Steam Deck is known to be one of the most versatile yet advanced portable consoles, but is Steam Deck worth buying in 2023? Let’s find out.
Valve Steam Deck has given a competitive edge in the handheld gaming consoles, which are still popular due to its compatibility to run almost every PC game from Steam. This console hit the spotlight in February 2022 and was the most compatible console of its time.
The fact that makes Steam Deck worth buying in 2023 is its compatibility to run various games. You can find a wide range of free games for Steam Deck that are also available for PC. In addition to that, Steam Deck also supports Xbox cloud gaming.
With the ability to play almost every PC title on the go, Steam Deck revived the handheld gaming industry. But is Steam Deck worth buying in 2023? That’s what we will discuss in this article by discussing the good and the bad about the console to see if it is still worth buying in 2023.
What We Liked About Steam Deck
Let’s discuss what makes Steam Deck a competitive contender in the handheld gaming industry.
Freedom of Portable Gaming
Steam Deck truly allows you to play your favorite games on the go with its sturdy yet comfy button design. You can even connect various controllers with Steam Deck in docked mode to experience better performance on an external display. The fact that its freedom of gameplay and design form makes Steam Deck worth buying.
Plugins and Mods
Another thing that makes Steam Deck worth buying is its extensiveness with customization and modification. Steam Deck plugins and mods allow you to personalize the console as you please. The Linux-based operating system’s open nature makes it easier for us gamers to deliver a tech-savvy journey to make our console look apart. So, if you’re a gamer like me who wants to show their identity from gaming weapons, you’ll love Steam Deck.
Emulation Support
Steam Deck Emulation also unlocks endless possibilities for you to play games from other consoles. This is a huge win for Steam Deck compared to Nintendo Switch since Valve took advantage of the Linux-based operating system. With the emulation support, your inner childhood gamer will revive as you can play classic games like Pokémon and many more iconic games.
What We Didn’t Like About Steam Deck
Now, let’s talk about a few factors that might give you second thoughts on purchasing Steam Deck in 2023. So here are some reasons and facts that make Steam Deck a rather incompetent console in 2023.
Poor Battery Life
Steam Deck has impressive gaming capabilities and can run high-end games like Grand Theft Auto on a stable 60 FPS. But with great graphics comes great battery consumption. If the Steam Deck’s battery health drops, you can still play games on it for less than 2 hours.
However, there are ways to extend Steam Deck’s battery life to up to 8 hours, which is significantly longer compared to Asus ROG Ally. Still, maintaining a lasting battery life in a handheld gaming console is a lot more challenging as you have to consider portability, too.
No OLED Screen
OLED and 1080p screen display is a big thing for many consoles, and Steam Deck is lacking in this competition. In contrast, the competitor Nintendo released a dedicated Nintendo Switch OLED to keep their head in the game. The sad thing is that Steam Deck’s hardware can output an OLED display, but still, it does not feature a screen for it.
Lacks Many AAA Titles
Even though Steam Deck is packed with high-end games running hardware, it still struggles or does not run some AAA game titles. The major names are Hogwarts Legacy and Starfield, which would be heartbreaking for handheld gaming console fans.
Also, many AAA titles may require compromise on graphics adjustments to run properly on the console. As a result, players may experience poor performance and a significant overheating of Steam Deck.
How Much Does It Cost?
Surprisingly, on the budget end side, Steam Deck is a fairly affordable mid-range handheld consoles compared to its competitors. Here is a breakdown of prices and various console versions you can buy.
Steam Deck 64GB at $399.99
Steam Deck 256GB at $529.99
Steam Deck 512GB at $649.99
If we compare these prices with other handheld gaming consoles like the Asus ROG Ally, it does seem pretty inexpensive. You can barely compromise on gaming, yet you’re getting a great deal compared to other handheld gaming consoles.
Should You Buy Steam Deck in 2023?
Ever since the release of Asus ROG Ally in 2023, I think Steam Deck is not worth buying anymore. If you are looking for a budget-friendly console, you can go for Steam Deck. On the other hand, you may have to compromise on cutting-edge graphics and lack of performance with many AAA game titles.
Final Words
Steam Deck was worth the hype back in 2022 due to its extensive library of games and Linux-supported customization option. However, buying Steam Deck in 2023 is not worth the price since other consoles are taking over the market. Yet, Steam Deck’s price factor and customization features make it a preferable choice for many gamers who are always on the go.
