Quality HDMI. The feature we found useful was changing the operating mode from four different options to varying processing power. You can even decrease or increase GPU VRAM allocation as you see fit.
Battery Life
Next to the power, battery life is the most concerning factor in a handheld gaming console. The output of the battery backup comparison in Nintendo Switch VS Asus ROG Ally is nearly the same. Nintendo Switch delivers a full-charge playtime of over 4 to 5 hours. You can also play the console while plugged in, but it’s not recommended as it might cause Switch to overheat.
While the Asus ROG Ally battery issues have become the talk of the town ever since its release. But there are a few ways to improve battery life as well. Since Asus ROG Ally works on different operating modes, the battery consumption depends on your playing settings. The Turbo Mode takes up over 30W of power, and you may get only 1 hour and 30 minutes of playtime. While on Silent Mode, ROG Ally only consumes 9W and allows you to play for over 3 hours. So, we’d say the Nintendo Switch is the winner here for the battery. However, if you’re just into watching movies, it can last up to 6 hours.
Accessory Attachments
Handheld gaming consoles themselves are worth handling the gameplay weight. But with the accessory attachments, you can unlock many possibilities and use the console’s resources more productively. You can connect Nintendo Switch to an external display and pair Bluetooth devices with controllers to play games on a larger display. However, you can only connect an external controller with Nintendo Switch using a Mayflash Magic NS or another controller adapter.
The Asus ROG Ally has more accessory attachments as compared Nintendo Switch. You can connect Asus ROG Ally with a TV or monitor screen and connect DualSense, DualShock, and Xbox controller without any external adapter. In addition to that, you can also attach an external GPU with Asus ROG Ally to get higher frame rates and sharper image resolution.
Gameplay Experience
The gameplay experience on each console varies greatly, even though the screen size is still the same on both consoles. The joystick design and button mapping on Nintendo Switch is pretty much the same as the Asus ROG Ally. The 60 Hz display is fairly like the one you get on any other console and the display cannot reach higher than 720p.
However, the gaming experience is much better with the Asus ROG Ally. The design of the ROG Ally itself is fairly larger than the Nintendo Switch. The button placement makes the console more special as it has two programable buttons on the rear. Plus, you can enjoy gaming on a 120 Hz 1080p screen that gives you better image quality at higher frame rates. Therefore, the Asus ROG Ally is the winner with the gaming experience.
Operating System
The operating system adds the gaming library’s limitations and the activities you can perform on your device. The Nintendo Switch has software called the Proprietary OS that has a pretty straightforward interface. You can only play Nintendo games on this OS, and the choice for the gaming library is pretty much limited.
On the brighter side, Asus ROG Ally is like a portable gaming PC in your hands. It runs Windows 11 home version as the operating system; therefore, the gaming library choice is endless. It can run all the Steam games you can play on PC with the exclusive Xbox games. Moreover, it works like a regular PC with the cursor and Settings you find on a desktop PC. All this is integrated with the Armoury Crate firmware, unlocking gaming customization possibilities.
Affordability
The Nintendo Switch comes in two different variants. The standard Nintendo Switch only costs $299, while the Nintendo Switch OLED version retails for $349, which is fairly affordable. The OLED version has the same screen resolution and refresh rate. However, the design of the OLED version is more pleasing than the standard version.
On the other hand, the Asus ROG Ally also comes in two different variants. The standard Asus ROG Ally Z1 costs $599, and the more powerful Z1 Extreme version costs $699. The Z1 extreme is a faster processor with 5.1 GHz, 8 cores, and 16 threads, while the standard version has 4.9 GHz, 6 cores, and 12 threads. In terms of price, Nintendo Switch costs nearly half the price of ROG Ally.
Which Console is Worth Buying?
If you want a better gameplay experience and a powerful handheld gaming console, then Asus ROG Ally is a much better option than the Nintendo Switch. However, if you want a reliable, budget-friendly option, then Nintendo Switch is much more affordable. But performance is not the only thing, and you may have to compromise on your choice of games too. We have stated the pros and cons of comparing Nintendo Switch VS Asus ROG Ally.
Nintendo Switch
Pros
- Nintendo Exclusive gaming experience
- Reliable battery life
- Features motion control setup for many games
- Affordable price
- Detachable controllers for playing in docked mode
Cons
- Lower screen resolution
- Lower refresh rate
- Limited options for games
Asus ROG Ally
Pros
- Better performing processor and GPU
- Supports external GPU
- An operating system is easier to go around
- Better screen resolution and refresh rate
- Extensive gaming library
- Comfortable control setup
Cons
- Too expensive
- Battery life is terrible
- No motion controls
Final Words
Handheld gaming is becoming more popular, and the era is starting fresh. The fair comparison of Nintendo Switch VS Asus ROG Ally states how powerful the portable technology is getting. Moreover, it is evolving quickly to overtake traditional gaming like console and PC gaming. Still, there is much room for improvement, and hopefully, we’ll see more flexible gaming technology in the upcoming years.
