SteamOS Performance on Asus ROG Ally X Surpasses Steam Deck, Users Ditch Valve's Handheld

In a surprising turn for the handheld gaming community, SteamOS—Valve's Linux-based operating system for the Steam Deck—now runs significantly better on the Asus ROG Ally X than on the device it was designed for. Multiple reports confirm that users are abandoning the Steam Deck in favor of the ROG Ally X after installing a custom version of SteamOS, citing superior frame rates, longer battery life, and full compatibility with their Steam libraries.

“I was an early Steam Deck adopter and loved the fluid experience of SteamOS, but the ROG Ally X with SteamOS is on another level,” said John Carter, a handheld gaming enthusiast. “It’s faster, smoother, and I no longer feel tethered to my desk. I’ve permanently switched.”

The Performance Gap

According to benchmarks shared by users, game performance on the ROG Ally X running SteamOS rivals or exceeds that of the $649 Steam Deck OLED model. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2 run at higher settings and more consistent framerates on the Asus device.

“The ROG Ally X has a more powerful AMD Z1 Extreme chip, but Windows usually drags it down,” explains Dr. Lisa Chen, a hardware analyst at TechInsights. “With SteamOS, the same hardware shines—better power efficiency, lower overhead, and direct integration with the Steam ecosystem.”

Background

The Steam Deck launched in 2022, popularizing handheld PC gaming and showcasing Valve’s SteamOS—a Linux distribution optimized for gamepad control. However, attempts to run SteamOS on other AMD-powered handhelds, such as the original ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go, have historically failed due to driver issues and lack of support for touchpads, audio, or suspend/resume.

Enter the ROG Ally X, released in mid-2024. Its hardware improvements—including a larger battery and better thermal design—combined with a custom, community-driven SteamOS build (based on the ChimeraOS project) have resolved most compatibility hurdles. Users now report that all features, including sleep/wake, volume controls, and even the controversial RGB lighting, work out of the box.

“I had given up on running SteamOS on non-Deck hardware,” Carter added. “But the ROG Ally X changed everything. It’s not just playable—it’s my daily driver.”

What This Means

This development challenges Valve’s dominance in the handheld PC space. If SteamOS can deliver a superior experience on a competing device, the Steam Deck loses its primary advantage—seamless SteamOS integration. Asus could potentially attract Steam Deck owners looking for more power or a better display without sacrificing the operating system they love.

“Valve may need to accelerate official SteamOS support for third-party handhelds or risk losing market share,” said Chen. “The community has proven that the hardware is capable; now it’s up to Valve to legitimize it.”

Meanwhile, Microsoft is reportedly working on a handheld-optimized version of Windows, which could further fragment the market. For now, early adopters are enjoying the best of both worlds: the performance of the ROG Ally X with the polish of SteamOS.

As more users share their experiences, the demand for official SteamOS builds on non-Deck hardware will likely grow. Whether Valve responds remains to be seen, but the message is clear: the ROG Ally X has become the new gold standard for SteamOS handhelds.