I’m one of the first to own a Steam Deck in Japan. People stare at me for long periods as I played it in the train. A few even thought it was a Switch. Bought for $320. I was very lucky and it works wonderfully. Edit: Well that was unexpected! Thanks for the thumbs up, all!
I’m someone who modded my psp back in the day for emulation. This is my dream situation. I bought the 64gb steam deck based on your earlier videos. 512gb ds card. This system has been everything I wanted and more. Now the hardest part, deciding which game I play first.
just ordered the 64 gb model too! Going to be mostly for portable emulation. Switching the SSD for future upgrades looks fairly simple too! So excited!
I think the Steam Deck is the best thing to happen to indie devs in a while. I played most of my indie games on this thing that i had trouble getting into with my big desktop
I liked the explanation in the beginning about the difference in available chips on the market. The other features mentioned like easy control customization and desktop mode have come in very handy.
Agreed on your point about playing more of the backlog vs PC. Some of the "bundle" games that piled up over the years practically feel like they were made for this thing. Has been great fun.
I've beaten more games on my OnexPlayer (an 8" steam deck like device) since I bought it a few months ago than I have in years combined. So many games feel perfect lounging around without needing to take up the TV
There's TONS of older games that look so much better at 720p, which makes them look great on the Steam Deck instead. Bayonetta 1 is a very good example of this.
There's another good reason why the Deck will keep getting good support. Valve earns with Steam sales, so they want the device to continue satisfying the user to encourage usage of the Steam service.
The steam deck turned me into a pc gamer again. I just can’t do long gaming sessions anymore, so the sleep function and portability of the deck changed everything for me.
@@folksurvival What a weird thing to say. Why would I want to stop doing something I enjoy, and why do you feel compelled to phrase it as if it’s an addiction? Why are you even here if that’s your mindset?
@@derp195 "What a weird thing to say." Not really, no. You implied that the device was allowing you to fit in more gaming sessions to which I pointed out that doing such would only encourage more gaming.
@@folksurvival With the presupposition that gaming is inherently bad, and something everyone should aim to quit. Yes, less of a barrier to play allows for more short sessions here and there. As an extremely busy person with side projects, a small business, and a family, I greatly appreciate something that allows me to still play video games during my short, sporadic windows of down time. What made your comment a weird thing to say was that you're commenting in a gaming community with the idea that gaming is akin to smoking or drinking too much. Again, why are you here if that's your mindset?
@@derp195 "With the presupposition that gaming is inherently bad, and something everyone should aim to quit." Well yes, of course, they should. "...the idea that gaming is akin to smoking or drinking too much." Well it is, albeit in a slightly different way. So is watching porn, gambling, eating junk food etc.
Also their OS update notes are very detailed, and my discontinued Steam Link I bought quite a few years ago still gets updated by Valve to this date, this is really encouraging!
I was legitimately about to invest into a Switch OLED, but after hearing non stop about the Steam Deck and doing enough research and seeing this video, I'm sold, I'm buying steam deck instead. Although down the line I might buy a a used normal switch just to play Nintendo exclusives online with other switch users. Edit: Bought it. Best gaming and most innovative experience I've had since first trying the Wii. Every day I'm tinkering with the steam deck, and finding out something new that makes my gaming experience better. Like I know to the PC Mastercare this ain't shit, but being able to map multiple functions to a single button but also let you activate them under certain and different conditions, is honest some sorcery to me, it's so simple yet so genius. Like if you play Apex Legends on Steam deck on a gamepad, theres a solution to not being about to push to talk for mic. Dont get me started on the prices on games. 13 dollars for MK11 ultimate edition that currently retails at 60 bucks lmao. I can talk about this for hours lol.
A complete wipeout lol. It even emulates switch so with the deck you basically have the switch. Not sure about it being able to play online with other switches though but who cares lolll
@@zillo4449 You cant play online. And a lot of ppl care, this guy included haha. I love the SD obviously, but I still love and need the Switch. Hopefully one day they do what MS is doing and what Sony reluctantly took so long to do and let me officially play their first party games on PC so I can enjoy crossplay.
@@zillo4449 not only can you not play online there’s no cloud saves unless you have a switch the steam deck is garbage the switch probably sells more in one week than the steam deck in its entire lifetime
It completely exceeded my expectations and pushed the handheld market forward like no other device. I'm glad Valve had a bit of experience with hardware (like the steam link or controller) that allowed them this entire endeavour.
Just got my 512GB NVME version and I absolutely love the device. I mainly play older PC games and will use this for all my console style games going forward, but will keep the main gaming rig for my Total War and other keyboard/mouse games.
A surprisingly good use for the steam deck is blender. With the track pads and steam input being so ridiculously customizable. I can use blender on a device that I can chill in bed with, no mouse or keyboard required
@@bnr32jason I've used blender on and off for years. But recently, I started wirking long hours and that makes it less appealing to sit at my desk afterwards. So I've been hoping for a blender ipad port so I can use it on the couch comfortably. But blenders open source so that's probably never gonna happen. But with the steam deck, it's gonna be the main way I use blender from now on. Like I said, steam input makes it possible for me to include every shortcut key I need. That combined with its portability makes it easy to model in bed. It'll take a bit to get used to the controls, but once you do. It's pretty fast
@@sahabatgamerID I wouldn't say it's more productive per say. But I'm the type of person that really appreciates convenience, especially when I comes to my platforms for creative work. So for me, I'm gonna get more done om the steam deck. It depends on if you're okay with getting used to the controls
@@christianr.5868 Are you talking about using Blender on the Steam Deck's screen? Or connecting it to a portable monitor sitting next to you? I can't imagine it will be at all productive trying to 3D render things on a 7" 1280x800 display.
I think the most impressive thing about the deck is the ease of repair. Everything has a separate board and its connected to the console with screw other boards with ribbon cables. This is super uncommon for any handheld. I don't think any recent handheld is as easy to repair as the steam deck.
I’m definitely planning on buying a mid range steam deck when I get the money. I have several games on steam that I can’t play on my pc that I can on my mac and vice versa so being able to play most of my library on one device is a big selling point for me.
No, go for the cheapest model if you can. You can exceed both the mid range Steam Deck and the Premium one by just paying $86 for a 512GB SSD and $6 on Antiglare screen covers.
One of my friends has a Mac and has been admiring PC gaming for a while but just never bought a PC. I feel like this is the perfect gateway for him since it's less expensive than a traditional PC and it has the console experience most people are accustomed to.
Awesome review! I completely agree with everything being said! One thing I can recommend if you are going to use the Steam Deck as your primary computer is to buy an external SSD together with a dock (or the JSAUX SSD dock). For me, I boot from the ext. SSD when I am working (using the fully fledged Linux distribution Manjaro). Because, even though SteamOS is great for gaming and general computing, it's rather limiting for professional use. Also having a clear distinction-, and being able to switch between "work environment" and "entertainment" is a great strategy to become more productive as well. The great side effect of replacing your work desktop with a Steam Deck is that it sips minimal amounts of power 1~10W. mostly hovering around 3watts in desktop mode, yet offering great performance for everyday use!
@@Eli4life I actually decided to go with the 64GB since it covers my gaming needs, and I could potentially upgrade it further down the line as I am comfortable with repairs. Currently ALL games are installed on a 512GB SD card, I mostly play indie games (29x installed), emulation (several 100x), older AAA/backlog titles (20x) and a couple of AAA titles are installed at a time (3x currently)... As you can see, you can fit quite a lot of games onto a 512GB SD card. The device is not particularly slower than the SSD when loading games or navigating in DeckUI (however, it is less snappy when doing multiple IO operations in desktop mode). But when I really need responsiveness from a desktop OS. I will still boot from an external SSD instead. :) This is limited to the interface. ~780MB/s for my external enclosure, but that's not really a problem, since access times are equally snappy and honestly offer 99.8% of the normal SSD experience. :)
As someone who loves their deck, my main issue with it was QC. My first deck had numerous button issues so I got an RMA, and my replacement had the same exact issues, plus one new one. I didn't want to deal with RMA anymore so I opened it up, shaved some plastic off the case to fix a mushy trigger, used a shim to fix my loose bumper, and sanded down the stick housings so I wouldn't grind my sticks. Kinda sucks I had to go through this just to get a deck I feel I should have had out of the box. That being said, now that I have gone through the pain I am left with one of the greatest gaming handhelds of all time. I just really hope they improve the QC issues for a possible Steam Deck 2. No one should have to RMA 5 times or go through the lengths that I did just to be happy with their device.
I remember hearing about people doing similar modifications to the Nintendo 2DS when it came out. The buttons and things were often poorly constructed and people were cutting plastic and adding tape inside and such. I guess they had to save costs somewhere. At least the Deck is pretty repairable and well-documented.
I'm traveling next month and trying to keep it light, I realised that instead of taking my laptop to copy/backup my GoPro footage, I can just copy the files to my deck using desktop mode via a USB reader. I'll skip taking my laptop! Such a versatile device. I imported one from the UK to Japan but still have my Japanese reservation (those have not shipped yet).
