Is it worth it to buy Steam Deck 2023?
Could we say the same in 2023? Well yes, 100% we still recommend the Steam Deck.
Sure, it's not perfect, a little pricey, and takes some getting used to, but beneath it all there's a console here that is hard not to fall for. For gamers who want to play a nice selection of triple-A and indie games in bed or on the move, the Steam Deck is definitely worth it.
We personally recommend using it with a device like the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch, as 512GB of extra storage will give you the ability to play even more games, as well as store more screenshots and video content.
Report: Steam Deck to Surpass an Estimated 3 Million Units Sold Lifetime in 2023 - Sales.
Valve's handheld SteamOS games machine has successfully evaded hardware flop status, currently sitting fourth in Steam's own top sellers list a full year after it began shipping.
Yes, you can play High on Life on your Steam Deck.
Is Steam Deck good value for money? If you're using it at home as a replacement for a high-quality PC to play games, then the Steam Deck is a no-brainer purchase. If you're attempting to use it as a travel device, however, it's important to consider its limitations, and how and when you'll be using it most.
The Logitech G Cloud is one of the best Steam Deck alternatives. It might not be as powerful and is primarily designed for cloud gaming, but it's powered by Android, letting you enjoy games from the Google Play Store. You also can play your Steam games via the cloud.
According to Valve's official estimates, the Steam Deck gets an unusually wide range of between two to eight hours of game time. However, some users (including myself) have found that in some situations they get even less than that, with the device dying after less than 90 minutes.
For boot speeds, the former is 25% slower than the latter. Also, because of the way that NVMe scales, the 512GB model is quicker than the 256GB model. The internal storage is not designed for end-user replacement, so you won't be able to easily upgrade it like you would for a standard PC. Make your choice carefully.
Is 1TB SD card worth it Steam Deck?
SanDisk Extreme microSD card
If you want to pick up a 1TB microSD card for your Steam Deck, then you should definitely check out the SanDisk 1TB Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card. This is great for those who like to have a copious amount of storage at their disposal, and it'll do the job perfectly for storing games.
Get the 64GB version if you're comfortable upgrading the storage yourself, and want a screen protector. Get the 256GB version if you're not comfortable upgrading the Steam Deck, only want to install a few games, and want a screen protector.
"Unless something major changes, there will be a next generation of Steam Deck products in the future... The theme, size, and shape will change, and it might even become a streaming machine. Development of the Steam Deck will continue." It seems that the future of Steam Deck is going to be interesting.
Valve is giving away a Steam Deck each minute of The Game Awards when that show airs on Thursday, Dec. 8. The Game Awards 2022 usually runs about three hours, so, that's 180 Steam Decks!
For every minute of the Game Awards, Valve will give one 512GB Steam Deck away, adding up to nearly 200 Steam Decks.
Fortunately for the Steam Deck, the screen was the most sensitive component to Jerry's durability tests. Scratching the hard plastic shell of the Deck, along with its rubberized buttons and plastic buttons, showed no loss in functionality and only left ugly scratches to look at.
While the Steam Deck is user-repairable, with a boatload of replacement parts sold by iFixit, the option of having Valve take the console off your hands for repairs is a welcome one all the same.
For most people, picking up a Switch over the Deck probably makes the most sense right now, especially if you're not an avid PC gamer. But while the Nintendo Switch technically edges past the Steam Deck thanks to better battery life, display, and overall value, both were created with different audiences in mind.
Steam Deck performs at its best in ambient temperatures between 0° and 35° C. If the temperature gets higher than this, Steam Deck may start to throttle performance to protect itself.
It's quite possibly the most powerful gaming PC ever sold for $400, with roughly the power of a PS4 under its 7-inch screen.
Is The Steam Deck stronger than my computer?
Performance - PC Wins
The Steam Deck has an efficient optimization system, but it can't begin to compare to a desktop gaming PC. So, if you're focusing on performance, it's an easy win for PCs.
At this stage, we have set up your Steam Deck so you can remotely play your PS5 or PS4 games. To open up Chiaki to play these games, you will want to first change over to your Steam library. Bring up the Steam menu, then select the “ Library ” option to continue.
For most people, the $529 256GB model is the best match for functionality and price. If your budget can handle it, go for the $649 512GB Deck because it's undoubtedly the best. And unless you're cash strapped, avoid the $399 64GB model due to its slower run and boot speeds.
Can Steam Deck run Elden Ring? The answer is Yes. Elden Ring has been verified and is playable on Steam Deck. On Valve's Steam Deck compatibility page, Elden Ring is listed as one of the most popular games on portable gaming devices.
