Legion Go vs. Steam Deck vs. ROG Ally: Which Handheld Is Best?

Handheld gaming has come a long way over the decades. What was once a device for one game only now has turned into a full-fledged portable PC. Three options that stand as the top contenders are Lenovo Legion Go, Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally. 

Each is an excellent device, but one is always better than the other in terms of certain qualities like performance, display quality and battery life. How do you know which handheld is the best? The right choice depends on what you want out of your gaming experience.

Legion Go vs. Steam Deck vs. ROG Ally: Device Specs and Overview

Let’s start with a quick breakdown of each handheld so you can get a sense of their core specs and what sets them apart. Here is a side-by-side view of what each device offers.

Lenovo Legion Go

The Legion Go stands out immediately due to its large 8.8-inch QHD+ display with a 144Hz refresh rate. It has the biggest screen and the sharpest display with 500 nits brightness. It runs on Windows 11 and uses AMD’s powerful Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor. 

One of its unique features is its detachable controllers, giving it a modular, Nintendo Switch-like experience. It also includes a built-in kickstand and a touchpad on the right controller for added versatility.

• Operating system (OS): Windows 11
• Display: 8.8-inch QHD+ IPS, 144Hz
• Processor: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
• RAM/Storage: 16GB LPDDR5X / up to 1TB SSD
• Battery: 49.2Wh

Steam Deck OLED

Valve’s updated Steam Deck OLED model focuses on improving the experience that made the original a hit. It features a slightly larger 7.4-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and HDR support. 

While its custom accelerated processing unit (APU) isn’t as powerful as the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, the Deck makes up for it with its SteamOS integration, easy access to the Steam library and impressive software optimization. The OLED model also includes better thermals, improved battery life and a lighter chassis than the original.

• OS: SteamOS
• Display: 7.4” OLED, 90Hz, HDR
• Processor: AMD custom AOU (Zen 2 + RDNA 2)
• RAM/Storage: 16GB LPDDR5 / up to 1TB SSD
• Battery: 50Wh

ROG Ally

The ASUS ROG Ally takes an equalized approach to performance and portability. It features a 7-inch Full HD Display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and variable refresh rate (VRR) support, which reduces screen tearing. Like the Legion Go, it runs on Windows 11 and uses the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor. While it doesn’t offer modular controls or a kickstand, the ROG Ally is lighter and more compact.

• OS: Windows 11
• Display: 7-inch FHD IPS, 120 Hz with VRR
• Processor: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
• Battery: 40Wh

Legion Go vs. Steam Deck vs. ROG Ally: Display and Design

The screen is one of the top considerations in a handheld gaming device, as it affects visual quality, portability and comfort. Each handheld is different in display size, resolution and refresh rate, which play a big role in the overall experience.

Legion Go

The Legion Go has the largest and most impressive display. The extra screen real estate is great for visually rich games and productivity tasks, especially if you’re playing games that benefit from a high refresh rate. 

However, it’s not OLED, and the higher resolution can be more demanding on performance. It also reduces the battery life, which most Reddit users say they get about 1.5 to 2 hours of playtime on AAA games. Additionally, the larger size makes the device wider and heavier, impacting comfort during longer play sessions.

Steam Deck

The Deck’s display doesn’t match the resolution or refresh rate of the Legion Go or ROG Ally. However, the OLED technology delivers richer colors, deeper contrast and more vibrant visuals. It’s a noticeable upgrade from the original LCD Steam Deck, and the slightly larger screen improves immersion without making the device feel bulky.

ROG Ally

The ROG 120Hz refresh rate is great for smooth play in fast-paced games. The image quality is sharp and seamless, and the display balances size and portability. The overall build is light and ergonomic, making it one of the more comfortable options for handheld gaming.

Legion Go vs. Steam Deck vs. ROG Ally: Performance

Under the hood, all three handhelds deliver the ultimate gaming experience but go about it in slightly different ways. Performance depends on raw specs, software optimization, thermal design and how each system handles power draw.