I am glad that they seem to be sticking with this product. I feel like they gave up on the steam link and steam controllers too prematurely. I actually love my steam controller quite a bit.
My ultimate dream is that the SD2 uses the same form factor as the first. They could just upgrade the mobo and get gains. Then they could make that board upgrade available for those of us who are comfortable working on our systems, letting us turn a SD1 into a SD2.
You could sell your old SD and buy a SD2. I understand what you mean and I thought about this myself but then the old boards need to be sold and transplanted into other SD. I don't want to see old SD boards out of use. But yeah, the SD2 has to use the same form factor!
One of my favorite things I've done is set up to play world of warcraft on the steam deck. Including configure a custom control setup (yes I know a mod exists to add controller support but it messed with playing on my main computer). The control interface and how customizable it is really sets this thing apart.
I'm very fortunate since I'm from the UK and live there, when SD became available I bought it straight away and I'm already completing games that I bought long ago on steam and games that I've bought recently on steam as well as on my SD. I also agree the ergonomics on the SD is impressive, the feel is just from heaven.
I keep getting more and more tempted on the Steam Deck. All of it's competitors are unfavorably high in price in comparison, at least if you want similar or better performance. Then there's the fact I recently learned that through some software, you can use it like a Wii U gamepad while emulating Wii U games on your desktop (which, btw, would love to see a video on if it's up your alley).
I agree this is cheaper than that onexplayer 1s 5700u or i7 1195 G7 ... I'll buy it at $599 for a 1.6 TeraFLOP gaming handheld that's a portable PS4 launched console in your hands! 😂 If it can play everything from Nintendo Switch Back Compat is a steal. Cause I haven't own a Nintendo since N64.. also wanna know if it can play all DS library, 3DS, GBA , GameCube, Wii, Wii U, .. PS1/PS2 , PSP PS vita is a no Brainer for 500 600 bucks usd Dock it up on a big screen got better hardware then a Switch..
I use my deck multiple times a day. Sometimes I have to grab hold of it first thing in the morning. It feels so good and solid in my hands. I've even started inviting one of my bros over so he can play with my deck as well. I was a bit nervous at first so I just had him watch me use it awhile before he decided he needed it. He knows how to handle a deck like a champ. I should buy one of these steam deck things they look fun.
Thanks for this video. It's was ironic when you talked about emulation. My situation was very similar to yours. I bought my first Steam Deck and was so happy with the PC gaming experience that I didn't touch emulation for the first three months or so. But when I got my second Steam Deck, I started diving into emulation and was totally blown away by how capable it is with emulation. Also, I spent years using the Steam Controller on PC and loved it. It effectively killed my mouse and keyboard usage for good. To see what is effectively the Steam Controller 2 built into the Steam Deck is nothing short of phenomenal. The Steam Input customization options are hands down better than any other competitor currently. Perfect? No. Good? Indeed.
the ergonomics of the steam deck are crazy. i was nervous it was going to be way too big, feel clunky, and be way too heavy. i figured i’d just have it docked all the time. then i actually got it, and it immediately fit well. comparing this to the switch which after 4 years of owning i still don’t feel comfortable playing portably
Funny how after the switch release I thought it was just a gimmick to play on home and off road but I find myself playing only on handheld mode even when I’m at home
@@Visethelegend I feel some level of satisfaction with people realizing how comfortable playing portable is when before everyone basically told me I'm wrong and portable devices like the Switch will never take off. I knew instantly the Steam Deck would be more comfortable than the Switch due to how it was shaped.
Switch has plenty of controller and grip options. You can't say it's not comfortable when you can use whatever you prefer. Same can't be done with steam deck
I don't think i want a deck 2, but if Valve gets benefits from it then i am happy. They really did a great job for Linux, emulation and the PC gaming landscape as a whole.
@@ntactime_w3488 im in the same boat. To much hassle to try and sell the old one to buy the newer one or just let it sit and collect dust, forgotten. Overall, the SD fix all the needs atm.
Sorry but that’s just how technology works. If the steamdeck solves all the problems you have then just simply… don’t replace it. It would be nice if you could just buy something and have it work forever, but until we can do fully realistic live 3d rendering for hours and hours on a mobile device that just isn’t the case, there are always things to improve.
It literally bridges every sort of gaming in existence. You can play Nintendo games unofficially, you can play a bunch of PS and Xbox games officially meaning online functions, you can play PC games, mobile/android games and retro games with emulation. You can bring it on the go or connect it to a tv and play at home. And on top, you can play current gen games and you can use the steam deck as a real PC! It does everything. This is literally every gamers/tech's dream.
Literally got my Steam Deck today, only took about 6 days from ordering to arrive. I'm new to PC gaming and recently purchased Metal Gear Solid V the Phantom pain for £3.99 off CD Keys, it looks and plays so good on the Steam Deck.
You do not necessarily need a dock, you can get a dongle and just stick it in there and you can get a case for your SD with a kickstand that'll allow your SD to stand on it's own. That's what I did with my SD.
The issue with the dongles is for a good one they can be close to the price of an entry level dock and the dock is just so much nicer to look at and have somewhere to put the Deck.
I ordered mine yesterday, I am now binging every steam deck video 😂😂 man I love portable consoles, I am a collector and steam deck a lovely new one to my collection
I have had my steam deck for 3 months and it's everything I wanted. I use it at a vanilla level without emulators or mods just games from the stream library and it's worth it. Even if you don't have a PC or are thinking about this over other consoles I would suggest it because having access to the steam store for the sales will be worth it. Also, Oblivion is the best Elder Scrolls, change my mind.
This is an encouraging comment! I’ve unhappily held off Steam for years because I don’t have (and don’t need) a gaming PC. I was worried the cost of the deck might be wasted on someone like me who isn’t going to mod the device or combine it with desktop gaming. Time to start saving…
Yes.. I just get games from the store ..there are so so many games unlike switch when it launched , not much games .. and expensive .. bring me back to play pc games
I hope Valve does everything they can to reduce the hit of resale value by creating 3D printable files that allow you to put your Deck's old motherboard into a tiny case to turn into a PC and sell motherboard/heatsink upgrade kits to just replace the one in Deck V1 when Deck V2 comes out.
to be honest, i dont agree with the steam deck being seen as a handheld that can play switch games............... thats just straight out a crime. dont want to sound like someones grandmother here, ofcourse im a gamer myself, and ofcourse i also played roms. but hacking switch roms in this time of year, thats just too early. thats piracy in its top form. and its illegal. the roms i play are the old ones, from games that are not being sold in stores anymore, i play roms up to the Wii, but not from newer systems. actually i did own most games physically when i was young, and some games were hard to get in the place i grew up (for example StarFox adventures on gamecube) so thats why i turned to some roms. but i would personally never get a steam deck to play switch games on. just doesnt feel right, besides, all the work arounds you got to do, its just more legit to play Zelda on the console it is made for. i can play all zelda's on my pc also, but playing it on the switch feels just so much better, because then its like how the devs designed it to be, and when you use roms and hacks and whatever to make them work, its always somekind of fake/ not to mention missing textures and artifacts you can get. i just dont think its fair to compare. same like playing ps5 and xbox x games on pc/laptop, and then saying pc is better. its just a total different system that makes the experience around the game complete.
Getting a deck for christmas, will buy a deck 2 the second it is here! I hope that we can get a better CPU, a 1080p OLED screen with 90hz (or even 120hz), and a better battery, other than that it is awesome.
Don’t wait, get the 512GB version since the color is more saturated and not washed out. I have MacBook Pro, iPhone 14 Pro and the SD screen definitely holds its own, no compromise as far as my eyes can tell lol. I don’t understand why people keep asking for OLED when the screen is absolutely gorgeous
I'm in the same situation as you, going through a very, very large backlog. For me its so appealing because I can pick it up, put it down, and move around so easily, and I can play while my TV is doing something else. I only take it outside the house if I'm going somewhere for an extended period of time, hours or days, not worth the risk imo to take it outside otherwise.
The steam deck does look awesome, and I am very glad that it has had this much success. I was considering buying one, but I am in that same situation that I need something smaller. I eventually plan on getting a small form factor windows hand held, debloating it, and lowering the process count to get the most performance out of it.
@@jeffreyali1456 I primarily know how to do this on Windows. Chris Titus of Chris Titus Tech makes a debloat script that can be accessed using a command in powershell. His guide on how the script works can be found here on youtube. I have also seen other videos where people use custom versions of Windows such as ggOS, or AtlasOS, that help raise performance in maximum frame rates by about an average of 10 frames, and minimum frame rates by about an average of 20 frames. At least from what I can recall. With that said, I don't know if games naturally have better performance on SteamOS since it is based off Linux, and Linux by nature is less resource intensive than Windows. Hence the need to debloat Windows.
@@theretrogamers7690 I’ll check it out, cause I haven’t seen anyone debloat windows for the steam deck before and I want to make sure I don’t do anything that could harm it in the process
@@jeffreyali1456 Well, is your Steam Deck running SteamOS or Windows? Don't they come with SteamOS preinstalled? If so, I don't know if there is a need to debloat.
