After a year of supply issues and waiting, I was finally able to get my hands on a Steam Deck. After looking between the 3 models quite a bit, I went for the reasonable low-end model due to the lack of advantages to getting the higher tier models. The higher end models even with their higher storage and other bells and whistles, didn’t perform any better than a 64GB storage option with an SD card. Even when loaded locally to the faster storage. So, this in my mind, ended the debate.

The Steam Deck is an impressive piece of hardware. The amount of power that is packed into the handheld just seemed unreal and overly hyped. With that being said, I’ll give my brief breakdown of the device as first impressions with about 100 hours using it.

Performance

A lot of hype was made about this device. What it could do and being able to steadily achieve it. After using it for a bit on some high-end AAA titles all I can say, it lives to the hype. Although it does not have a 4K display or even 1440p, games on this device look amazing. Since the size is smaller, you don’t really need the resolution to achieve a similar effect to a 4K gaming PC. The amount of control you have over the performance between FSR and the settings in the game, makes it pretty easy to achieve playable frame rates in most games. In Death Stranding I was able to hit about an average of 45 FPS consistently, at points going more towards 60FPS. Assuming you have a tinkering nature and like to benchmark various settings.

This device isn’t like the Nintendo Switch. Where all games are set to run to the hardware and always behave the same. It’s for all intents and purposes a PC. You can modify whatever you like setting wise, you are limited by the amount of RAM in the system. If you put the graphics too high to where it overwhelms the RAM, it’ll crash. If the game isn’t exactly Steam Deck compatible, it’ll crash. To me it’s a hybrid of what a console is and what a PC is. A majority of what I play runs fine on the Steam Deck, however there are a select few that don’t. They can be made to run, but that requires troubleshooting. Which is something you never have to do on a console.

Battery Life

This is the main point of contention with the device. It’s realistically a gaming laptop packed into a handheld. However, unlike most gaming laptops, the device makes its extremely easy to throttle down settings to increase battery life. From limiting the refresh rate of the game and screen, to downclocking the GPU. It’s just a hotkey away. Again, this is what makes it in mind a device that’s only meant for those that like to tinker with electronics. It’s not really something for those expecting a Nintendo Switch like experience.

Depending on what you are playing, the device’s battery life will change. If you are playing Stardew Valley, you can get 6 hours or well over depending on the settings mentioned prior. A game like Death Stranding, it’s about 1 ½ to 2 hours. Unless you really dial it back. But what gamer really does?

Ergonomics

I’m a keyboard and mouse type of gamer. If I have the option, I will always pick that unless it’s advantageous not to do so, like with racing games. That being said, the ergonomics of the Steam Deck are better than the Nintendo Switch, especially for a full-grown adult. The bigger size and button layout just seem natural. As a long time Xbox player, I didn’t understand when it was unveiled why the thumb sticks were placed where they were. Once I held the device, I understood. I chalk it up to just being the form factor, because controller wise, I’ll always pick the Xbox Elite controller.

Conclusion

With the limited amount of time, I’ve spent with it, I can honestly recommend it for a select group of gamers. Those that have and built their own PCs, yes. Those that want to get into PC gaming and want to know the ins and outs of it, yes. Those expecting it to be a console version of the PC, no.

The Steam Deck really is gaming laptop shoved into a handheld. Something no one really thought was possible, but by what I’ve seen is. Whether or not it is for you ultimately boils down to what you want and expect.