Overall, I highly recommend the Valve Steam Deck 64GB to anyone looking for a powerful handheld gaming device. While the limited storage space can be a drawback, it is easily remedied with an external microSD card. The Steam Deck delivers on its promise of a high-quality gaming experience in a portable device.
Valve's high-powered Steam Deck handheld and its vast PC library make traditional home consoles much less appealing.
How long does the Steam Deck battery last? Steam Deck includes a 5,313mAh battery to play games on the move. If a user does not tweak their performance settings to something optimal, the battery can provide power for an average of 1.5-2 hours.
Not every Steam game is compatible yet, but most are. Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.
The most played game on Steam Deck during December 2022 was released more recently, as Vampire Survivors came out on October 20, 2022. With two titles among the most popular Steam Deck games, Bethesda and CD Projekt are the publishers with the most games on this list.
Battery degradation is an inevitable part of your gaming console's lifespan — extend it with this replacement battery compatible with a Valve Steam Deck. If your console won't turn on, won't hold a charge, or you simply experience poor battery life, this replacement battery may be what you need to fix it.
Is Steam Deck more powerful than gaming laptop?
The Steam Deck's APU is restricted to a mere 15 watts of power—at stock settings, at least. Performance varies widely, of course, but even the least capable gaming laptops are roughly as powerful as the Steam Deck.
Which microSD cards work on Steam Deck? Any microSD card will work with the Steam Deck. The Steam Deck has a maximum speed of 100MB/s on its external card port, so you don't need to go faster than that, but you will want speeds close to it though.
The Steam Deck has a 40 FPS option; Here's how to activate it. The Steam Deck may look like a rival to the Nintendo Switch, but it's much more than that. It's designed for users to take their Steam library anywhere, but the available tools and flexibility are close to what's available on a PC.
The Results Are In
The results show that using an SD card does increase your game loading times, but not by much. And when it comes to picking the right SD card, a UHS-I U1 SD card is fast enough for your Steam Deck, even for the latest and greatest open-world AAA games.
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. *Some 256GB and 512GB models ship with a PCIe Gen 3 x2 SSD.
The SD card is still 58% slower, although thanks to the loading time being so much lower at just 12 seconds for the SSD, 58% slower only adds 7 seconds for a total of 19 seconds.
Best Steam Deck Micro SD cards USA
As well as Samsung, which is always a safe pick, we've opted for TeamGroup's Pro Plus cards which offer extremely good value in the higher capacities. 256GB and 512GB are the current sweet spots, with better value than 128GB or 1TB cards, but all four capacities are viable at present.
A 256GB SDD can hold between 4-5 games that are 30-40GB in file size. This allows room for basic applications and, of course, your operating system.
And if you find yourself struggling for storage on your 512GB of Steam Deck, swapping in a 1TB SSD will make a world of difference. We didn't hit those speeds in a Steam Deck, but it definitely was much faster than the stock drive.
Our best estimate on the Steam Deck 2 release date is 2025, as Valve designer Lawrence Yang recently said “a true next-gen Deck with a significant bump in horsepower wouldn't be for a few years.”
Can Steam Deck do ray tracing?
You can now enable Ray Tracing on Steam Deck without having to rely on customization through Linux. Valve slid the feature into the latest Steam Deck OS preview update, which was mainly meant to fix issues with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty.
Bots are winning the Steam Deck giveaways at The Game Awards.
Steam Deck delivery windows are 1–2 weeks.
Multiple users noticed some strange things during the awarding of the winners of The Game Awards Steam Deck prize. Apparently, multiple clues indicated that some winning profiles were actually bots. If you're a bot watching the Game Awards on Steam, congrats on winning a new Steam Deck!
Milf Hunter Won A Steam Deck At The Game Awards And You Didn't.
It's perhaps not surprising that the Steam Deck has been a success since launching in February, and Valve has now sent out more than 1 million units. According to a keynote speaker, the Steam Deck handheld system has now shipped over a million units, and still more are due to be sent out.
You may be able to get your hands on a Steam Deck earlier than expected. Valve has announced that it's ahead of schedule on Steam Deck production, speeding through reservations for the handheld PC gaming device.
Sadly, those hoping for an imminent Steam Deck 2 release date will be disappointed. In an early 2023 interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, Valve designer Lawrence Yang suggested that a “true next-gen Steam Deck” launch “with a significant bump in horsepower wouldn't be for a few years.”
