Steam Deck by Valve
$649.00
Pros
- Excellent value - the price is incredible for the quality/power of the hardware. I can't see how this combination is profitable for Valve
- Like the Steam Controller, the device is incredibly customizable. There are so many keybind options!
- Gaming flexibility extends beyond your Steam library. Other launchers, emulators, LINUX desktop mode - so many options
- You can suspend and resume games easily
- Portability of PC gaming is a complete game-changer
Cons
- Battery life isn't what I'd hoped. Hard to play too much away from a power source
- May be a matter of preference (or familiarity) but I slightly preferred the button placement and ergonomics of the Steam Controller
- Some small software quirks and problems, such as wifi disconnects and other small issues
This is a review I have been waiting a lot time to have the opportunity to write. Years ago, I starting using a video game controller made by Valve called the Steam Controller. Over time, I came to rely on the Steam Controller for any game that used keyboard and mouse inputs. I wrote a detailed review on the Steam Controller, but unfortunately reading it isn’t valuable outside of nostalgia, because Valve discontinued the device. It was long rumored that it was discontinued because Valve was designing its next iteration, which is now a reality! The Steam Deck was released in late 2021/early 2022 and is essentially a hybrid of that old amazing Steam Controller and Nintendo’s Switch console. It’s not widely available yet (back ordered by months), but I was able to get my hands on one and have used it over the last few weeks.
Right off the top, I’ll say this – the Steam Deck represents the best evolution I could have possibly hoped for from the Steam Controller. It’s transformed my gaming habits in a fairly significant way. Now, I can actually hang out anywhere in the house I want and still play a game – I don’t have to choose between playing a game versus sitting with my family while they watch television. Now I can easily do both! Although that sounds like a mundane thing, in practical terms it’s quite huge from my perspective. I’ve captured many of the details with examples in the embedded review video above, but it’s really a great device overall. I can play my favorite controller-friendly games and keyboard and mouse input games quite comfortably from the couch, which is absolutely amazing.
The device is not without negatives though. The biggest from my perspective is the battery life – it’s really the only major disappointing aspect to the Steam Deck. Playing unplugged for an extended period of time definitely has me searching for an outlet more quickly than I’d like. When I took the Deck on a plane, it was able to last the entire four hour flight…but perhaps only because I was able to slowly charge via the in-seat charge port. There are also some smaller glitches, like wifi disconnections, that I imagine will be fixed in future software updates. I also slightly preferred the ergonomics/button placement on the Steam Controller. But that might just be a matter of adjusting to something new.
I’ve played a few games pretty extensively on the Steam Deck, including Kenshi (mouse and keyboard) and Symphony of War (standard controller) and both worked quite well. In the video at the top of the review, I’ve covered my thoughts in a bit more depth and shown some gameplay using the Deck. Overall, I have to give the value, pricing, and functionality perfect scores. As I said, it really is a transformative device in terms of “couch gaming.” And the hardware you receive at this price point is amazing. I had to take some points off for the software, which still has a few bugs to squish (although it is good in terms of the device’s user interface and whatnot). But the Steam Deck is certainly one of the best devices I’ve reviewed, and actually manages to live up to the lofty expectations I had!
About this item
512GB NVMe SSD Version – $649
- Fastest storage
- Premium anti-glare etched glass
- Exclusive carrying case
- Exclusive Steam Community profile bundle
- Exclusive virtual keyboard theme
256GB NVMe SSD Version – $529
- Faster storage
- Carrying case
- Exclusive Steam Community profile bundle
64GB eMMC Version – $399
- Carrying case
Manufacturer Description:
Portability meets power: We partnered with AMD to create Steam Deck’s custom APU, optimized for handheld gaming. It is a Zen 2 + RDNA 2 powerhouse, delivering more than enough performance to run the latest AAA games in a very efficient power envelope.
Your Steam Library, anywhere: Once you’ve logged into Steam Deck, your entire Steam Library shows up, just like any other PC. You’ll also see the compatibility rating of each game, indicating the kind of experience you can expect when playing. You can dynamically filter any view in your library by compatibility rating if you’re looking for specific sorts of experiences.
Control with comfort: The Steam Deck was built for extended play sessions—whether you’re using thumbsticks or trackpads—with full-size controls positioned perfectly within your reach. The rear of the device is sculpted to comfortably fit a wide range of hand sizes.
Technical Details
Processor AMD APU
CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32)
GPU: 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6GHz (up to 1.6 TFlops FP32)
APU power: 4-15W
RAM 16 GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels)
Storage
- 64 GB eMMC (PCIe Gen 2 x1)
- 256 GB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4 or PCIe Gen 3 x2*)
- 512 GB high-speed NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4 or PCIe Gen 3 x2*)
All models use socketed 2230 m.2 modules (not intended for end-user replacement)
All models include high-speed microSD card slot
*Some 256GB and 512GB models ship with a PCIe Gen 3 x2 SSD. In our testing, we did not see any impact to gaming performance between x2 and x4.
Controls and Input
Gamepad controls
- A B X Y buttons
- D-pad
- L & R analog triggers
- L & R bumpers
- View & Menu buttons
- 4 x assignable grip buttons
- Thumbsticks 2 x full-size analog sticks with capacitive touch
- Haptics HD haptics
Trackpads
- 2 x 32.5mm square trackpads with haptic feedback
- 55% better latency compared to Steam Controller
- Pressure-sensitivity for configurable click strength
- Gyro 6-Axis IMU
- Display Resolution 1280 x 800px (16:10 aspect ratio)
- Type Optically bonded IPS LCD for enhanced readability
- Display Size 7″ diagonal
- Brightness 400 nits typical
- Refresh Rate 60Hz
- Touch Enabled Yes
- Sensors Ambient light sensor
- Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0 (support for controllers, accessories and audio)
- Wi-Fi Dual-band Wi-Fi radio, 2.4GHz and 5GHz, 2 x 2 MIMO, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- Audio Channels Stereo with embedded DSP for an immersive listening experience
- Microphones Dual microphone array
- Headphone / mic jack 3.5mm stereo headphone / headset jack
- Digital Multichannel audio via DisplayPort over USB-C, standard USB-C, or Bluetooth 5.0
- Power Input 45W USB Type-C PD3.0 power supply
- Battery 40Whr battery. 2 – 8 hours of gameplay
Expansion microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
External connectivity for controllers & display USB-C with DisplayPort 1.4 Alt-mode support; up to 8K @60Hz or 4K @120Hz, USB 3.2 Gen 2y
Size and Weight
- Size 298mm x 117mm x 49mm
- Weight Approx. 669 grams
If you want to read more on the Steam Controller, which is referenced pretty extensively in the video, here’s my original review: https://armdogreviews.com/steam-controller/