ROG Xbox Ally Linux Review – How It Stacks Up Against the Steam Deck

Introduction

The ROG Xbox Ally has generated a lot of buzz as ASUS’s latest handheld gaming device, positioned as a direct competitor to Valve’s Steam Deck. While most early coverage focused on Windows performance, the community has been eager to see how the Ally performs under Linux. This article dives into the Linux experience on the Ally, using the Bazite distribution, and compares its real‑world performance, power consumption, and user experience against the Steam Deck.

Hardware Overview

Core Specifications

• CPU: AMD Ryzen Z2A, Zen 2 architecture, 4 cores / 8 threads
• GPU: Integrated RDNA 2 iGPU with 8 compute units
• Clock Speeds: CPU up to 3.8 GHz (vs. 3.5 GHz on the Steam Deck), iGPU up to 1,800 MHz (vs. 1,600 MHz)
• Memory: 16 GB LPDDR5, split 8 GB for system, 8 GB for iGPU
• Display: 7‑inch 1080p panel, 120 Hz, variable‑refresh, HDR capable
• Battery: 60 Wh, supporting up to 20 W sustained TDP

These specs place the Ally very close to the Steam Deck’s custom APU, with modest overclocks that promise a slight performance edge—especially on the higher‑resolution screen.

Installing Linux on the Ally

Why Bazite?

Official SteamOS still fails to boot on the Ally’s hardware, so the community has adopted Bazite (often referred to as Bazi). Bazite is a lightweight, Arch‑based distribution optimized for handhelds, offering built‑in support for the device’s buttons, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, and power‑management features.

Installation Steps (Brief)

1. Flash the Bazite image to a microSD card or internal storage.
2. Boot the Ally and enter the BIOS to select the Bazite boot option.
3. Update to the beta channel to obtain the latest handheld‑specific patches.
4. Configure the Armory Crate quick‑access button to toggle the on‑screen overlay.

Once installed, the OS boots cleanly, and all hardware components—including the extra front buttons—function as expected.

User Interface and Controls

Bazite adds a convenient overlay that mirrors the Steam Deck’s UI:

• Quick‑access menu (triggered by the Armory Crate button) shows CPU/GPU stats, TDP controls, fan curves, and system settings.
• Handheld Damon overlay (opened with the Xbox button) provides preset power profiles:
  • 6 W – Silent mode for indie titles
  • 15 W – Balanced performance
  • 20 W – Turbo mode for demanding games
  • Custom – Up to ~24 W boost, with adjustable fan curves

Additional settings allow fine‑tuning of CPU frequency, GPU clock limits, and battery charge thresholds. RGB lighting is not yet functional on Linux, but all other features work smoothly.

Performance Benchmarks

Cyberpunk 2077

• Steam Deck preset (30 FPS lock, 720p, FSR Balanced) runs at a stable 30 FPS on both devices.
• Unlocking the frame cap yields 42–43 FPS on the Steam Deck (15 W) and ≈45 FPS on the Ally (20 W).
• Raising the resolution to 900p (1,600 × 900) on the Ally drops average FPS to 33–37, still playable but highlighting the limits of the APU.

Witcher 3

• Using the same preset at 900p, the Ally comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, demonstrating that many older titles run very well at the higher native resolution.

Elden Ring

• At 720p with low settings, the Ally maintains ≈60 FPS, a notable achievement for a handheld APU.

Mortal Kombat 1

• 720p, low settings, FSR Balanced, 20 W TDP: just shy of 60 FPS, indicating that fast‑paced fighting games are still viable.

Doom: The Dark Ages (Handheld Preset)

• Optimized handheld profile with variable‑refresh display delivers smooth gameplay, albeit below 60 FPS; the experience remains enjoyable thanks to the high refresh rate panel.

Power Consumption and Battery Life

Bazite’s power‑profile system makes it easy to compare energy usage:

• 6 W TDP (indie/2D games): ~7.7 W total draw → ≈9 hours of gameplay.
• 15 W TDP (mid‑range AAA): ~23 W total draw → ≈2.5 hours.
• 20 W TDP (high‑end AAA): just under 30 W total draw → ≈2 hours.

These figures are competitive with the Steam Deck, especially considering the Ally’s larger, brighter screen.

Direct Comparison to the Steam Deck

Feature	ROG Xbox Ally	Steam Deck (OLED)
CPU Clock	3.8 GHz	3.5 GHz
iGPU Clock	1,800 MHz	1,600 MHz
Display	7” 1080p 120 Hz HDR	7” 800p 60 Hz OLED
Battery	60 Wh	40 Wh
Max TDP (Linux)	20 W	15 W
Average FPS (Cyberpunk)	45	43
Battery Life (6 W gaming)	~9 h	~7 h

The Ally’s higher clock speeds and larger battery give it a modest edge in raw performance and endurance, while the Steam Deck’s OLED screen offers superior contrast and color depth.

Conclusion

Running Linux on the ROG Xbox Ally is now a practical reality thanks to Bazite. The handheld delivers performance that closely mirrors the Steam Deck, with slight advantages in CPU/GPU clocks, a sharper 1080p display, and a larger battery. Real‑world testing shows that most modern titles run smoothly at 720p–900p, and even demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 are playable at modest settings.

While official SteamOS support is still pending, Bazite provides a fully functional Linux environment with comprehensive power‑management tools. For gamers who prefer an open‑source stack and appreciate the Ally’s premium screen, the device presents a compelling alternative to the Steam Deck.

The ROG Xbox Ally proves that Linux handhelds are evolving rapidly, and with continued driver updates, the performance gap may shrink even further.