If you are a fan of PC gaming, you might have heard of the Steam Deck, a new handheld device that lets you play your Steam games on the go. But what exactly is the Steam Deck, and how does it work? Here are some of this portable gaming machine’s most important facts and features.
What is the Steam Deck?
The Steam Deck is a handheld device that runs on a custom version of SteamOS, Valve’s operating system for PC gaming. It has a 7-inch touchscreen, two analog sticks, a directional pad, four face buttons, four triggers, two trackpads, and several other buttons and switches. It also has a built-in microphone, stereo speakers, a headphone jack, and a USB-C port. The device can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and has a microSD card slot for extra storage.
The Steam Deck is designed to run your entire Steam library, including games that are not optimized for touch controls. You can also install other software and operating systems on the device, such as Windows or Linux, and access other game stores and platforms. The device can also be docked to a monitor or TV via an optional accessory or connected to other peripherals via USB-C or Bluetooth.
How powerful is the Steam Deck?
The Steam Deck is powered by a custom AMD APU (accelerated processing unit) that combines a quad-core Zen 2 CPU (central processing unit) with an RDNA 2 GPU (graphics processing unit). The device has 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM (random access memory) and comes in three storage options: 64 GB eMMC (embedded multimedia card), 256 GB NVMe SSD (solid state drive), or 512 GB NVMe SSD. The storage can be expanded via the microSD card slot.
Valve says the Steam Deck can run the latest AAA games at 720p resolution and 30 to 60 frames per second, depending on the game settings and optimization. The device also supports ray tracing and variable rate shading, two advanced graphics features that enhance the realism and performance of games. The device’s battery life varies depending on the game and usage, but Valve estimates that it can last between 2 to 8 hours on a single charge.
How much does the Steam Deck cost?
The Steam Deck costs $399 for the 64 GB model, $529 for the 256 GB model, and $649 for the 512 GB model. The prices include a carrying case and an exclusive Steam Community profile bundle. The optional dock accessory costs $49 and includes an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, three USB ports, and a power input.
What are the advantages of Steam Deck?
The Steam Deck has several advantages over other handheld gaming devices, such as:
- It offers more power and performance than most handheld devices, allowing you to play the latest AAA games at high settings and resolutions.
- It gives you access to your entire Steam library of games, which is one of the largest and most diverse collections of games in the world.
- It lets you customize your gaming experience by installing other software and operating systems on the device, such as Windows or Linux.
- It supports ray tracing and variable rate shading, two advanced graphics features that enhance the realism and performance of games.
- It has more storage options and features than other handheld devices, such as 64 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, a carrying case, and a Steam Community profile bundle.
- It has an optional dock that allows you to connect the device to a monitor or TV and enjoy a big-screen gaming experience.
What are the disadvantages of Steam Deck?
The Steam Deck also has some drawbacks that you should consider before buying one, such as:
- It is heavier and bulkier than most handheld devices, which might make it less comfortable and portable for some users.
- It has a shorter battery life than other handheld devices, which might limit your gaming sessions on the go.
- It might not run some games as well as a dedicated PC or console, especially if they are not optimized for the device or require online connectivity.
- It might encounter compatibility issues with software and platforms not designed for SteamOS or Linux.
- It is more expensive than other handheld devices, especially if you opt for the higher storage models or the dock accessory.
Steam Deck Alternatives
If you are looking for a handheld gaming device that can play PC games, you might want to consider some of the alternatives to the Steam Deck, such as:
The Nintendo Switch
This is the most popular handheld gaming device on the market, with over 89 million units sold worldwide. It has a 6.2-inch touchscreen, two detachable Joy-Con controllers, a directional pad, four face buttons, four triggers, and several other buttons and switches. It also has a built-in microphone, stereo speakers, a headphone jack, and a USB-C port. The device can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and has a microSD card slot for extra storage. The device can also be docked to a monitor or TV via an included accessory.
The GPD Win 3
This handheld device runs on Windows 10 Home Edition, Microsoft’s operating system for PC gaming. It has a 5.5-inch touchscreen that slides up to reveal a backlit keyboard with two analog sticks and several other buttons and switches. It also has a built-in microphone, stereo speakers, a headphone jack, and two USB-C ports. The device can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
You can access any game store or platform that works on Windows 10 Home Edition, such as Steam, Epic Games Store, Origin, etc. The GPD Win 3 is more powerful than the Nintendo Switch in terms of CPU and GPU performance but less powerful than the Steam Deck. It can run some of the latest AAA games at low to medium settings and resolutions. However, it also has a shorter battery life than both the Switch and the Steam Deck (2 to 3 hours vs 4.5 to 9 hours for the Switch and 2 to 8 hours for the Steam Deck). The GPD Win 3 costs $799 for the base model and $899 for the premium model.
The AYA Neo
This is another handheld device that runs on Windows 10 Home Edition. It has a 7-inch touchscreen with two analog sticks and several other buttons and switches. It also has a built-in microphone, stereo speakers, a headphone jack, and three USB-C ports. The device can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
The AYA Neo is similar to the GPD Win 3 in terms of software compatibility and performance. You can access any game store or platform that works on Windows 10 Home Edition.
The AYA Neo is slightly more powerful than the GPD Win 3 in terms of CPU and GPU performance but still less powerful than the Steam Deck.
It can run some of the latest AAA games at low to medium settings and resolutions. However, it also has a shorter battery life than both the Switch and the Steam Deck (3 to 6 hours vs 4.5 to 9 hours for the Switch and 2 to 8 hours for the Steam Deck). The AYA Neo costs $699 for the base model and $789 for the premium model.
How does Steam Deck compare with the Nintendo Switch?
One of the most obvious comparisons for the Steam Deck is the Nintendo Switch, another popular handheld gaming device that can also be docked to a TV. However, the two devices have some significant differences in terms of hardware, software, and price.
The Steam Deck has a larger screen than the Switch (7 inches vs. 6.2 inches for the original Switch and 5.5 inches for the Switch Lite), but it is also heavier (669 g vs. 398 g for the original Switch and 275 g for the Switch Lite).
The Steam Deck has more powerful specs than the Switch, especially in terms of CPU and GPU performance, which means it can run more demanding games at higher settings and resolutions.
However, this also means that the Steam Deck consumes more battery power than the Switch, which has a longer battery life (4.5 to 9 hours for the original Switch and 3 to 7 hours for the Switch Lite vs. 2 to 8 hours for the Steam Deck).
The Steam Deck runs on SteamOS, which gives you access to your entire Steam library of games and other software and platforms you can install on the device.
The Switch runs on Nintendo’s proprietary operating system, limiting you to games available on the Nintendo eShop or physical cartridges.
The Switch has some exclusive titles that are not available on other platforms, such as Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, etc., while the Steam Deck has more variety and quantity of games across different genres and categories.
The Steam Deck is more expensive than the Switch ($399 vs. $299 for the original Switch and $199 for the Switch Lite) but offers more storage options and features.
The Switch has 32 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card slot, while the Steam Deck has 64 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB of internal storage, which can also be expanded via a microSD card slot.
The Steam Deck also includes a carrying case and a Steam Community profile bundle, while the Switch does not come with any accessories. The Steam Deck has an optional dock that costs $49, while the original Switch has a dock that is included in the price. The Switch Lite does not have a dock at all and cannot be connected to a TV.
