Hey there! As a long-time tech geek and gaming enthusiast, I wanted to share 9 compelling reasons why now is a great time to buy the amazing Steam Deck handheld. This innovative device from Valve has completely changed portable PC gaming since its launch last year.
After closely following the Steam Deck, analyzing reviews, and poring over specs, I can confidently say this device is an absolute game-changer you need to experience. Let‘s dive into the details, shall we?
1. Instant Access to Thousands of Games
Right from the start, the Steam Deck grants you instant access to your entire Steam library—we‘re talking thousands of titles ready to play on day one.
According to the latest stats from Valve in January 2023, over 7,000 games are verified or playable on Steam Deck, and over 1,500 titles have received the verified "Deck Verified" status. This is incredibly impressive for a device not even a year old yet.
Some of the most popular Deck Verified games span AAA blockbusters, beloved indies, critically acclaimed hits, and more. We‘re talking huge names like Elden Ring, God of War, Persona 5 Royal, Cyberpunk 2077, Death Stranding, Spider-Man Remastered, Red Dead Redemption 2, and so many others.
Valve continues optimizing and verifying additional titles all the time too. By my estimates based on the current trajectory, the Steam Deck could have over 10,000 verified games by the end of 2023. That‘s a massive on-the-go library!
2. Serious Graphical Horsepower in a Handheld
Don‘t let the portable form factor fool you—the Steam Deck is a graphical powerhouse. It packs an AMD Aerith SoC chip with a 4-core/8-thread Zen 2 CPU and 8 RDNA 2 compute units.
Benchmarks show the Steam Deck outperforms the Nintendo Switch by leaps and bounds. Digital Foundry testing showed the Steam Deck running Control on High at 720p at a smooth 40FPS, versus the Switch running it at Low around 20FPS at sub-720p resolution.
For a handheld running on a 7-inch 1280×800 display, the Steam Deck definitely has enough oomph to run the latest games at great settings. You‘ll achieve playable frame rates on high or medium settings in most titles.
I don‘t know about you, but I think it‘s amazing I can play Elden Ring on a handheld device. The Steam Deck makes high fidelity gaming possible on the go.
3. Ergonomic and Comfortable Design
Valve nailed the hardware design with comfort in mind. Many reviewers praise how the Steam Deck feels in your hands despite its larger size compared to say, the Nintendo Switch.
The ergonomic handgrips and intuitively placed buttons/triggers make gaming feel natural on this device. It only weighs 1.47 pounds too, so your hands won‘t get tired holding it even during longer play sessions.
The 7-inch touchscreen display looks fantastic as well with its 1280×800 resolution. Games appear colorful, crisp, and vibrant on this screen. I love how adjustable the screen angle is too for finding the perfect viewing angle.
Overall, Valve clearly put a lot of thought into making the Steam Deck comfortable for extended handheld gaming. Your hands will thank you!
4. Fully Customizable Like a PC
Don‘t forget—the Steam Deck is essentially a handheld gaming PC. So that means you get the full benefits of an open platform.
You can install third-party software like emulators or game launchers. Connect Bluetooth accessories like controllers, keyboards, or headphones. Tinker with performance settings and controls. Dual boot into Windows for even more functionality. The customization options are endless.
This level of versatility and openness really unlocks the full potential of the Steam Deck. You‘re limited only by your imagination on how to tailor it for your needs.
5. Big Screen Gaming via Docking
Want to play your Steam Deck games on the big screen? No problem, thanks to the official Dock accessory (sold separately).
The Steam Deck Dock allows you to easily connect your Steam Deck to external displays like monitors and TVs up to 4K 60Hz via HDMI 2.0. This gives you the best of both worlds—handheld and docked play.
With the Steam Deck docked, you can also pair any compatible wireless controller for more comfortable control options on the big screen.
It only takes a second to drop the Steam Deck into the dock and seamlessly transition your gameplay to the TV. This hybrid docked/handheld versatility makes the Steam Deck so flexible.
6. Surprisingly Great Battery Life
Given its powerful hardware, the Steam Deck actually boasts impressive battery life that beats comparable devices:
Device | Battery Life |
Steam Deck | 2 – 8 hours |
Nintendo Switch | 2.5 – 6 hours |
Nintendo Switch OLED | 4.5 – 9 hours |
Many reviewers report averaging between 4-6 hours of playtime, which is awesome for a handheld. Lighter games can easily achieve 6-8 hours too.
Considering everything the Steam Deck is powering, this battery life range is impressive. You don‘t have to worry about the battery tanking after just an hour or two. The 45W USB-PD charger replenishes rapidly as well.
7. DIY Repairs Encouraged by Valve
Love this—Valve actually encourages users to open up their Steam Deck and replace parts like the joysticks, SSD, battery, etc. themselves without voiding warranty.
They provide handy repair guides that make the process easy for anyone to perform basic repairs and upgrades. This is basically unheard of from other gaming device makers like Sony or Nintendo.
The ability to self-service and extend the lifespan of your Steam Deck is really cool. Hats off to Valve for promoting consumer-friendly repairability.
8. Flexible Beyond Gaming with Linux
While designed for Steam gaming, the SteamOS 3.0 operating system onboard gives you extra flexibility since it‘s based on Arch Linux.
You can access a desktop environment to browse the web, watch videos, chat on Discord, install emulators, and more. Many users even install Windows 10 or 11 for added app and game compatibility.
This Linux foundation unlocks all sorts of possibilities beyond just Steam gaming. The openness for tinkering and experimenting is amazing for any tech enthusiast.
9. Unbeatable Value and Pricing
Considering everything the Steam Deck delivers in a portable form factor, its pricing is staggeringly consumer-friendly. Let‘s compare the models:
Model | Storage | Price |
Steam Deck 64GB | 64GB eMMC | $399 |
Steam Deck 256GB | 256GB NVMe SSD | $529 |
Steam Deck 512GB | 512GB NVMe SSD | $649 |
At every tier, you get insane value. The $399 base model is an especially impressive entry point for budget-conscious gamers. There‘s an option for virtually every type of buyer.
Compared to other portable PC gaming rigs on the market, the Steam Deck blows away the competition on price to performance ratio. Valve gets a standing ovation from me on the pricing here.
Ready to Embrace the Future of Portable Gaming?
Well, I hope this overview has shown why the Steam Deck deserves a spot in your gadget arsenal. For anyone who loves gaming on the go, this device delivers an unmatched experience you have to see to believe.
Between the ever-growing Steam game support, comfortable design, powerful performance, big-screen docking, and fantastic pricing, the Steam Deck hits all the right notes.
Valve has clearly created something very special here that represents the future of handheld gaming. With continued improvements and support, the Steam Deck will only get better with age too like a fine wine.
So why wait any longer? Join the revolution, my friend. Get yourself a Steam Deck today and step into the future of portable PC gaming. You won‘t regret it!
Let me know when you get yours—we‘ll have to compare which games we‘re playing on them. Enjoy and game on!