According to Omdia, the Steam Deck sold an estimated 1.62 million units in 2022, and is on track to sell about 1.85 million units throughout 2023. This would push total Steam Deck unit sales to 3.47 million by the end of 2023.
Valve is confident that its Steam Deck portable PC is future proof, despite its compact size and modest hardware specifications. However, the developer is not against the idea of creating future generations of Steam Deck hardware, and even hopes other companies will get involved.
Is the Steam Deck 64GB worth it?
Overall, I highly recommend the Valve Steam Deck 64GB to anyone looking for a powerful handheld gaming device. While the limited storage space can be a drawback, it is easily remedied with an external microSD card. The Steam Deck delivers on its promise of a high-quality gaming experience in a portable device.
The Steam Deck is not a gaming desktop or gaming laptop replacement, but rather another way to play PC games on the go if you don't want to mess with cloud gaming. It's also not a direct competitor to the Nintendo Switch, even though there are many of the same games on both platforms.
From a lack of exclusive games to difficult competition from established consoles such as PlayStation and Xbox to the sheer cost of the Steam Machine itself, the product failed to gain traction and was eventually discontinued in 2018.
It's perhaps not surprising that the Steam Deck has been a success since launching in February, and Valve has now sent out more than 1 million units. According to a keynote speaker, the Steam Deck handheld system has now shipped over a million units, and still more are due to be sent out.
We can roughly estimate that 6,400 Steam Decks shipped per week from Valve's manufacturing lines to customers in its earliest days. A "more than doubling" of manufacturing and shipping capacity may start at 13,000 weekly Steam Deck shipments.
Is Steam Deck GPU same as PS5? When we compare them in terms of GPU power, the difference is really stark: Steam Deck comes in at 1.6 TFLOPS. The Xbox Series S is 4 TFLOPS, the PS5 is 10.28 TFLOPS, and the Series X comes in at 12.15 TFLOPS.
It's quite possibly the most powerful gaming PC ever sold for $400, with roughly the power of a PS4 under its 7-inch screen.
In terms of graphical performance, the Steam Deck easily beats the Switch with more up-to-date and powerful hardware.
References
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/reviews/steam-deck-holiday-buy-what-to-know/
- https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-optimize-steam-deck/
- https://osgamers.com/frequently-asked-questions/will-the-steam-deck-be-future-proof
- https://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Console-Tempered-Silicone-Protective-PC/dp/B0C3M5N41C
- https://www.gamesradar.com/the-game-awards-finds-a-new-icon-steam-deck-winner-milf-hunter/
- https://www.minitool.com/partition-disk/steam-deck-storage.html
- https://gamerant.com/valve-steam-decks-giveaway/
- https://www.ign.com/articles/valve-will-give-away-almost-two-hundred-steam-decks-at-the-game-awards
- https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/5DD7-287C-7548-299D
- https://www.kingston.com/en/blog/personal-storage/choose-storage-4k
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Deck
- https://www.thegamer.com/valve-171-steam-deck-giveaway-the-game-awards/
- https://support.google.com/chat/thread/185614658/are-8gb-ram-and-256gb-ssd-enough?hl=en
- https://techpp.com/2023/04/06/expand-storage-of-steam-deck/
- https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/its-easy-to-upgrade-your-steam-decks-ssd-heres-how-to-add-more-storage/
- https://www.mltut.com/best-laptops-for-python-programming/
- https://www.ifixit.com/News/57101/steam-deck-teardown
- https://www.androidauthority.com/steam-deck-2-3251778/
- https://www.xda-developers.com/best-microsd-cards-for-the-steam-deck/
- https://www.ign.com/articles/steam-deck-vs-gaming-laptop-comparison
- https://www.xda-developers.com/new-asus-rog-ally/
- https://swappa.com/guide/steam-deck/prices
- https://github.com/ryanrudolfoba/SteamDeck-RefreshRateUnlocker
- https://www.protondb.com/app/387990
- https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck/
- https://www.byerlyenterprises.com/cant-decide-between-256gb-or-512gb-steam-deck-check-this-out/
- https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/3392923906937837695/
- https://www.theverge.com/23513517/steam-deck-long-term-test-valve
