I Tried The Mechanism Gaming Pillow With My ROG Ally X

Once that was completed, I didn’t expertise many points with the precise mounting answer, however getting the gadget at an angle that was snug taking part in with was, properly, one other journey. The stand has three factors of articulation: one on the backside, one on the high, and one little knob the place the gadget is mounted. The final of these is straightforward sufficient to control – you simply regulate a small latch that screws onto it, and you’ll rotate your gadget in virtually any route. However, the opposite two management the lean of the gadget and the peak of the stand. Both of those require an Allen key to regulate.

That means looking for the right angle after which locking it into place is one thing that it’s a must to do a minor ritual to finish. However, it does make the stand really feel extraordinarily safe, which might be what Mechanism was going for. I simply have a tendency to maneuver round rather a lot after I’m stress-free, which is the one purpose this is a matter.

But as soon as I dialed in my excellent place for the ROG Ally X, I spent a number of hours over a number of days cuddling as much as this foolish gaming pillow taking part in Final Fantasy X. It made a tool that’s greatest briefly bursts into probably the most snug gaming experiences I’ve had in years. It was so cozy that it made grinding out Wakka’s Celestial Weapon into a nice and stress-free expertise – if you realize, you realize.

Modularity Is Key for Gaming Accessories

Perhaps essentially the most attention-grabbing factor about this Pillow is how versatile it’s. Mechanism has dozens of various attachments on the market, which’ll mount something from a Steam Deck to an iPad. It implies that even in case you swap to a unique gadget, you don’t have to purchase an all-new gaming pillow – although you’d must fork over an additional $20 for a brand new grip.

But these grips are additionally suitable with Mechanism’s different mounts. I haven’t examined any of these, so I can’t converse to their high quality, however the firm appears to be constructing a complete ecosystem of various mounts in your {hardware}.

I do just like the large compatibility inherent to this sort of system. It reduces waste and stops you from having to waste cash shopping for a unique mount everytime you make an improve. However, it does sort of lock you into Mechanism’s merchandise, and these grips don’t precisely play good with third-party circumstances. I usually don’t put circumstances on something – a mistake given how clumsy I’m – however I do know a variety of of us do, and incorporating this sort of system on high of a case may find yourself being extra of a problem than it’s price.

OK, But Why Is This Actually Necessary?

Let’s discuss dimensions. You see, even the comparatively small Steam Deck measures almost a foot lengthy and is 2 inches thick. That’s a variety of plastic to carry, and whereas its weight of 1.41 lbs doesn’t sound like rather a lot, it could positively begin to weigh you down over lengthy gaming classes. For comparability, the brand new Switch 2 – which is considerably bigger than the unique – weighs simply 1.18 lbs with the Joy-Cons connected.

The Steam Deck is on the lighter facet of all of the PC handhelds on the market. Some are a lot bulkier than the Steam Deck, just like the Lenovo Legion Go at 1.88lbs with its controllers connected. And whereas I really like the bigger display supplied by that handheld, I’ve settled into the Ally X, which truly has a smaller footprint than the Steam Deck, however is a bit heavier at 1.48lbs. (I don’t know the way Asus did it, however I incessantly discover that the Ally X lasts far longer than some other handheld, which makes it a mainstay in my little arsenal of devices.) But it does begin to weigh me down after just a little bit.

In the previous I solved this by principally propping the Ally up in opposition to a pillow after I’m laying in mattress taking part in video games. This largely solves the problem, aside from after I inevitably go to sleep and drop the hand held on the bottom, or worse, on my brow. The Mechanism Gaming Pillow largely solves that – even when it has a number of points.

At the top of the day, the Mechanism Gaming Pillow most likely isn’t for everybody, particularly in case you don’t spend a variety of time taking part in your Steam Deck – or different handheld – at residence. But, the mix of gaming handheld and gaming pillow is shortly turning into certainly one of my favourite methods to play video games. Now, I simply want extra corporations to come back out with their takes on this concept, as a result of whereas it appeared foolish at first, it’s most likely certainly one of my favourite Steam Deck equipment now.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC parts queen. You can observe her @Jackiecobra