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The Steam Deck has gained immense popularity since it was first released. Valve designed this handheld with a custom AMD chip, which, at the time, delivered decent performance. However, recent handheld launches, such as the ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go, showed us just how underpowered the Deck's chip is. That begs the question — Is the Steam Deck worth buying in 2024, considering the number of other options on the market?
That's what we intend to find in this article. Here's an in-depth analysis of the Deck to better judge the experience it delivers and what kind of performance you can expect.
Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and solely reflect the writer's opinions.
Detailed review of Steam Deck in 2024
The Steam Deck is powered by a custom version of a Linux-based operating system called SteamOS, which is feature-loaded to provide the best handheld experience possible. Although it's a handheld, the device can play almost the entire Steam library on your PC. It boasts enough power to run AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, and even Ghost of Tsushima.
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System specs
There are two Steam Deck models: the original and a refreshed OLED. The new model brings an OLED panel with a slightly larger display size and a higher refresh rate, among other small changes.
Here's the full spec list of the Deck (including the Steam Deck OLED model):
Design and display
The size of the Steam Deck is a bit larger than other handhelds on the market, such as Rog Ally X or the Nintendo Switch. However, it is designed ergonomically and feels quite tactile. Its weight is evenly distributed in the body, which lowers your chances of feeling fatigued. The Deck also comes with a carrying case inside the package.
As for the display, there are two variants. The original variant has a seven-inch 800p IPS display with a 60Hz refresh rate, while the new one has a slightly larger 7.4-inch 800p OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate.
The higher refresh rate of the newer variant will surely provide a smoother experience in supported games. However, most graphically intensive titles will not deliver the framerates needed to reach 90Hz.
The IPS display is great and has decently accurate colors, but it pales in comparison to the OLED variant, which also delivers better contrast and deeper blacks. The new display variant supports HDR, and games with HDR turned on look fantastic.
Performance
To power the device, Valve partnered with AMD to develop a custom AMD "Van Gogh" SoC that delivers decent performance without consuming a lot of power. This APU possesses a quad-core Zen 2 CPU and an octa-core RDNA 2 GPU, boasting enough performance to run many of the latest titles.
This chipset in the original model is manufactured in a 7nm process, while the newer OLED variant comes with a 6nm version of the same chip. Consequently, the latter is slightly faster, produces less heat, and consumes less battery. The difference is tiny and may not be noticeable in every game.
Let's check out how the Steam Deck performs in the latest game titles of 2024:
Note: The FPS numbers were provided by Retro Pocketchannel on YouTube. These games were run at 800p resolution with FSR enabled only where necessary.
As you can see, most 2024 titles run just fine. In graphically demanding titles, the Deck can deliver over 30+ FPS, while lesser graphical releases like WWE 2K24 and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown deliver over 60 FPS.
Some gamers may argue the need for 60 FPS in every title in 2024, but that's subjective. For many, 30 FPS is fine for handheld games, and I agree. That's because, on a smaller screen display, the chances of noticing the difference are less for an average user.
Battery, charging, and ports
The Deck's battery performance varies wildly depending on the model you buy. The original variant has a 40Wh battery and delivers two to four hours of playtime, depending on what game you play. Comparatively, the Deck OLED provides three to six hours of playtime. The efficiency of this chipset variant also had a role in delivering this level of battery backup.
Both models have the same number of ports: one USB Type-C, an SD card port, and a 3.5mm jack. You can connect a keyboard and mouse via a USB Type-C hub, which needs to be purchased separately.
Price
The price of the original Steam Deck starts at $399, which gets you 64GB of storage. The OLED variant begins at $549 and boasts 512GB of storage. I recommend the newer variant since it provides an excellent display, faster chipset, and increased battery life.
Verdict
The Steam Deck is a fantastic handheld device, even in 2024. It can comfortably run most of the latest games with decently smooth framerates. Although not as powerful as ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go, it costs less and has an OLED option.
Considering the different aspects of Steam Deck, I would say it's great and worth it in 2024, but if you prioritize performance, you should choose other options.
