When I first installed Bazzite on a Windows gaming handheld, I couldn’t help but chuckle at its striking resemblance to Valve’s Steam Deck interface. The numerous bugs had me hesitant to fully embrace it.
However, my Asus ROG Ally X powered by Bazzite has nearly replaced the Steam Deck in my daily gaming routine. At present, it stands as one of the finest handheld gaming options available, delivering about 90 percent of the Steam Deck’s user-friendliness alongside the Ally’s superior hardware, an impressive 80 watt-hour battery, and a variable refresh rate display. Depending on the title, this setup can even yield enhanced performance and battery longevity compared to the Windows variant of the same handheld. After five months of testing, I find myself rarely looking back.
Nevertheless, this combination may not appeal to everyone, as the $800 price tag of the Ally X significantly exceeds that of the Steam Deck, and Bazzite still presents some frustrating quirks. Yet, the way Bazzite convincingly transforms a Windows handheld into a formidable competitor to the Steam Deck suggests that handheld manufacturers are misguided in their unwavering commitment to Windows. Others should consider following Lenovo’s lead and pivoting to alternatives as quickly as possible. While Bazzite provides one solution, another could emerge as soon as next month, when we’re…
