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AR15.COM
10/26/2025 12:53:56 AM EDT
Trying to figure out which to get my son for his birthday next month.
He plays mostly online with his friends on Xbox Series X but does play computer games from time to time, that includes Steam games.

The ROG is windows based so he can play pc games and steam games if he installs steam?

SteamDeck only plays Steam games?

Or should I just get him a gaming laptop?
His 3 year old gaming laptop is being used for school work (mostly cad stuff in his engineering classes)

10/26/2025 9:00:35 AM EDT
[#1]
The Steam Deck is about as plug and play as it gets for handhelds.  I have no personal hands on experience with the ROG Ally but I've read that the mobile Windows world is a little wonky at times.  Steam OS on the Deck operates exactly like Steam on a desktop, no muss, no fuss.

I dunno about the gaming laptop.  Unless your son needs the portability, like if he's a college student or something, a desktop would be the better overall pick rather than a laptop.
"O God, thy sea is so great and my boat is so small."
10/26/2025 10:36:55 PM EDT
[#2]
Steam deck can play more than just Steam games. Just an example:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/154z2xg/steamos_limits_you_to_playing_only_steam_games/

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