Steam Deck Handheld PC

Valve built the Steam Deck as a handheld gaming PC and the engineering decisions they made reveal a clear understanding of how PC gamers actually think. Running a modified Linux called SteamOS, the device is unusual because most PC gamers use Windows. Valve's Proton compatibility layer runs about 80% of the Steam library without any configuration. At 7 inches with 1280x800 resolution, the display is lower resolution than the Nintendo Switch OLED. But Pixel density is high enough at handheld distance, and the lower resolution means games run at higher frame rates on the AMD APU inside. Beyond standard joysticks, the controls include 2 trackpads, which is critical for games designed for mouse input. Back buttons are programmable so you can map any function to them. I tried a friend's 512 GB model over break and played 3 games I already own on Steam without buying anything new. Having access to your existing library is a significant advantage over the Switch where you have to rebuy titles. Battery life runs 2-6 hours depending on the game, which is the main weakness. A USB-C dock lets you connect it to a TV and a controller for longer sessions. At $399 for the base model it undercuts most gaming laptops significantly. Playing your existing PC library rather than asking you to invest in a new platform is a smart move from Valve. Build quality feels solid, the grips are comfortable, and weight is heavier than a Switch but distributed well enough that it does not feel tiring in your hands. Fan noise is audible during demanding games, and download times over wifi are slower than a wired desktop. For a portable PC gaming device in 2023 it's hard to argue with the value.