@@theretrogamers7690 I’m running windows on the internal ssd cause it works better without having to use my microsd card. I liked the steam OS UI and all, but Linux has been problematic for pirating and transferring my emulators and save data so I wiped it and added windows. It was only recently that steam recently release the SteamOS UI on windows. But it’s still in beta mode and a good chunk of features aren’t available yet so I have to wait until the official drops.
@14:49 Yes I think this is still perfectly solid advice, I followed it (inadvertently I'll admit). I'm from a region without the SteamDeck available for sale, I bought a used 512GB for the price of the 64GB, and I am perfectly happy with what I purchased,
I like the steam deck, but I would like to have some headroom, while the APU undoubtedly is very capable I would wait a couple more years and buy either a revision 2 or a Steam Deck 2, and honestly I'd keep those 400 dollars for now, my 2080 super is showing its years a bit, and it won't hold on for long with my 2k/4K setup
@@lexbeltran1354 it can emulate the switch pretty well, but performance depends on the game. Most run great, but for example for Breath of the Wild, you should emulate the WiiU version, because that runs better
@@lexbeltran1354 but remember that this is a Steam console, so natively it's designed to run PC games from Steam. It is a great emulation device, but just keep in mind that there are a few steps necessary to get that running and that some emulated games will not work
Adding thermal pads to the Vram, changing the pads on the vrms and on apu heatsink and as well as changing the paste allows it to boost its clocks higher.
It's the perfect device for anyone that is willing to engage in research and the most fun is had when you Tinker Tamper and Tweak. It truly feels like personal console.
I don't own a steam deck but my Odin Lite has given me a similar experience with playing and really enjoying games on handheld that I didn't really feel like playing sitting at my PC
Same! Have you tried Castor!? RGC did a video on it. th-cam.com/video/2kewJ7dyrgk/w-d-xo.html I'm LOVING my Odin base now, I can stream my games from my pc in a virtual machine and still have my pc able to use. That is a game changer for me. I'm playing PS3, Wii-U, Xbox etc and with streaming I'm easily getting 10 hours of play time. I don't think a steamdeck can last that long.
@@KyleRuggles this is a good use case I see little people actually getting into. Running a VM to keep the remote host usable is awesome. In fact, for at home usage this is by far the best solution with any decent wifi performance.
@@lucascarracedo7421 Yeah man! Like I see all these steamdeck video's, I haven't seen them really talk about using it outside of the home and the battery life. Then I see video's of "how to get the most out of this game on the steamdeck" and I'm like... why don't you just stream it from your pc? No need to fiddle around with settings to get the fps and graphics just right, no need to drain your battery, just stream the thing lol. Castor is AMAZING! I can't praise it more than I already have. A VM on your pc, which you can stream to and STILL use your pc? That's BIG! I see ETA's video's on these small form factor pc's with 24 cores! Like.. I see multiple pc's with all those cores! I'm even able to stream outside of my house, limit my video to 8mbit/s since I have a 30/10mbit cable connection, and with H265/HEVC it still looks sooo sharp at 1080p 60fps. And with moonlight, I don't feel any latency.. it's like I'm playing right on my Odin, natively. It's a game changer and I wish more people knew of this app.
@@KyleRuggles Yes. Totally agree. I do this with ProxMox and a multi GPU system so every member of the family can run their own remote VM from any place they want. there's value in getting games to run properly on a device like the Deck or any other handheld of course. Sometimes the connection isn't ideal and for some games that's preferred. But for my particular use case streaming from my own systems covers at least 90% of my needs. While also getting much better performance and battery life. Sadly, people hear streaming and run away, not understanding that this is not the same as remote game streaming but is mostly happening locally.
@@KyleRuggles the Steam Deck can last 8-10 hours while Streaming in ideal situations. Mine actually lasted for just over 9 hours playing a Visual Novel game (Doki Doki Literature Club) while on a long international flight. I could have plugged it in, but I didn't want to, wanted to see what it could do when playing at super low TDP and GPU settings.
I am loving the My Deck. I have been playing genshin impact in it by having installed windows on an SD card, and of course emulators in steam os and its a blast. It really is way better than what i expected and i love it. I am only waiting on official support for some games, like genshin of course, so i dont have to bootup windows anymore. Not like its a bad experience, on the contrary, it works surprisingly well, but i like Steam OS interface and ecosystem, and would love to be able to just stay there instead of having to dual boot.
Epic really needs to get that stick out of their ass and stop hating linux, people have made proton packages for epic launcher but I’ve had limited success trying to use them on my pc so it seems you’ll have to do some finicky work to get it going, but perhaps you can find a different one that will be easier to work with.
When I bought this device I actually came to the conclusion that handheld game consoles are kinda useless if you don't use public transportation often. If I have time to sit down and game, I'm just going to use my PC or a console. The Steam Deck is a well executed system though and I'm still a fan.
I've never finished so many games as in the months that I have it, sitting next to my wife, compared to the rest of my life. After 9..12 hours working behind a computer, you want to sit next to your wife, her watching whatever she wants, and me playing games like Empyrion . About the number: a month ago it was stated on a kde talk that it was over a million. (KDE is the desktop part used on deck. There is a nice talk about it, describing how Valve started supporting them without revealing anything about the deck).
I am one of those people who unfortunately spent $850 on eBay to get a 512GB variant during the first month of its launch. Still to this day, I do not regret it. I love my Steam Deck so much. What I really want to do now is get a 2TB SSD internal storage, but I’m afraid I might mess up, lol.
I spent that much all in all on my Deck after buying more storage and accessories. Well worth it. If this thing was $1000 I would probably still considering buying it. Considering you can get a deck for $400... that price in insane.
I love the steam deck currently playing gamepass cloud on it. And it is amazing! And I play assassins creed odyssey which is installed on the steam deck. Runs amazing. It’s a dream device, it’s unreal to play open world games with this device!
It's alright but it has too many downsides like having a battery that can only last around two hours if you're lucky and remember it's supposed to be portable. All things considered it's better if you just buy a laptop at least that way you can play PC games on the go
Honestly you aren't going to get "portable " laptops in the 350£-500£ range nor one as powerful as a steam deck at £350 (but honestly it not that bad imo). I have a 15.6 ch laptop that i bought for £500, I don't really consider it portable enough to carry it with ease and not feel like it will break. There are only a few really portable laptops like the surface laptop go 2 with a nice small form factor and screen but that costs £629 and only has 128gb storage. But honestly there isn't a lot and they are mostly quite underpowered. As for the battery, have you used a laptop at that price range, it doesn't really last 10 hours, more like 2-3 if you are doing gaming and at low settings 720p usually with occasional stutter. Nevertheless I wouldn't get a steam deck as I dislike Linux and it's just too big, also the storage space in the base model is just too bad and at the higher options you are just left wondering why not buy a laptop as laptops at that price range honestly are pretty alright, you can get a cheap gaming laptop near the price of the highest tier steam deck, though they are bulky and aren't really portable, they are extremely more powerful with a dedicated gpu.
my friend was diagnosed with leukemia the other day. im ordering him one of these as an early Christmas present for him to use in the hospital. it'll be perfect.
Great video, as always. I think I want to get one, but I hope in the future the Deck gets native support for Xbox Game Pass and Epic Games, so I can DL my games through those places. Yes, I know about the Dual Boot option.
@@TheUncannyOne - Sure, it's always going to be better to play 3DS games on a SteamDeck. Although it does not have 3D, nor two screens, not even touchscreen... 😂
For the emulation and modding people I feel 3DS is still a much better option than Steam Deck. It's just way more practical and better designed in my opinion. If you can manage to get a dual IPS 3DS then take care of it.
The best part of the Steam Deck to me......I trust it. I have a LOT of the chinese portables out there and I'm ALWAYS wondering when I shut it off....will this effin thing ever turn back on in the same way I left it, and if it doesn't, will it take months to get it back from RMA.
I’m just enjoying my steam deck. Still interested to see what happens with deck in the future and the possible future devices. I find the future of the deck (and handhelds in general) more interesting than the future of home consoles.
The big dealbreaker for me about the Deck is the OS lends itself poorly to third party launchers. There's games in my GoG library that don't run at all on Deck, and there's even certain games that are native to Steam Deck that you have to find work arounds for, like Fall Guys. The OS is tailored to keep you in Valve's ecosystem, incentivizing you to buy games on their platform over other launchers. I personally don't like that kinda thing, as my GoG library is my main library when it comes to PC gaming, and overall, I just don't like that kind of a walled garden effect.
I would have to disagree with you. This device is not a walled garden at all, it gives users a simple UI to understand for mainstream use and allows anyone without restriction to mod it as they wish. There's absolutely nothing stopping you from modding, customizing and using any launcher you want. There's no walls stopping you so you can't say this at all. What you're experiencing could be solved by installing windows or a different Linux version. But as I said, valve isn't stopping you from doing any of these things.
