Is Steam Deck Still the Best Handheld You Can Get?

As a gamer on-the-go, I’ve had the privilege of trying out various handheld gaming consoles. But one device that still holds a special place in my heart is the Steam Deck. Despite being far from the best-performing handheld gaming console, its benefits are evident. Valve’s constant updates and fixes to the Steam Deck’s OS have made it an intuitive experience.

The Steam Deck’s OS receives constant updates and fixes from Valve, offering an intuitive experience.

While not a PC replacement, the Steam Deck manages to offer the best out-of-the-box experience out of all the handhelds. It’s had to go up against a lot of competition ever since its release, but I’m constantly surprised by how well it has kept up.

Keeps Up in Terms of Performance

Although newer handhelds like the ROG Ally and the Legion Go outperform the Steam Deck in terms of performance, it can certainly hold its own against these newer rivals. The Steam Deck’s performance may not be the best, but it makes up for it with its well-designed OS.

The Steam OS is extremely simple and intuitive.

A Flawless User Experience

While the Steam Deck might lag behind the competition when it comes to performance, it makes up for the performance gap with its well-designed OS. I found the Steam OS to be extremely simple and intuitive. Don’t get me wrong; you can also get a flawless experience on other handhelds; however, your experience can vary depending on the game.

The battery life is also a huge advantage for those who don’t want to remain plugged in for every gaming session. In comparison with the ASUS ROG Ally, we can see the Steam Deck outlasts it by a decent margin.

The Steam Deck’s battery life is a huge advantage.

The Best Ergonomics

In my opinion, the Steam Deck’s ergonomics from a portability perspective are simply unmatched. Not a PC Replacement While the Steam Deck does make sense as a secondary gaming device for anyone who already owns a capable machine, it doesn’t necessarily function as the best “PC Replacement.”

Steam Deck Rules!

Unlike other handheld manufacturers, Valve seems to have remained consistent with software updates and patches, and their plans to continue this signal a promising future for the device. Essentially, the Steam Deck compensates for its lack of raw performance with the software side of things. Combine that with the recently released OLED variant that comes with extended battery life, and the Steam Deck becomes a solid option.

The Steam Deck OLED variant comes with extended battery life.

As long as you aren’t planning on replacing your desktop setup with the Steam Deck, I’d say that the Steam Deck still remains the best handheld in the market.