- https://www.whistleout.com/CellPhones/Guides/how-many-gb-of-smartphone-storage-do-I-need
- https://www.ign.com/articles/steam-deck-official-repair-centers-are-now-open
- https://reviewed.usatoday.com/laptops/content/valve-steam-deck-review
- https://reviewed.usatoday.com/laptops/features/how-check-games-steam-deck-compatibility
- https://www.pocket-lint.com/best-microsd-cards-for-steam-deck/
- https://osgamers.com/frequently-asked-questions/which-is-more-powerful-steam-deck-or-ps5
- https://www.captureguide.com/how-many-photos-can-my-memory-card-hold/
- https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/69E3-14AF-9764-4C28
- https://www.dexerto.com/tech/which-steam-deck-should-you-buy-2089231/
- https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-community-continues-to-blow-our-minds-valve-talk-the-steam-deck-one-year-on
- https://steamcommunity.com/games/1675200/announcements/detail/3414317363010171809
- https://www.polygon.com/23348942/steam-deck-repair-centers-valve
- https://history-computer.com/dont-buy-a-steam-deck-until-you-read-this/
- https://www.airdroid.com/screen-mirror/game-pass-on-steam-deck/
- https://www.makeuseof.com/how-much-free-storage-mac/
- https://www.ign.com/articles/best-steam-deck-sd-cards
- https://www.ign.com/articles/valve-steam-deck-future-proof-new-generations
- https://hackernoon.com/steam-deck-overheating-what-you-need-to-know
- https://www.quora.com/Can-I-upgrade-my-256GB-SSD-to-512GB-SSD
- https://www.anker.com/blogs/power-banks/ankers-top-steam-deck-power-bank-fuel-your-gaming-on-the-go
- https://osgamers.com/frequently-asked-questions/is-64gb-enough-steam-deck
- https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/3758850762510243775/
- https://www.tomshardware.com/news/steam-deck-durability-tests
- https://pimylifeup.com/steam-deck-ps5-remote-play/
- https://www.pcgamesn.com/steam-deck/2-release-date-price-specs-performance
- https://www.compuram.de/blog/en/ram-upgrade-andor-ssd-drive-whats-the-benefit/
- https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Steam+Deck+SSD+Replacement/148989
- https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/the-steam-deck-replaces-the-playstation-and-xbox-not-the-switch
- https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-16gb-ram-with-256gb-ssd-a-good-option.1662414/
- https://osgamers.com/frequently-asked-questions/is-steam-deck-stronger-than-xbox-one
- https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/analyst-steam-deck-will-sell-3-million-units-by-2023-s-end
- https://www.quora.com/Does-the-memory-of-a-256GB-SSD-correspond-to-a-1TB-HDD
- http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/is-it-ok-to-leave-your-steam-deck-plugged-in-overnight/ar-AA1cGWVH
- https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Steam+Deck+Right+Thumbstick+Replacement/148895
- https://www.gamespot.com/articles/steam-deck-is-speeding-up-production-and-shipments/1100-6507663/
- https://www.theshortcut.com/p/win-a-steam-deck-watching-the-game-awards-2022
- https://www.ifixit.com/products/steam-deck-battery
- https://www.minitool.com/news/elden-ring-steam-deck.html
- https://www.spiria.com/en/blog/tech-news-brief/ifixit-has-a-steam-deck-teardown/
- https://www.makeuseof.com/ram-vs-ssd/
- https://www.quora.com/Is-16GB-RAM-and-256GB-SSD-enough
- https://store.steampowered.com/app/271590/Grand_Theft_Auto_V/
- https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/9/23593352/steam-deck-framework-2tb-m2-2230-ssd
- https://www.pocket-lint.com/games/news/steam/162562-steam-deck-2-might-be-quite-different/
- https://techteamgb.co.uk/2023/01/13/i-bought-a-64gb-steam-deck-and-fixed-everything-wrong-with-it/
- https://growngaming.com/feature/which-steam-deck-should-you-buy/
- https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-get-better-steam-deck-battery-life/
- https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/can-you-play-high-on-life-on-steam-deck-2009544/
- https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/steam-deck-fans-will-be-waiting-years-for-a-true-next-gen-model-3410143
- https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck
- https://www.coolblue.nl/en/advice/how-do-i-choose-the-right-storage-capacity-for-my-iphone.html
- https://reviewed.usatoday.com/laptops/features/how-install-windows-steam-deck
- https://kotaku.com/steam-deck-game-awards-milf-hunter-trending-valve-tga-1849873280
- https://techteamgb.co.uk/2023/04/24/steam-deck-1tb-ssd-vs-micro-sd-card-speed-loading-times-performance/