Valve is the company to support. While I've grown to love my $90 Switch Lite during the past month, Steam Deck is the Vita 2 that Sony never gave us. Valve has the far better ecosystem than Nintendo. I will be waiting for the Steam Deck 2 or perhaps a Lite version of the Deck 1. Just like I'm waiting for a PS5 slim since getting the smaller versions since the DS Lite in 2007. I prefer to pack as little as possible. The sequels for devices tend to be much better... Genesis/Mega Drive (Sega's 3rd console) Super NES/Super Famicom PlayStation 2 Xbox 360 Even Switch got better with OLED. Patience, waiting for price drops, waiting for a revised model, and a maturing library are the keys to all this.
The fact I have access to almost every PC game ever made is just mind boggling. And best of all every game you buy on Steam will be accessible to you unlike the eshop which will stop support and shutdown eventually. So you don't have to worry about your games. It's also so cool being able to buy a game on pc and then also having it be portable naturally especially when you consider brand new AAA games work for it too
I mostly play through my iVoler dock using my monitor. A wireless mouse with a USB Nano Receiver works nicely with one of the dock's USB Type-A ports. A Bluetooth keyboard is the way to go. It doesn't cover the spot you're trying to type in like the onboard one. My Xbox controller connects via Bluetooth also. It has a Type-C port for the charger that comes with it and a cable that plugs into the Steam Decks Type-C port to connect everything. This was all well thought.
I've seen a lot of games, especially indie games, been focusing on updating their games on Steam just to be compatible/verified on the Steamdeck. It's safe to say almost everyone believe in this product and wants it to succeed, all we have to do is wait 3-5 years for more widespread support, just like the early years of the Nintendo Switch.
@@brandon_nope its still true 1280×800p even on an 8K display...but most ppl buy this for a handheld anyway. & Im sure retro consoles titles look great too
I’ve been interested in the Steam Deck for a while because I like the idea of a portable device that I can pick up and play my PC Games on, and I also want portable mod support with some of them. Sometimes, I just find booting up my PC a little too much hassle to play my game, especially if I have to go into settings and configure it. I realize that the Deck won’t alleviate that problem but it will probably be better for gaming than my laptop due to performance and because my controllers can be iffy at times. And if that thing plays GameCube games, even better. Portable Pokemon Colosseum. But my main reason is definitely to play PC games with mods installed portably without booting up my computer.
I don't own one, but I know I definitely want one someday. It sounds great to play steam/PC games on mobile. The only thing keeps me on the Nintendo Switch is because of the Nintendo exclusive games. Like Splatoon:p
Would it be possible for me to use a capture card and somehow get a 1080p output? Because I was thinking of getting a steam deck so I can record indie games like Dead Cells, GRIME, Hades etc as well as emulated games of older generations (wii, wii U, PS2, PS1). Would it be a waste to get one or?
I've really enjoyed my Steam Deck overall over this last ~10 months, but I'm ready to move on to something more premium (and yes, more expensive). I'll really miss the customized SteamOS interface, the user selectable refresh rate, and the peace of mind knowing parts are available if and when I need them. But you mentioned many of the things that are making me want to upgrade, mainly the screen and the performance ceiling. If there was a better IPS panel upgrade available along with an option to run the APU just a few watts higher, I would probably keep it, but with none of that being a feasible reality, I'm going to move on to something better for me. I'm really looking forward to following the Steam Deck's progress with SteamOS and other software/firmware updates. I bought the 512GB Steam Deck and if I was going to buy again today, I would buy the same one. I like just buying something and being able to leave the hardware alone for the most part, I don't want to take it apart to install a bigger SSD, new sticks, etc. I just want to buy something and play, so the 512GB was perfect for me. With that $650 price tag (plus tax), it's getting closer to the $1000 price tag of something like the Ayaneo 2 (thanks for the preview video on that one too!) which has more premium parts and finish while giving up the community support, low TDP performance, and SteamOS. The Steam Deck is what got me into handheld PC gaming, I only ever did consoles handheld before. Super happy that Valve came out with the Steam Deck, I'm hoping one day they'll offer a "Deck Pro" or just in the next model offer a little more performance, better screen, better sticks, etc. Can't wait to see what the future brings for handheld PC gaming either way, it's an exciting time to be in the space!
I bought this Steam Deck cuz of this Review. I Regretted it, It wasnt portable at all. I can only play it if my hands is leaning on table. Cant even use it on bed, unless i face down toward my pillow, but after couple mins, my arms go numb... Switch Lite is still better for portable gaming standing/bed/pooping.
Can't wait for the Steam Deck 2.
Dock I used: amzn.to/3tjGP8l
The Gundam skin: th-cam.com/users/postUgkxorfi40Ut0pByc5JZJVFN_VYs0UIZ1_C6
Same here
Yeahhh
The "threat" of a SD2 is what's making me unsure about buying one. If a SD2 us only, say, a year-ish out I'd wait, for example.
@@blunderingfool will be 2024
@@gthagamerpcking6317 Suppose I'm waiting for then, then.
I’m one of the first to own a Steam Deck in Japan. People stare at me for long periods as I played it in the train. A few even thought it was a Switch. Bought for $320. I was very lucky and it works wonderfully.
Edit: Well that was unexpected! Thanks for the thumbs up, all!
Same here but for Australia, used a reshipping service and have loved every minute of deck ownership.
Tell them that staring at others is impolite. Especially during a gaming session!
Japan seems to be allergic to Linux, so no wonder!
How much disk space did you get?
What game did you play for them to stare at you?
This is probably the strongest endorsement I've seen for the Steam Deck thus far, considering your knowledge and experience with all other hand helds.
Right? This guy is going to make my wife so mad at me!
@@danh2716 i just avoid watching videos of tech next to mine hehe... i need to upgrade soon my 64gb deck and a 1tb ssd isn't in the plan
@@danh2716 haha
@@danh2716 was watching this, my wife came over and whispered into my ear " no steam deck for you" 😔
Nintendo switch is garbage lmaoooooooooo
I’m someone who modded my psp back in the day for emulation. This is my dream situation. I bought the 64gb steam deck based on your earlier videos. 512gb ds card. This system has been everything I wanted and more. Now the hardest part, deciding which game I play first.
Same here. The Steam deck is perfect for emulation.
Same here bro. I modded my Steam deck and they make it so easy.
How well do gamecube games play, like twilight princess?
@@russellmuscle7434 dolphin runs good. I’m not sure about other emulators tho
just ordered the 64 gb model too! Going to be mostly for portable emulation. Switching the SSD for future upgrades looks fairly simple too! So excited!
I think the Steam Deck is the best thing to happen to indie devs in a while. I played most of my indie games on this thing that i had trouble getting into with my big desktop
So true! I often buy indie games just out of principle to support the creator, the Steam Deck actually gave me the opportunity to even play them!
@@seeibe is it worth buying only for that matter do you think?
@@sukruyildirim70 Sure. There are enough indie games out there to carry it. It really comes down to whether you enjoy the feel of the device.
@@sukruyildirim70 if you have a backlog the 399 version seems worth it
Have you heard of the switch? I don’t know what world y’all PC gamers live in
I liked the explanation in the beginning about the difference in available chips on the market. The other features mentioned like easy control customization and desktop mode have come in very handy.
Agreed on your point about playing more of the backlog vs PC. Some of the "bundle" games that piled up over the years practically feel like they were made for this thing. Has been great fun.
I've beaten more games on my OnexPlayer (an 8" steam deck like device) since I bought it a few months ago than I have in years combined. So many games feel perfect lounging around without needing to take up the TV
Jesus look at how ugly Resident Evil 3 look on that 800p screen, sad you have to play PC games looking that disgusting.
@@zZiL341yRj736 wow you mad cuz people having fun without you?
There's TONS of older games that look so much better at 720p, which makes them look great on the Steam Deck instead. Bayonetta 1 is a very good example of this.
@@zZiL341yRj736 bruh... Some people play games for fun. You should try that sometimes.
There's another good reason why the Deck will keep getting good support. Valve earns with Steam sales, so they want the device to continue satisfying the user to encourage usage of the Steam service.
The steam deck turned me into a pc gamer again. I just can’t do long gaming sessions anymore, so the sleep function and portability of the deck changed everything for me.
Sounds like it will make it more difficult for you to quit gaming.
@@folksurvival What a weird thing to say. Why would I want to stop doing something I enjoy, and why do you feel compelled to phrase it as if it’s an addiction?
Why are you even here if that’s your mindset?
@@derp195 "What a weird thing to say."
Not really, no. You implied that the device was allowing you to fit in more gaming sessions to which I pointed out that doing such would only encourage more gaming.
@@folksurvival With the presupposition that gaming is inherently bad, and something everyone should aim to quit.
Yes, less of a barrier to play allows for more short sessions here and there. As an extremely busy person with side projects, a small business, and a family, I greatly appreciate something that allows me to still play video games during my short, sporadic windows of down time.
What made your comment a weird thing to say was that you're commenting in a gaming community with the idea that gaming is akin to smoking or drinking too much. Again, why are you here if that's your mindset?
@@derp195 "With the presupposition that gaming is inherently bad, and something everyone should aim to quit."
Well yes, of course, they should.
