When Valve first announced the Steam Deck, I wasn’t sure what to think. A handheld PC that could run actual Steam games? It sounded too good to be true—especially since PC gaming on the go had always been a nightmare.
Then it launched.
And despite some early jank and battery life issues, the Steam Deck absolutely dominated the handheld gaming space.
Now, every major company is trying to catch up—ASUS, Lenovo, even freaking MSI are making Windows-based handhelds to compete.
But can any of them actually beat Valve at their own game?
Why the Steam Deck Still Rules Handheld PC Gaming
Even with newer, “more powerful” competitors out there, the Steam Deck is still the best handheld PC for most gamers. Here’s why:
1. SteamOS Is Actually Built for Handheld Gaming
Every other handheld PC runs Windows, which is a mess.
- Windows was never designed for handhelds. You’re stuck dealing with bad UI, weird scaling issues, and annoying updates.
- SteamOS, on the other hand, just works. You turn on the Deck, and boom—your entire Steam library is right there, optimized for a controller.
2. The Price-to-Performance Ratio Is Insane
The Steam Deck isn’t the most powerful handheld, but at $399-$649, it’s by far the best deal.
Compare that to:
- ASUS ROG Ally ($699-$799) – More powerful, but Windows jank kills the experience.
- Lenovo Legion Go ($699+) – Giant screen, detachable controllers, but worse battery life than the Steam Deck.
- Ayaneo and MSI handhelds ($800-$1,500) – Good hardware, but way too expensive for what you’re getting.
Valve is selling the Steam Deck at a loss because they make money from Steam game sales. Other companies can’t do that, so their handhelds are way more expensive.
3. The Steam Deck Has Real Developer Support
Since the Steam Deck launched, developers have actually optimized their games for it.
- Steam Deck Verified games make sure the experience is as smooth as possible.
- Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, and Baldur’s Gate 3 actually run well, despite the Deck’s weaker hardware.
- Valve updates SteamOS constantly, improving performance, battery life, and compatibility.
Meanwhile, Windows-based handhelds don’t have this level of support—meaning you have to do all the tweaking yourself.
Where the Steam Deck Falls Short
Even though it’s still the best handheld PC, the Steam Deck isn’t perfect.
- Battery Life Is Still an Issue
- If you’re playing something demanding like Baldur’s Gate 3, expect 2-3 hours max before you need to charge.
- Other handhelds aren’t much better, but this is still the biggest limitation of PC gaming on the go.
- Performance Struggles with Some AAA Games
- The Deck is great for indie games and older titles, but for brand-new AAA releases? You’re dropping settings to Low or Medium.
- The ROG Ally and Legion Go do have better performance, but again—Windows jank makes them frustrating to use.
- No OLED Screen (Yet)
- The Switch OLED proved that a better screen makes a huge difference.
- Rumors of a Steam Deck OLED refresh are floating around, but nothing is confirmed.
Can Anyone Actually Beat the Steam Deck?
Right now, the answer is no—not unless Valve screws up massively.
- The ROG Ally is more powerful, but it’s held back by Windows.
- The Legion Go has a bigger screen and detachable controllers, but its battery life sucks.
- Other handhelds like the Ayaneo series are too expensive for most people.
If Valve releases a Steam Deck 2 with:
- Better battery life,
- A more powerful chip,
- An OLED screen,
- And keeps the price low,
then no one else in the handheld PC space will be able to touch them.
Because the biggest advantage Valve has? Steam itself.
They don’t need to make money off the hardware. They just need to keep people buying games on Steam—and as long as they do that, the Steam Deck will always be the best handheld PC option for most gamers.
The competition might look better on paper, but in the real world?
The Steam Deck is still king.