Valve's SteamOS 3.8 is pretty close to its release, but a YouTuber was able to get it installed on ROG Ally before launch.
While SteamOS 3.8's Release is Inevitable, YouTuber Demonstrates Early Performance Capabilities of ROG Ally with the Latest Linux-Based SteamOS
Valve delivered its SteamOS 3.7 Preview for Steam Deck handheld in mid-March, fulfilling its promise to start supporting non-Deck handhelds. The release notes explicitly stated that Valve is going to offer SteamOS officially for other gaming handhelds as well. The first version to be fully supported on non-Steam Deck handhelds will be SteamOS 3.8.
The release hasn't been made public yet but a YouTuber just got his hands on the latest SteamOS 3.8 and was successful in installing it on his ROG Ally as well. At the moment, the only handheld that officially supports SteamOS 3.8 is Legion Go S, which ETA Prime has showcased in his recent video. We will talk about that another time, but since that console was developed by a special collaboration between Lenovo and Valve, the most interesting piece of news is getting SteamOS working on other handhelds.
The ROG Ally, by default, boasts Windows 11, and, since it brings a lot of bloatware, many users have been waiting for Valve to drop an official SteamOS for the console. It's soon going to be released to the masses, but at the moment, it does work 'unofficially' as well. However, there are a few limitations that YouTuber The Phawx has shown in his video. Even though it works flawlessly, the ROG Ally is supposedly locked in a 15W mode.
ROG Ally has a TDP range of 10-30W and a 15W TDP surely limits its performance. On the other hand, a 15W TDP is the maximum power that the Steam Deck operates on, making the comparison fair in this scenario. The gaming benchmarks revealed that the ROG Ally wins over the Steam Deck in several games. The performance gap may not be very big, but the lows were particularly amazing, making gaming smoother.
Of course, there were instances where the custom 4-core/8-thread CPU was showing its dominance over the more powerful Z1 Extreme, but since the latter was throttled due to insufficient power, it's expected in some cases. With the official release, the power limit will be removed as well, letting ROG Ally and other handhelds reach their full potential.
SteamOS isn't just coming to non-Steam Deck handhelds but is also reportedly releasing for Desktop PCs in the near future.
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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