"...the idea that gaming is akin to smoking or drinking too much."
Well it is, albeit in a slightly different way. So is watching porn, gambling, eating junk food etc.
Also their OS update notes are very detailed, and my discontinued Steam Link I bought quite a few years ago still gets updated by Valve to this date, this is really encouraging!
Bought myself one as a first ever gaming PC. And this thing is amazing!
Have had the steam deck for 2 months but still find myself watching these videos
I was legitimately about to invest into a Switch OLED, but after hearing non stop about the Steam Deck and doing enough research and seeing this video, I'm sold, I'm buying steam deck instead.
Although down the line I might buy a a used normal switch just to play Nintendo exclusives online with other switch users.
Edit: Bought it. Best gaming and most innovative experience I've had since first trying the Wii. Every day I'm tinkering with the steam deck, and finding out something new that makes my gaming experience better.
Like I know to the PC Mastercare this ain't shit, but being able to map multiple functions to a single button but also let you activate them under certain and different conditions, is honest some sorcery to me, it's so simple yet so genius. Like if you play Apex Legends on Steam deck on a gamepad, theres a solution to not being about to push to talk for mic.
Dont get me started on the prices on games. 13 dollars for MK11 ultimate edition that currently retails at 60 bucks lmao.
I can talk about this for hours lol.
A complete wipeout lol. It even emulates switch so with the deck you basically have the switch. Not sure about it being able to play online with other switches though but who cares lolll
@@zillo4449 You cant play online. And a lot of ppl care, this guy included haha. I love the SD obviously, but I still love and need the Switch. Hopefully one day they do what MS is doing and what Sony reluctantly took so long to do and let me officially play their first party games on PC so I can enjoy crossplay.
@@zillo4449 “A complete wipeout” Dude are you nuts the switch oled is WAY better
@@zillo4449 not only can you not play online there’s no cloud saves unless you have a switch the steam deck is garbage the switch probably sells more in one week than the steam deck in its entire lifetime
It completely exceeded my expectations and pushed the handheld market forward like no other device. I'm glad Valve had a bit of experience with hardware (like the steam link or controller) that allowed them this entire endeavour.
Ooh! Ooh! I just ordered mine and it's coming next Tuesday! Watching this whole video right now.
Just got my 512GB NVME version and I absolutely love the device. I mainly play older PC games and will use this for all my console style games going forward, but will keep the main gaming rig for my Total War and other keyboard/mouse games.
A surprisingly good use for the steam deck is blender. With the track pads and steam input being so ridiculously customizable. I can use blender on a device that I can chill in bed with, no mouse or keyboard required
Do you actually do that often? Do you do it to be productive? Or is it more of just that you can do it so you tried it out?
@@bnr32jason yes, interested in the answer. Can you be as productive compared to working in computer?
@@bnr32jason I've used blender on and off for years. But recently, I started wirking long hours and that makes it less appealing to sit at my desk afterwards. So I've been hoping for a blender ipad port so I can use it on the couch comfortably. But blenders open source so that's probably never gonna happen. But with the steam deck, it's gonna be the main way I use blender from now on. Like I said, steam input makes it possible for me to include every shortcut key I need. That combined with its portability makes it easy to model in bed. It'll take a bit to get used to the controls, but once you do. It's pretty fast
@@sahabatgamerID I wouldn't say it's more productive per say. But I'm the type of person that really appreciates convenience, especially when I comes to my platforms for creative work. So for me, I'm gonna get more done om the steam deck. It depends on if you're okay with getting used to the controls
@@christianr.5868 Are you talking about using Blender on the Steam Deck's screen? Or connecting it to a portable monitor sitting next to you? I can't imagine it will be at all productive trying to 3D render things on a 7" 1280x800 display.
This is such a well rounded review, i really appreciate the honesty and depth of information you give us.
I am glad you put both reasons. After hearing both I've decided to get one. Thanks and subd.
I think the most impressive thing about the deck is the ease of repair. Everything has a separate board and its connected to the console with screw other boards with ribbon cables. This is super uncommon for any handheld. I don't think any recent handheld is as easy to repair as the steam deck.
my GPD Win 4 is easy to repair cracked screen just use a suction cup to pull out screen and replace it with oled one with smaller bezels
I’m definitely planning on buying a mid range steam deck when I get the money. I have several games on steam that I can’t play on my pc that I can on my mac and vice versa so being able to play most of my library on one device is a big selling point for me.
No, go for the cheapest model if you can. You can exceed both the mid range Steam Deck and the Premium one by just paying $86 for a 512GB SSD and $6 on Antiglare screen covers.
Buy the cheapest one
This was the video that finally convinced me to take the plunge. Great overview!
One of my friends has a Mac and has been admiring PC gaming for a while but just never bought a PC. I feel like this is the perfect gateway for him since it's less expensive than a traditional PC and it has the console experience most people are accustomed to.
Definitely the ultimate handheld device. Really good way to play older titles too, given the increased internal resolution and such.
Super HD Gamecube games 👌
Awesome review! I completely agree with everything being said! One thing I can recommend if you are going to use the Steam Deck as your primary computer is to buy an external SSD together with a dock (or the JSAUX SSD dock). For me, I boot from the ext. SSD when I am working (using the fully fledged Linux distribution Manjaro). Because, even though SteamOS is great for gaming and general computing, it's rather limiting for professional use. Also having a clear distinction-, and being able to switch between "work environment" and "entertainment" is a great strategy to become more productive as well. The great side effect of replacing your work desktop with a Steam Deck is that it sips minimal amounts of power 1~10W. mostly hovering around 3watts in desktop mode, yet offering great performance for everyday use!
Great idea! That's what I would do as well. Which version did you get?
@@Eli4life I actually decided to go with the 64GB since it covers my gaming needs, and I could potentially upgrade it further down the line as I am comfortable with repairs. Currently ALL games are installed on a 512GB SD card, I mostly play indie games (29x installed), emulation (several 100x), older AAA/backlog titles (20x) and a couple of AAA titles are installed at a time (3x currently)... As you can see, you can fit quite a lot of games onto a 512GB SD card. The device is not particularly slower than the SSD when loading games or navigating in DeckUI (however, it is less snappy when doing multiple IO operations in desktop mode). But when I really need responsiveness from a desktop OS. I will still boot from an external SSD instead. :) This is limited to the interface. ~780MB/s for my external enclosure, but that's not really a problem, since access times are equally snappy and honestly offer 99.8% of the normal SSD experience. :)
As someone who loves their deck, my main issue with it was QC. My first deck had numerous button issues so I got an RMA, and my replacement had the same exact issues, plus one new one. I didn't want to deal with RMA anymore so I opened it up, shaved some plastic off the case to fix a mushy trigger, used a shim to fix my loose bumper, and sanded down the stick housings so I wouldn't grind my sticks. Kinda sucks I had to go through this just to get a deck I feel I should have had out of the box. That being said, now that I have gone through the pain I am left with one of the greatest gaming handhelds of all time. I just really hope they improve the QC issues for a possible Steam Deck 2. No one should have to RMA 5 times or go through the lengths that I did just to be happy with their device.
I remember hearing about people doing similar modifications to the Nintendo 2DS when it came out. The buttons and things were often poorly constructed and people were cutting plastic and adding tape inside and such. I guess they had to save costs somewhere. At least the Deck is pretty repairable and well-documented.
I'm traveling next month and trying to keep it light, I realised that instead of taking my laptop to copy/backup my GoPro footage, I can just copy the files to my deck using desktop mode via a USB reader. I'll skip taking my laptop! Such a versatile device. I imported one from the UK to Japan but still have my Japanese reservation (those have not shipped yet).
I am glad that they seem to be sticking with this product. I feel like they gave up on the steam link and steam controllers too prematurely. I actually love my steam controller quite a bit.
Me to!!!
My ultimate dream is that the SD2 uses the same form factor as the first. They could just upgrade the mobo and get gains. Then they could make that board upgrade available for those of us who are comfortable working on our systems, letting us turn a SD1 into a SD2.
I just want a OLED screen in the new one and then it'd be absolutely perfect
Oh I would love to have just a motherboard replacement!
You could sell your old SD and buy a SD2. I understand what you mean and I thought about this myself but then the old boards need to be sold and transplanted into other SD. I don't want to see old SD boards out of use.
But yeah, the SD2 has to use the same form factor!
@@Deinorius Yeah I realized that as well. Framework at least made sure their boards could be used outside of the chassis.
@@dustojnikhummer turn your old SD MB into a console/mini PC too.
One of my favorite things I've done is set up to play world of warcraft on the steam deck. Including configure a custom control setup (yes I know a mod exists to add controller support but it messed with playing on my main computer). The control interface and how customizable it is really sets this thing apart.
Well, I'm convinced, going to be a early xmas present for myself, appreciate the vid.
I'm very fortunate since I'm from the UK and live there, when SD became available I bought it straight away and I'm already completing games that I bought long ago on steam and games that I've bought recently on steam as well as on my SD. I also agree the ergonomics on the SD is impressive, the feel is just from heaven.