Legion Go

The Legion Go’s AMD Ryzen Z1 offers strong performance across modern games. With 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to a 1TB SSD, it can handle AAA titles at high settings. However, running them at native QHD+ resolution can be slightly taxing. 

Thermally, the Legion Go runs warm but manages heat well thanks to its large form factor and internal cooling system. The detachable controls also reduce heat buildup in your hands, which is a small but welcome ergonomic benefit.

Steam Deck

The Steam Deck uses a custom AMD APU based on older Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architecture. It’s not as great as the Z1 Extreme, but Valve’s SteamOS is highly optimized for the hardware, which helps make up the difference. 

Games on Steam Deck often run at 800p resolution, which eases the processing load and improves battery life. About 67% of Americans cited that they game because it engages them and helps them pass the time, so better processing and battery life means the Steam Deck can cater to this need.

It handles most indie titles and many AAA games smoothly at medium to high settings. Thermal performance is solid, and the OLED model features better cooling and quieter fans than the original.

ROG Ally

Like the Legion Go, the ROG Ally also uses the AMD Ryzen. Because it runs at a lower 1080p resolution, it often achieves smoother performance in demanding games without needing to scale settings down. It’s also lighter and more compact, which makes its thermal performance even more impressive. 

ASUS includes performance profiles and fan control via Amoury Crate SE, which lets users tweak power settings based on what they’re playing. The ROG Ally generally offers consistent frame rates and stable thermals under load, though the smaller battery limits how long you can run it at full tilt.

Legion Go vs. Steam Deck vs. ROG Ally: Software

Hardware matters, but the software experience can make or break a handheld device in ease of use, game compatibility and overall enjoyment. Each handheld here offers a different software environment, which greatly influences how the device fits into your gaming lifestyle.

Legion

The Legion Go gives you access to a full PC experience. You can launch games from any platform, including Steam, Epic Games, Xbox Game Pass and cloud gaming services. While the flexibility is a major plus, Windows isn’t exactly well-suited for handheld use. 

Navigating menus with a joystick or touchscreen can feel clunky, and background updates or pop-ups interrupt gameplay. That said, Lenovo includes the Legion Space launcher to streamline things, offering a more console-like interface.

Steam Deck

SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system specifically designed for handhelds. It boots directly into Steam’s Big Picture Mode, which is optimized for controller navigation and gamepad input. Game installs, updates and community features are all tightly integrated. 

SteamOS doesn’t natively support every launcher, but you can still access non-Steam titles and emulators with a little setup. However, this may not quite matter much to those who use Steam all around. The platform is already quite popular, with 12.5 million users, so the handheld can be an excellent option for those who use Steam consistently. It’s not quite as open as Windows, but it offers a smoother experience out of the box.

ROG Ally

The ROG Ally uses Windows 11, like Legion Go, and supports a range of game launchers. ASUS bundles in Armoury Crate SE to give you access to performance modes, game libraries and quick settings adjustments. It helps smooth out the Windows experience but doesn’t completely solve the usability issues. Still, the Ally delivers if you want versatility and access to your entire PC game collection.

The Final Verdict: Which Handheld Is the Best?

Overall, each of these handhelds is well-rounded, but the best choice depends on what you like to play and the qualities that matter most.

• Choose the Legion Go if your top priorities are display quality and modular design. Its large QHD+ screen and detachable controllers offer an unmatched visual and flexible experience, but expect more build and learning curve with Windows.
• Pick the Steam Deck OLED if you value simplicity, affordability and integration with your existing Steam library. The OLED display is a major step up from the original, and SteamOS provides a more streamlined console-like experience.
• Go with the ROG Ally if you want strong performance in a lightweight form. It handles heavier games well, offers smoother visuals and balances portability with power. However, the battery life can be limited during longer sessions.

No option is a clear-cut winner for everyone, but all three are solid picks depending on your needs. Whether you’re after visuals, performance or ecosystem ease, there’s a handheld here to match your style of play.