Dell found a way to defeat connector melting: screw it down tight.

Steam Deck is Unmatched: Many Have Tried, but Gabe's Portable Device Easily Outdid Them

In an interview for the Xbox Expansion Pass podcast, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella confirmed that sales of the ROG Ally haven't even come close to the Steam Deck's figures. The situation is even worse for other competitors. The ASUS device had an excellent first month, but then demand sharply declined.

According to Piscatella, the current situation might have changed due to Steam Deck shortages, but the issue isn't the Ally's price attractiveness; it's the competitor's unavailability.

The ROG Ally is the result of a joint project between ASUS and Microsoft, which entered the portable console market later than the Steam Deck. The device is more powerful but also more expensive—and as the data shows, the audience isn't willing to pay the premium.

Developers are also focusing on the Deck: a recent GDC survey recorded high interest specifically in Valve's console, while other handheld systems remain on the periphery.

Piscatella noted that no portable console has yet managed to find the perfect balance of price, power, and features to pose a real challenge to the Steam Deck. At the same time, the market itself continues to grow, and the release of new devices clearly brings manufacturers enough profit to keep their projects alive.