I might finally play skyrim when I get it on my birthday fr
I keep getting more and more tempted on the Steam Deck. All of it's competitors are unfavorably high in price in comparison, at least if you want similar or better performance. Then there's the fact I recently learned that through some software, you can use it like a Wii U gamepad while emulating Wii U games on your desktop (which, btw, would love to see a video on if it's up your alley).
I agree this is cheaper than that onexplayer 1s 5700u or i7 1195 G7 ... I'll buy it at $599 for a 1.6 TeraFLOP gaming handheld that's a portable PS4 launched console in your hands! 😂
If it can play everything from Nintendo Switch Back Compat is a steal. Cause I haven't own a Nintendo since N64.. also wanna know if it can play all DS library, 3DS, GBA , GameCube, Wii, Wii U, ..
PS1/PS2 , PSP PS vita is a no Brainer for 500 600 bucks usd Dock it up on a big screen got better hardware then a Switch..
I use my deck multiple times a day. Sometimes I have to grab hold of it first thing in the morning. It feels so good and solid in my hands. I've even started inviting one of my bros over so he can play with my deck as well. I was a bit nervous at first so I just had him watch me use it awhile before he decided he needed it. He knows how to handle a deck like a champ. I should buy one of these steam deck things they look fun.
🤣🤣🤣
Definitely had me in the first 3/4ths of the comment
Ayo
Love the Gundam artwork! Planning on getting a Steam Deck for Christmas!
Thanks for this video. It's was ironic when you talked about emulation. My situation was very similar to yours. I bought my first Steam Deck and was so happy with the PC gaming experience that I didn't touch emulation for the first three months or so. But when I got my second Steam Deck, I started diving into emulation and was totally blown away by how capable it is with emulation. Also, I spent years using the Steam Controller on PC and loved it. It effectively killed my mouse and keyboard usage for good. To see what is effectively the Steam Controller 2 built into the Steam Deck is nothing short of phenomenal. The Steam Input customization options are hands down better than any other competitor currently. Perfect? No. Good? Indeed.
the ergonomics of the steam deck are crazy. i was nervous it was going to be way too big, feel clunky, and be way too heavy. i figured i’d just have it docked all the time.
then i actually got it, and it immediately fit well. comparing this to the switch which after 4 years of owning i still don’t feel comfortable playing portably
Funny how after the switch release I thought it was just a gimmick to play on home and off road but I find myself playing only on handheld mode even when I’m at home
The Switch really requires a grip to play in handheld mode.
@@Visethelegend I feel some level of satisfaction with people realizing how comfortable playing portable is when before everyone basically told me I'm wrong and portable devices like the Switch will never take off. I knew instantly the Steam Deck would be more comfortable than the Switch due to how it was shaped.
It's far more comfy than the Switch. That thing hurts my hands.
Switch has plenty of controller and grip options. You can't say it's not comfortable when you can use whatever you prefer. Same can't be done with steam deck
I don't think i want a deck 2, but if Valve gets benefits from it then i am happy.
They really did a great job for Linux, emulation and the PC gaming landscape as a whole.
Don't want a deck 2? Whaaat bruh
@@ntactime_w3488 im in the same boat. To much hassle to try and sell the old one to buy the newer one or just let it sit and collect dust, forgotten. Overall, the SD fix all the needs atm.
Sorry but that’s just how technology works. If the steamdeck solves all the problems you have then just simply… don’t replace it.
It would be nice if you could just buy something and have it work forever, but until we can do fully realistic live 3d rendering for hours and hours on a mobile device that just isn’t the case, there are always things to improve.
@@ntactime_w3488 i don't have a lot of cash sitting around, i had to save up for a year to get mine lol
@@ntactime_w3488most people don't feel the need to have the shiniest thing.
Wow. Exceptional writing here outright. Well done. Instantly subscribed. Cheers, Taki.
It literally bridges every sort of gaming in existence. You can play Nintendo games unofficially, you can play a bunch of PS and Xbox games officially meaning online functions, you can play PC games, mobile/android games and retro games with emulation. You can bring it on the go or connect it to a tv and play at home. And on top, you can play current gen games and you can use the steam deck as a real PC! It does everything.
This is literally every gamers/tech's dream.
Literally got my Steam Deck today, only took about 6 days from ordering to arrive. I'm new to PC gaming and recently purchased Metal Gear Solid V the Phantom pain for £3.99 off CD Keys, it looks and plays so good on the Steam Deck.
Mgsv is incredible. Playing it the deck is even better.
You do not necessarily need a dock, you can get a dongle and just stick it in there and you can get a case for your SD with a kickstand that'll allow your SD to stand on it's own. That's what I did with my SD.
The issue with the dongles is for a good one they can be close to the price of an entry level dock and the dock is just so much nicer to look at and have somewhere to put the Deck.
this is what I'd do if I ever get a deck
just maybe beware to not stress the usb c port too much bcs of the dongle
I dont think that’s possible the type c port is fucking legit and sturdy
@@bnr32jason there are already third party docks that does the same thing for half the price. just takes a couple of mins googling.
@@hailgod1 did you mean to talk to me? I'm confused.
Just bought one a few minutes ago. Looking forward to it!
I ordered mine yesterday, I am now binging every steam deck video 😂😂 man I love portable consoles, I am a collector and steam deck a lovely new one to my collection
I have had my steam deck for 3 months and it's everything I wanted. I use it at a vanilla level without emulators or mods just games from the stream library and it's worth it. Even if you don't have a PC or are thinking about this over other consoles I would suggest it because having access to the steam store for the sales will be worth it. Also, Oblivion is the best Elder Scrolls, change my mind.
This is an encouraging comment! I’ve unhappily held off Steam for years because I don’t have (and don’t need) a gaming PC. I was worried the cost of the deck might be wasted on someone like me who isn’t going to mod the device or combine it with desktop gaming. Time to start saving…
Yes.. I just get
games from the store ..there are so so many games unlike switch when it launched , not much games .. and expensive .. bring me back to play pc games
I hope Valve does everything they can to reduce the hit of resale value by creating 3D printable files that allow you to put your Deck's old motherboard into a tiny case to turn into a PC and sell motherboard/heatsink upgrade kits to just replace the one in Deck V1 when Deck V2 comes out.
That drawing fresh! The cover of the joint
to be honest, i dont agree with the steam deck being seen as a handheld that can play switch games............... thats just straight out a crime. dont want to sound like someones grandmother here, ofcourse im a gamer myself, and ofcourse i also played roms. but hacking switch roms in this time of year, thats just too early. thats piracy in its top form. and its illegal.
the roms i play are the old ones, from games that are not being sold in stores anymore, i play roms up to the Wii, but not from newer systems. actually i did own most games physically when i was young, and some games were hard to get in the place i grew up (for example StarFox adventures on gamecube) so thats why i turned to some roms.
but i would personally never get a steam deck to play switch games on. just doesnt feel right, besides, all the work arounds you got to do, its just more legit to play Zelda on the console it is made for. i can play all zelda's on my pc also, but playing it on the switch feels just so much better, because then its like how the devs designed it to be, and when you use roms and hacks and whatever to make them work, its always somekind of fake/ not to mention missing textures and artifacts you can get. i just dont think its fair to compare.
same like playing ps5 and xbox x games on pc/laptop, and then saying pc is better. its just a total different system that makes the experience around the game complete.
Thank you finally someone who makes sense
Getting a deck for christmas, will buy a deck 2 the second it is here! I hope that we can get a better CPU, a 1080p OLED screen with 90hz (or even 120hz), and a better battery, other than that it is awesome.
very informative, subbed.
Mines come Tuesday and I can't wait 😁
I've been committed to waiting for SD2 because I'd like an OLED or equiv, but the platform is clearly awesome.
Don’t wait, get the 512GB version since the color is more saturated and not washed out. I have MacBook Pro, iPhone 14 Pro and the SD screen definitely holds its own, no compromise as far as my eyes can tell lol. I don’t understand why people keep asking for OLED when the screen is absolutely gorgeous
Dude, i have had mine for over two weeks i can say that the system is a beast and the best tech product i have bought in a long time.
I'm in the same situation as you, going through a very, very large backlog. For me its so appealing because I can pick it up, put it down, and move around so easily, and I can play while my TV is doing something else.
I only take it outside the house if I'm going somewhere for an extended period of time, hours or days, not worth the risk imo to take it outside otherwise.
Ordered my Deck on a Saturday and had it in my hands Wednesday! Also I live in Canada and it was shipped from USA.
Valve has done the justice to handheld gaming. Can't wait for Steam Deck 2!
Steam Deck 2?
I wish they release a Steam Deck Mini as big as my GPD Win 4 but without the keyboard that adds to the bulk lol
The steam deck does look awesome, and I am very glad that it has had this much success. I was considering buying one, but I am in that same situation that I need something smaller. I eventually plan on getting a small form factor windows hand held, debloating it, and lowering the process count to get the most performance out of it.
How do you debloat it and lower the process count?
@@jeffreyali1456 I primarily know how to do this on Windows. Chris Titus of Chris Titus Tech makes a debloat script that can be accessed using a command in powershell.
