How the Change 2 compares to the ROG Ally

The Nintendo Change 2 has entered the ring, probably complicating your resolution of which handheld to purchase this yr. Whereas Nintendo’s new console, which comes out on June fifth, could seem much like handheld gaming PCs just like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, there’s quite a bit that units them aside. The whole lot like how you purchase and play video games, their management strategies, how highly effective they’re, and how one can increase their storage makes them totally different. Distinctive doesn’t all the time imply “good,” by the best way.

Whereas tech-savvy people possible perceive the important thing variations between every of the most important handhelds, probably sufficient to ascertain a desire, some might use a hand breaking issues down. That’s precisely what I’m going to do right here, particularly evaluating the Change 2 to the Asus ROG Ally and the Ally X, two of the most well-liked handheld gaming PCs that aren’t a Steam Deck (in small half as a result of they’re simple to purchase at Best Buy). I’ve already in contrast the Change 2 to Valve’s console, so my focus right here is solely on Asus’ consoles which have a devoted fanbase and a few nice specs.

As talked about, the Change 2 will launch on June fifth. Preorders have been initially set to start on April ninth, however have been pushed because of the Trump administration’s international tariffs. Whereas that state of affairs stays in flux, it’s attainable that preorders can have begun (or will quickly), relying on if you learn this. Assuming no adjustments from tariffs, the Change 2 shall be out there in two pricing configurations, every with 256GB of inside storage; the $449.99 base console and a $499.99 bundle that additionally contains Mario Kart World.

The Asus ROG Ally is accessible in a number of configurations, most of that are discounted recurrently (generally steeply, however for the needs of this put up, I’m going to share authentic retail costs). It begins at $499.99 and options the AMD Ryzen Z1 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, whereas electing for the extra highly effective model with the Z1 Excessive APU (and no different spec enhancements) bumps the worth as much as $649.99.

The ROG Ally X has so many enhancements that it would as nicely be the ROG Ally 2 — and also you’ll pay a premium for them. We’ll go into extra element beneath, however pricing begins at $799.99 for the Z1 Excessive mannequin with 24GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and an even bigger battery. Doubling the storage to 2TB provides $100, totaling $899.99.

The Change 2 and all Asus ROG Ally fashions (even the Ally X) have some specs in frequent. They every have 1080p LCD touchscreens with a 120Hz refresh price. Nonetheless, Nintendo’s handheld has a bigger display screen (7.9 inches to 7 inches, respectively). The Change 2’s display screen goes toe-to-toe with the Ally X with variable refresh price (VRR), which is a good characteristic to have — and fairly the shock to have it within the sub-$500 Change 2 — because it prevents the display screen from displaying choppiness because the body price fluctuates. Whereas the Ally and Ally X characteristic AMD’s FreeSync Premium, the Change 2 has a G-Sync show and HDR.

Nintendo hasn’t shared the height brightness for the Change 2’s display screen but, however the ROG Ally fashions go as much as 500 nits.

Efficiency and battery life

The ROG Ally — and particularly the ROG Ally X — provide a number of the finest efficiency of any handheld gaming PCs in the marketplace. Whereas one would possibly assume its Z1 Excessive processor is getting lengthy within the tooth, it debuted in 2023, it’s sooner than the Steam Deck, and extra succesful than the Z2 Go that did not impress us in its 2025 debut system, the Lenovo Legion Go S.

You’ll get the very best efficiency within the dear ROG Ally X (let The Verge’s Sean Hollister present you some game-by-game frames per second breakdowns in his assessment), due to its sooner reminiscence and extra environment friendly cooling in comparison with the usual ROG Ally. However even the extra reasonably priced fashions provide a more-than-acceptable baseline, operating many standard video games at over 60 frames per second at 720p, and in some circumstances, at 1080p. A number of titles can run above 100 frames per second.

The ROG Ally runs at larger energy ranges than the Steam Deck, but it’s unclear whether or not that’s the case for the Nintendo Change 2 as nicely. Nintendo is promising as much as 120 frames per second with some Change 2-exclusive titles that supply efficiency modes, however we’ll have to attend and see what sorts of visible compromises have been made to attain such a uncommon feat for a handheld.

The Change 2 differs drastically from the ROG Ally fashions due to its customized Nvidia processor. Whereas precise spec particulars about this Nvidia processor are slim, Nvidia has confirmed that the Change 2 helps DLSS (Nvidia’s graphics upscaling tech), which can possible be leaned on to attain quick body charges in video games at 1080p decision in handheld mode and at as much as 4K whereas the console is docked. We’re curious how DLSS seems in a low-powered system (the also-Nvidia-powered Change from 2017 predated DLSS’ existence). For comparability, the ROG Ally helps AMD’s comparable FSR upscaling tech, although the mixing generally ends in a fuzzy-looking picture.