- https://www.quora.com/Is-256GB-SSD-too-small-for-a-system-drive
- https://www.vgchartz.com/article/456845/report-steam-deck-to-surpass-an-estimated-3-million-units-sold-lifetime-in-2023/
- https://www.hardwarecentric.com/128-ssd-vs-256-ssd-speed/
- https://hamiltonsystems.co.uk/is-the-steam-deck-worth-it-in-2023/
- https://www.esports.net/news/enable-ray-tracing-on-steam-deck/
- https://osgamers.com/frequently-asked-questions/is-512-gb-sd-enough-steam-deck
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/reviews/steam-deck-review-valve-pc/
- https://softwarekeep.com/blog/ssd-vs-hdd-difference
- https://osgamers.com/frequently-asked-questions/how-many-games-can-a-steam-deck-hold
- https://osgamers.com/frequently-asked-questions/how-much-storage-should-i-get-on-my-steam-deck
- https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-use-steam-deck-as-a-desktop-replacement/
- https://www.howtogeek.com/892157/does-your-steam-deck-sd-card-affect-game-loading-times/
- https://reviewed.usatoday.com/laptops/features/nintendo-switch-vs-steam-deck
- https://www.quora.com/Is-256GB-SSD-good-for-gaming
- https://www.coolblue.nl/en/advice/how-much-storage-capacity-do-i-need-ssd.html
- https://www.enterprisestorageforum.com/hardware/ssd-lifespan-how-long-will-your-ssd-work/
- https://retete-fitness.ro/is-256gb-ram-overkill/
- https://www.macworld.com/article/784743/m2-macbook-air-vs-m1-design-performance-price.html
- https://gamerant.com/steam-deck-1-million-shipped/
- https://osgamers.com/frequently-asked-questions/is-the-400-dollar-steam-deck-worth-it
- https://www.gamedesigning.org/gaming/ram-for-gaming/
- https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questions/apple-macbook-air-13-3-display-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-256gb-flash-storage-silver/5465600/question/22bb012c-21fa-33fe-b1a5-1937be44b90d
- https://www.gamepro.com.au/faqs/256gb-ssd-enough-for-gaming/
- https://thegamingsetup.com/best-microsd-card-for-steam-deck
- https://piunikaweb.com/2022/12/09/bots-winning-the-game-awards-steam-deck-prize/
- https://www.makeuseof.com/steam-deck-model-comparison/
- https://www.stuff.tv/features/steam-deck-lacking-a-wait-list-is-the-worst-thing-ever-because-now-ill-have-to-buy-one/
- https://gamerant.com/best-steam-deck-games-most-popular/
- https://www.trustedreviews.com/deals/upgrade-your-switch-or-steam-deck-with-this-bargain-512gb-sd-card-4306286
- https://havecamerawilltravel.com/how-much-4k-video-can-256gb-hold/
- https://www.xda-developers.com/best-steam-deck-alternatives/
- https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-best-micro-sd-cards-steam-deck
- https://www.polygon.com/23490298/the-game-awards-2022-announcements-steam-deck-free-award-prize-register
- https://gamerant.com/steam-deck-set-up-40-fps/
- https://overkill.wtf/can-you-open-your-steam-deck-warranty/
- https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/0/3716062978735792654/
- https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/a42724581/steam-deck-review-handheld-pc-gaming/
- https://www.dexerto.com/tech/upgrade-steam-deck-storage-1970144/
- https://www.steamdeck.com/faq
- https://www.ekfluidgaming.com/news/should-i-buy-a-steam-deck-pc-vs-steam-deck-comparison/
- https://www.kingston.com/en/blog/pc-performance/how-much-memory-needed-for-video-editing
- https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/06/steam-deck-back-to-being-the-global-top-seller-by-revenue-on-steam/
- https://www.thegamer.com/is-the-steam-deck-worth-it/
- https://www.pcgamer.com/give-your-steam-deck-a-serious-upgrade-with-this-super-cheap-1tb-nvme-ssd/
- https://www.installbaseforum.com/forums/threads/steam-deck-has-crossed-shipments-of-1-million-globally-per-new-report.1093/page-2
- https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/06/steam-deck-shipments-more-than-double-this-week-so-lets-estimate-how-many/
- https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/0/3387291961151122179/
- https://en.as.com/meristation/2022/05/24/news/1653349914_455663.html
- https://beebom.com/steam-deck-extend-battery-life/
- https://www.makeuseof.com/how-much-smartphone-storage/
- https://www.makeuseof.com/best-media-players-for-steam-deck/
- https://osgamers.com/frequently-asked-questions/is-the-most-expensive-steam-deck-worth-it
- https://www.tweaktown.com/news/91074/steam-deck-to-break-3-47-million-unit-sales-in-2023-analysts-predict/index.html
- https://smartcarting.com/valve-steam-deck-64gb-review-a-powerful-handheld-gaming-device/