His guide on how the script works can be found here on youtube.
I have also seen other videos where people use custom versions of Windows such as ggOS, or AtlasOS, that help raise performance in maximum frame rates by about an average of 10 frames, and minimum frame rates by about an average of 20 frames. At least from what I can recall.
With that said, I don't know if games naturally have better performance on SteamOS since it is based off Linux, and Linux by nature is less resource intensive than Windows. Hence the need to debloat Windows.
@@theretrogamers7690 I’ll check it out, cause I haven’t seen anyone debloat windows for the steam deck before and I want to make sure I don’t do anything that could harm it in the process
@@jeffreyali1456 Well, is your Steam Deck running SteamOS or Windows? Don't they come with SteamOS preinstalled? If so, I don't know if there is a need to debloat.
@@theretrogamers7690 I’m running windows on the internal ssd cause it works better without having to use my microsd card. I liked the steam OS UI and all, but Linux has been problematic for pirating and transferring my emulators and save data so I wiped it and added windows. It was only recently that steam recently release the SteamOS UI on windows. But it’s still in beta mode and a good chunk of features aren’t available yet so I have to wait until the official drops.
@14:49 Yes I think this is still perfectly solid advice, I followed it (inadvertently I'll admit). I'm from a region without the SteamDeck available for sale, I bought a used 512GB for the price of the 64GB, and I am perfectly happy with what I purchased,
I ordered mine as soon as there wasn't a wait, got it in 3 days and love it
I like the steam deck, but I would like to have some headroom, while the APU undoubtedly is very capable I would wait a couple more years and buy either a revision 2 or a Steam Deck 2, and honestly I'd keep those 400 dollars for now, my 2080 super is showing its years a bit, and it won't hold on for long with my 2k/4K setup
I have had my Steam Deck for half a year now and if you are thinking about getting one - do it. It is amazing.
Can it handle Switch games?
@@lexbeltran1354 it can emulate the switch pretty well, but performance depends on the game. Most run great, but for example for Breath of the Wild, you should emulate the WiiU version, because that runs better
@@lexbeltran1354 but remember that this is a Steam console, so natively it's designed to run PC games from Steam.
It is a great emulation device, but just keep in mind that there are a few steps necessary to get that running and that some emulated games will not work
Adding thermal pads to the Vram, changing the pads on the vrms and on apu heatsink and as well as changing the paste allows it to boost its clocks higher.
It's the perfect device for anyone that is willing to engage in research and the most fun is had when you Tinker Tamper and Tweak. It truly feels like personal console.
I don't own a steam deck but my Odin Lite has given me a similar experience with playing and really enjoying games on handheld that I didn't really feel like playing sitting at my PC
Same! Have you tried Castor!? RGC did a video on it. th-cam.com/video/2kewJ7dyrgk/w-d-xo.html
I'm LOVING my Odin base now, I can stream my games from my pc in a virtual machine and still have my pc able to use. That is a game changer for me. I'm playing PS3, Wii-U, Xbox etc and with streaming I'm easily getting 10 hours of play time. I don't think a steamdeck can last that long.
@@KyleRuggles this is a good use case I see little people actually getting into. Running a VM to keep the remote host usable is awesome. In fact, for at home usage this is by far the best solution with any decent wifi performance.
@@lucascarracedo7421 Yeah man! Like I see all these steamdeck video's, I haven't seen them really talk about using it outside of the home and the battery life. Then I see video's of "how to get the most out of this game on the steamdeck" and I'm like... why don't you just stream it from your pc? No need to fiddle around with settings to get the fps and graphics just right, no need to drain your battery, just stream the thing lol.
Castor is AMAZING! I can't praise it more than I already have. A VM on your pc, which you can stream to and STILL use your pc? That's BIG!
I see ETA's video's on these small form factor pc's with 24 cores! Like.. I see multiple pc's with all those cores!
I'm even able to stream outside of my house, limit my video to 8mbit/s since I have a 30/10mbit cable connection, and with H265/HEVC it still looks sooo sharp at 1080p 60fps. And with moonlight, I don't feel any latency.. it's like I'm playing right on my Odin, natively. It's a game changer and I wish more people knew of this app.
@@KyleRuggles Yes. Totally agree. I do this with ProxMox and a multi GPU system so every member of the family can run their own remote VM from any place they want.
there's value in getting games to run properly on a device like the Deck or any other handheld of course. Sometimes the connection isn't ideal and for some games that's preferred. But for my particular use case streaming from my own systems covers at least 90% of my needs. While also getting much better performance and battery life.
Sadly, people hear streaming and run away, not understanding that this is not the same as remote game streaming but is mostly happening locally.
@@KyleRuggles the Steam Deck can last 8-10 hours while Streaming in ideal situations. Mine actually lasted for just over 9 hours playing a Visual Novel game (Doki Doki Literature Club) while on a long international flight. I could have plugged it in, but I didn't want to, wanted to see what it could do when playing at super low TDP and GPU settings.
Ive had my deck a few months now. I use it daily and love it
Just ordered… This video and the comments GETTIN ME SO EXCITED
I am loving the My Deck. I have been playing genshin impact in it by having installed windows on an SD card, and of course emulators in steam os and its a blast. It really is way better than what i expected and i love it. I am only waiting on official support for some games, like genshin of course, so i dont have to bootup windows anymore. Not like its a bad experience, on the contrary, it works surprisingly well, but i like Steam OS interface and ecosystem, and would love to be able to just stay there instead of having to dual boot.
The SteamOS UI is actually available on windows but it’s on a beta. When the official one drops, it’s gonna be the best of both worlds
Epic really needs to get that stick out of their ass and stop hating linux, people have made proton packages for epic launcher but I’ve had limited success trying to use them on my pc so it seems you’ll have to do some finicky work to get it going, but perhaps you can find a different one that will be easier to work with.
Bro bought a steam deck to play genshin 💀🙏
@@rex_24 bro’s still hating a game because of the art style
@@DeepfriedBeans4492 no just cause of the game in general. its a bad game 😂
When I bought this device I actually came to the conclusion that handheld game consoles are kinda useless if you don't use public transportation often. If I have time to sit down and game, I'm just going to use my PC or a console. The Steam Deck is a well executed system though and I'm still a fan.
Just ordered one. Thanks
Got a gaming pc. Always on the go. Getting mine in a few days can't wait. Only issue I have is that bezel
I've never finished so many games as in the months that I have it, sitting next to my wife, compared to the rest of my life. After 9..12 hours working behind a computer, you want to sit next to your wife, her watching whatever she wants, and me playing games like Empyrion .
About the number: a month ago it was stated on a kde talk that it was over a million. (KDE is the desktop part used on deck. There is a nice talk about it, describing how Valve started supporting them without revealing anything about the deck).
I am one of those people who unfortunately spent $850 on eBay to get a 512GB variant during the first month of its launch. Still to this day, I do not regret it. I love my Steam Deck so much. What I really want to do now is get a 2TB SSD internal storage, but I’m afraid I might mess up, lol.
Check the interweb. Someone was going for 3TB in the steam deck. Your goal might not be that farfetched
you won't mess up if you remember to remove your microsd first. 2tb 2230 might be too expensive right now though
I spent that much all in all on my Deck after buying more storage and accessories. Well worth it. If this thing was $1000 I would probably still considering buying it. Considering you can get a deck for $400... that price in insane.
2230 2tb is not on the consumer market yet. I'd wait for it to hit regular stores for the pricing to go down.
Sunk cost fallacy
I love the steam deck currently playing gamepass cloud on it. And it is amazing! And I play assassins creed odyssey which is installed on the steam deck. Runs amazing. It’s a dream device, it’s unreal to play open world games with this device!
I have seen hundreds of steam deck videos and this one is the most informative one. It solidified my decision to buy a Steam Deck for good reasons
Being able to pull out a gaming handheld device and play games during lunch break at work is indeed nice.
Agreed, anywhere in my opinion is create to just be able to play PC games anywhere really.
Pull out of what? A backpack? I'd die of embarrassment bringing this bigass skateboard thing to work with me.
You act like the switch doesn’t exist what is wrong with y’all
@@dimes305 it exists but it sucks
@@Ahab2710 have you ever owned a switch
It's alright but it has too many downsides like having a battery that can only last around two hours if you're lucky and remember it's supposed to be portable. All things considered it's better if you just buy a laptop at least that way you can play PC games on the go
Honestly you aren't going to get "portable " laptops in the 350£-500£ range nor one as powerful as a steam deck at £350 (but honestly it not that bad imo). I have a 15.6 ch laptop that i bought for £500, I don't really consider it portable enough to carry it with ease and not feel like it will break.
There are only a few really portable laptops like the surface laptop go 2 with a nice small form factor and screen but that costs £629 and only has 128gb storage. But honestly there isn't a lot and they are mostly quite underpowered.
As for the battery, have you used a laptop at that price range, it doesn't really last 10 hours, more like 2-3 if you are doing gaming and at low settings 720p usually with occasional stutter.
