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It was only a matter of time for tech companies to find answers to the success and innovation of the Nintendo Switch. The Steam Deck is Steam’s answer to the long-awaited mobile PC that once seemed impossible. Steam has been the master of delivering PC games, and now there is an option for those who want to take their entire Steam library on the go – or whatever will fit on the internal storage. According to Steam, this device is good enough to do everything you’d expect, and we’re want to know exactly what it is, what it does, and how well does it do it.
What is the Steam Deck?
The Steam Deck is Steam’s flagship portable PC. This mobile gaming machine should not be mistaken as a direct competitor to the Nintendo Switch. While both handheld gaming devices share similar design qualities, they are not after the same target market. While Nintendo seeks to deliver a powerfully comparable console experience, Steam has a similar goal but envisions a world where PC players can play their games on the go.
How powerful is the Steam Deck?
Because this is among the earliest mobile PCs that we see on the market, it makes sense why some people are skeptical about the power this machine can offer. For the tech nerds, Steam partnered with AMD – a notable processor and computer chip company – to make Steam Deck’s custom APU, which Steam touts to be optimized perfectly for handheld gaming.
The Steam Deck carries a Zen 2 + RDNA 2 powerhouse, which Steam and AMD claim to be more than enough performance and power to run the most recent AAA games that regular PC players boot up regularly on their desktop machines. Content creators have already flocked to completing reviews of handheld PC, and many of them report that most of the games they play run just as smoothly as it does on PC.
Of course, you will have to tone down some settings, unlike a $3000 machine; however, if you are among the average PC gaming community who have spent a little under $1000 for their PC gaming experience, this should be more than enough power.
What features and benefits do the Steam Deck offer PC gamers?
PC gaming on-the-go
The most notable feature here – and arguably the entire point of creating the Steam Deck – is the handheld PC gaming experience. From that point, the benefit would be that PC players are no longer locked to their basements, man caves, or bedrooms to play their PC games are comparable-to-PC power expectations.
Access your Steam library anytime, anywhere
All you have to do to experience your Steam library on the go is log into it once. After that, you’ll be able to access your collections and favorites exactly where you left off. It works similarly to Game Pass, where you can carry on playing where you left off on different devices.
Comfortable controls and ergonomic design for maximum comfort
In respect to that is the touted comfortability of handling and controlling the device. While this is a handheld gaming PC, You should understand that you aren’t going to be putting this in the pockets of your cargo shorts or even a small handbag. However, the Steam Deck, according to Steam, the Steam Deck was built for extended play sessions. They’ve considered that you will be holding this powerful device for a long time. The controls have been designed to feel natural as you hold the device. It also fits a wide range of hand sizes.
Variety of connection options
The Steam Deck has a lot of accessible ports that allow for a gaming session that closely resembles the experience you would have on a traditional PC. To start, it has controller support.
As expected, it’s important to note that the optional dock provides all of those necessary peripherals like USB-C connectivity, wired networking, external displays, and of course, a power source. It’s no surprise that this fantastic accessory would be sold separately, but it’s still a tremendous addition and displays well just what the Steam Deck can do when pushed to the limits.
How much does the Steam Deck cost?
There are several options to choose from when deciding which Steam Deck is suitable for you. The budget version comes with a carrying case and 64GB eMMC, a storage unit primarily found in mobile devices. You’d have to connect external storage if you’re going to play more than one big AAA game on your device, but it still works for those wanting to get their foot in the door with this technology. This one costs $399.
The middle-tier Steam Deck will set you back at $529. You get more perks, like faster storage. You also get a juicy boost in speed and bump in size with the 256GB NVMe SSD, which is storage closer to what we’ve seen in newer model PCs.
Lastly, you can spend another $120 to get the top-tier Steam Deck. For $649, you’ll have the fastest storage possible with this device, premium anti-glare etched glass, “exclusive” carrying case, exclusive virtual keyboard theme, and some other features that come with the previous tiers. Note that the storage has also been doubled up to a 512GB NVMe SSD.
Is the Steam Deck Worth It?
Words like “worth” and “value” are tricky to answer for you in a blog. There are so many things to consider when inquiring about new technologies. There are also many factors to consider when deciding if something this expensive is right for you.
The easiest way to determine if this is worth the purchase is to ask yourself what life would be without it. If you already have a beefy machine at home and you love PC gaming, you probably aren’t going to appreciate the Steam Deck the same way someone who has never played a PC game.
Of course, some people love their PCs so much that they can’t stop thinking about it when they are away on a business trip or family reunion. That means you should get it. If there is one thing Nintendo has taught the world with the Nintendo Switch, people love doing things on the go that they can do from home.
If you are looking to upgrade your older PC or are new to PC gaming, this Steam Deck will be very much worth the money. The price is not that far from the price of a new Xbox or PlayStation console. Honestly, PC gaming at the Steam’s Deck expense and power seems like a no-brainer. It ultimately depends on your preferences and needs when playing your PC games.
Regardless, there is a good chance that if you are a PC gamer, you play a wide variety of games like MMOs, RPGs, shooters, and many more. Before you boot up for your next PC gaming session, take a look at what Gamecamp.gg has to offer gamers like you. You can easily save up money by taking a look which retailer provides the best price for your desired game keys.