When it comes to battery life, Sean Hollister was left wanting extra out of the ROG Ally consoles. Whereas its 40Wh capability matches the Steam Deck, it spends its battery reserve sooner, even in low energy modes. Hollister stated in his ROG Ally assessment that 4 hours of battery life was the very best case situation in comparison with the Steam Deck’s seven. Lots was improved on within the ROG Ally X, past its impressively massive 80Wh inside battery. Hollister studies that the Ally X is much less power-hungry than the unique, letting you recreation for longer.

Nintendo is at present being cagey about battery specs within the Change 2, solely sharing that it incorporates a 5,220mAh lithium-ion battery. It advertises battery life starting from two to 6 and a half hours, relying on the sport.

It’s a bit unusual to speak about joysticks within the efficiency part, however the ROG Ally fashions characteristic Corridor impact joysticks, whereas the Change 2 doesn’t. These function with magnetized mechanisms as an alternative of potentiometers, permitting the sticks to not put on down over time, resulting in worsening efficiency and inaccurate inputs. Given the controversy surrounding Nintendo’s Pleasure-Con drift, we’re shocked and disenchanted that Nintendo opted to not go along with Corridor-effect sticks.

Each the Change 2 and ROG Ally fashions use quick inside storage, albeit differing types. The Change 2 options 256GB of UFS storage (non-upgradeable), and may be expanded with microSD Specific playing cards, that are labeled as PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs however have the identical microSD card kind issue many people are accustomed to.

The usual ROG Ally contains an M.2-2230 SSD (user-replaceable), however you’ll must open it up to interchange it. This maneuver received’t void your guarantee, nevertheless it’s not as simple as you might hope. For one thing less complicated, the ROG Ally helps microSD playing cards, together with UHS-II variations with sooner learn and write speeds. The latter may be costly and difficult to search out in inventory, so I like to recommend going the SSD improve route should you really need extra storage.

One of many many enhancements within the ROG Ally X is the assist for M.2-2280 SSDs, full-size M.2 SSDs that aren’t shrunk down to suit into tiny devices. These SSDs are a lot simpler to search out in massive storage capacities (and are sometimes discounted), so it’s a bonus that the ROG Ally X helps them in addition to microSD playing cards.

Transferring on to docking, the Change 2 and the ROG Ally have been each designed as hybrid consoles that may be loved as a handheld, or by linking as much as an exterior display screen. Docking is extra core to the Change 2 expertise, simply because it was with the unique Change, since Nintendo features a TV dock with the console. With it, you may recreation at as much as 4K decision, capped at 60 frames per second over HDMI. The dock is low-frills, containing an Ethernet port, a USB-C energy plug, an HDMI port, and two USB-A 2.0 ports.

Not one of the ROG Ally consoles embrace a dock (solely a 65W USB-C energy adapter), although Asus makes one which’s comparable in execution to the Genki Covert Dock. It’s a 65W energy brick with an HDMI 2.0 port to connect with a show, and one USB-A 2.0 port for connecting an adjunct. It prices $64.99 by means of Best Buy, however you’re higher off getting one thing cheaper on Amazon from JSAUX or Anker, each of which make docks that rival the official Steam Deck docking station when it comes to ports.

After all, should you’re rolling in it, be happy to purchase the ROG XG Mobile external GPU that doubles as a docking station. It plugs into the ROG Ally’s proprietary port on the highest, and it’s the price of a high-end gaming laptop computer. I don’t advocate it as a result of it’s tremendous costly, and but, you’ll be bottlenecked by the velocity of the ROG Ally’s Ryzen Z1 APU. The ROG Ally X dropped assist for the XG Cellular.

The Change 2 and ROG Ally have some video games in frequent. Many video games coming to the Change 2 in 2025 are already out on PC, together with Cyberpunk 2077, Break up Fiction, Ultimate Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, and extra (and are generally discounted, no much less). However how you purchase video games on them is totally different, and that comes right down to the software program. Whereas the Change 2 is proscribed to titles on the eShop, the ROG Ally runs Home windows 11. As such, you’re free to put in any recreation platform out there on that OS. That features Steam, the Epic Video games Retailer, Ubisoft Join, and others. Video games are extra reasonably priced on PCs (the ROG Ally is a PC, regardless of its handheld kind issue).

Whereas the flexibility to run any recreation from any platform is certainly one of Home windows’ largest benefits in opposition to the Change 2 (and in comparison with the Steam Deck, as nicely), there are downsides. Specifically, Home windows 11 isn’t an excellent expertise for handhelds, because the OS doesn’t adapt nicely to the built-in controls and touchscreen. Alternatively, connecting a mouse and keyboard? That’s one other story. The Asus ROG Ally shall be among the many first handhelds not made by Valve to be supported by official SteamOS in an replace coming quickly.

The Change 2 has a particular mouse mode, for which builders are creating management schemes. Video games that assist it is going to let you play with customary controls, then seamlessly swap to mouse-based controls when the participant turns the Pleasure-Con 2 in order that its sensor faces a tough floor. It’s intriguing, however ROG Ally gamers aren’t lacking out on a lot as a result of they will join a wi-fi mouse to play their favourite video games.