Nevertheless I wouldn't get a steam deck as I dislike Linux and it's just too big, also the storage space in the base model is just too bad and at the higher options you are just left wondering why not buy a laptop as laptops at that price range honestly are pretty alright, you can get a cheap gaming laptop near the price of the highest tier steam deck, though they are bulky and aren't really portable, they are extremely more powerful with a dedicated gpu.
my friend was diagnosed with leukemia the other day. im ordering him one of these as an early Christmas present for him to use in the hospital. it'll be perfect.
Great video, as always. I think I want to get one, but I hope in the future the Deck gets native support for Xbox Game Pass and Epic Games, so I can DL my games through those places. Yes, I know about the Dual Boot option.
I love my 256 GB SteamDeck 🔥 I love the ergonomics of it & Emudeck is great, been playing GameCube/Dreamcast/3DS & PSP games perfectly
You know what has even better ergonomics for playing 3DS games? 3DS.
@@graalcloud no… not really 💀
@@TheUncannyOne - Sure, it's always going to be better to play 3DS games on a SteamDeck. Although it does not have 3D, nor two screens, not even touchscreen... 😂
@@Snipeador The SteamDeck is touch screen? Lol & I have both the 3DS & SteamDeck & I love the ergonomics & you can do hacks/other things
@@Snipeador I get it, I love both honesty lol
Despite it's age, a 3ds is also quite a good pocketable option
I still use my DSi fairly regularly, I still have a decent sized backlog and emulating dual-screen systems is always a little janky IMO.
The 3ds might unironically be the best gaming machine ever made pound for pound.
@@laststep56 lol
@@laststep56 What a strange joke.
For the emulation and modding people I feel 3DS is still a much better option than Steam Deck. It's just way more practical and better designed in my opinion. If you can manage to get a dual IPS 3DS then take care of it.
Absolutely incredible and informative video thank you for this also...where did you get that panda holding up that sword?🙏
thanks for the vid! would mind making a video with a list of the top games for steam deck from your own steam library?
Remember that the base Steam Deck is only $400 to some. Import duties raise it for others.
This is the sole reason that bugging me from picking up SD, in my country it got hiked to $600 for 64GB variant.
The best part of the Steam Deck to me......I trust it. I have a LOT of the chinese portables out there and I'm ALWAYS wondering when I shut it off....will this effin thing ever turn back on in the same way I left it, and if it doesn't, will it take months to get it back from RMA.
Great thorough and thoughtful review! I already have Steam Deck but have not used it yet due to too busy with too many games on Switch and PS5.
I’m just enjoying my steam deck. Still interested to see what happens with deck in the future and the possible future devices.
I find the future of the deck (and handhelds in general) more interesting than the future of home consoles.
AyaNeo Fish looks like a refined Steam Deck lol
The big dealbreaker for me about the Deck is the OS lends itself poorly to third party launchers. There's games in my GoG library that don't run at all on Deck, and there's even certain games that are native to Steam Deck that you have to find work arounds for, like Fall Guys. The OS is tailored to keep you in Valve's ecosystem, incentivizing you to buy games on their platform over other launchers. I personally don't like that kinda thing, as my GoG library is my main library when it comes to PC gaming, and overall, I just don't like that kind of a walled garden effect.
I would have to disagree with you. This device is not a walled garden at all, it gives users a simple UI to understand for mainstream use and allows anyone without restriction to mod it as they wish. There's absolutely nothing stopping you from modding, customizing and using any launcher you want. There's no walls stopping you so you can't say this at all. What you're experiencing could be solved by installing windows or a different Linux version. But as I said, valve isn't stopping you from doing any of these things.
Valve is the company to support. While I've grown to love my $90 Switch Lite during the past month, Steam Deck is the Vita 2 that Sony never gave us. Valve has the far better ecosystem than Nintendo.
I will be waiting for the Steam Deck 2 or perhaps a Lite version of the Deck 1. Just like I'm waiting for a PS5 slim since getting the smaller versions since the DS Lite in 2007. I prefer to pack as little as possible.
The sequels for devices tend to be much better...
Genesis/Mega Drive (Sega's 3rd console)
Super NES/Super Famicom
PlayStation 2
Xbox 360
Even Switch got better with OLED. Patience, waiting for price drops, waiting for a revised model, and a maturing library are the keys to all this.
The fact I have access to almost every PC game ever made is just mind boggling. And best of all every game you buy on Steam will be accessible to you unlike the eshop which will stop support and shutdown eventually. So you don't have to worry about your games. It's also so cool being able to buy a game on pc and then also having it be portable naturally especially when you consider brand new AAA games work for it too
@@ADreamingTraveler yea but steam doesn’t have Fortnite
I mostly play through my iVoler dock using my monitor. A wireless mouse with a USB Nano Receiver works nicely with one of the dock's USB Type-A ports. A Bluetooth keyboard is the way to go. It doesn't cover the spot you're trying to type in like the onboard one. My Xbox controller connects via Bluetooth also. It has a Type-C port for the charger that comes with it and a cable that plugs into the Steam Decks Type-C port to connect everything. This was all well thought.
this guy always speak the truth and not being sellout are why i am keep coming back listening on your video. great job my friend!
I've seen a lot of games, especially indie games, been focusing on updating their games on Steam just to be compatible/verified on the Steamdeck.
It's safe to say almost everyone believe in this product and wants it to succeed, all we have to do is wait 3-5 years for more widespread support, just like the early years of the Nintendo Switch.
Lol bro it will never be the switch
Fuck it I’m getting one 😮💨
the bulkiness and no 1080p out is a deal-breaker for me, everyone else enjoy, happy gaming
It’s really not that bulky for me personally and you can output to even a 4K display if you really wanted to
@@brandon_nope its still true 1280×800p even on an 8K display...but most ppl buy this for a handheld anyway. & Im sure retro consoles titles look great too
I’ve been interested in the Steam Deck for a while because I like the idea of a portable device that I can pick up and play my PC Games on, and I also want portable mod support with some of them. Sometimes, I just find booting up my PC a little too much hassle to play my game, especially if I have to go into settings and configure it. I realize that the Deck won’t alleviate that problem but it will probably be better for gaming than my laptop due to performance and because my controllers can be iffy at times. And if that thing plays GameCube games, even better. Portable Pokemon Colosseum. But my main reason is definitely to play PC games with mods installed portably without booting up my computer.
Bought mine for portable emulation and I can honestly say I made the right choice
How can you call this monster ""portable"" though
I don't own one, but I know I definitely want one someday. It sounds great to play steam/PC games on mobile. The only thing keeps me on the Nintendo Switch is because of the Nintendo exclusive games. Like Splatoon:p
Would it be possible for me to use a capture card and somehow get a 1080p output? Because I was thinking of getting a steam deck so I can record indie games like Dead Cells, GRIME, Hades etc as well as emulated games of older generations (wii, wii U, PS2, PS1). Would it be a waste to get one or?
Finally Taki, you are on board
I've really enjoyed my Steam Deck overall over this last ~10 months, but I'm ready to move on to something more premium (and yes, more expensive). I'll really miss the customized SteamOS interface, the user selectable refresh rate, and the peace of mind knowing parts are available if and when I need them. But you mentioned many of the things that are making me want to upgrade, mainly the screen and the performance ceiling. If there was a better IPS panel upgrade available along with an option to run the APU just a few watts higher, I would probably keep it, but with none of that being a feasible reality, I'm going to move on to something better for me. I'm really looking forward to following the Steam Deck's progress with SteamOS and other software/firmware updates. I bought the 512GB Steam Deck and if I was going to buy again today, I would buy the same one. I like just buying something and being able to leave the hardware alone for the most part, I don't want to take it apart to install a bigger SSD, new sticks, etc. I just want to buy something and play, so the 512GB was perfect for me. With that $650 price tag (plus tax), it's getting closer to the $1000 price tag of something like the Ayaneo 2 (thanks for the preview video on that one too!) which has more premium parts and finish while giving up the community support, low TDP performance, and SteamOS.
The Steam Deck is what got me into handheld PC gaming, I only ever did consoles handheld before. Super happy that Valve came out with the Steam Deck, I'm hoping one day they'll offer a "Deck Pro" or just in the next model offer a little more performance, better screen, better sticks, etc. Can't wait to see what the future brings for handheld PC gaming either way, it's an exciting time to be in the space!
I have Steam Deck and GPD Win Max 2, you probably want a 6800U
Good luck getting something from China
@Kasar Hussain first off, I wasn't talking to you, second, I meant privacy wise and warranty wise also build wise
@Kasar Hussain you know I'm right towl head
I bought this Steam Deck cuz of this Review. I Regretted it, It wasnt portable at all. I can only play it if my hands is leaning on table. Cant even use it on bed, unless i face down toward my pillow, but after couple mins, my arms go numb... Switch Lite is still better for portable gaming standing/bed/pooping.
How weak are your arms?
You should consider GPD Win 4.. it's smaller and powerful than steam deck but pricey tho
@@Ryuchillbruh dude no he shouldn’t consider gpd win 4 what’s wrong with y’all pc MF’s just get a switch