Laptops be damned, Valve is gearing up for a new era of mobile PC gaming in the form of their new handheld device the Steam Deck. The handheld device will be powerful enough to run the latest triple A games, with the ability to connect peripherals and transmit gameplay to larger screens.
If you’re tired of carrying around a laptop to play your Steam games on the go, Valve has your answer. The Stream Deck is a new, mobile PC gaming handheld that aims to play the hottest Steam games, comfortably, and with fantastic performance. The system has a 7 inch touchscreen, trackpads aimed at making FPS games more manageable, and a gyroscope meant to make precise movements easier to obtain than using only a thumbstick or trackpad. Below is a brief overview of technical specs for the handheld device:
Computing and Hardware
Processor: AMD APU
- CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32)
- GPU: 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6GHz (up to 1.6 TFlops FP32)
- APU power: 4-15W
RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM (5500 MT/s)
Storage:
- 64 GB eMMC (PCIe Gen 2 x1)
- 256 GB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4)
- 512 GB high-speed NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4)
- All models include high-speed microSD card slot
Video
Resolution: 1280 x 800px (16:10 aspect ratio)
Display size: 7" diagonal
Brightness: 400 nits typical
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Touch enabled: Yes
Connectivity
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0 (support for controllers, accessories and audio)
Wi-Fi: Dual-band Wi-Fi radio, 2.4GHz and 5GHz, 2 x 2 MIMO, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Audio
Channels: Stereo with embedded DSP for an immersive listening experience
Microphones: Dual microphone array
Headphone / mic jack: 3.5mm stereo headphone / headset jack
Expansion Slots
microSD: UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
Software
Operating System: SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
Additional hardware details can be found on the official technical details page. The Steam Deck will be available for preorder through a reservation process Friday, July 16th at 10 AM PDT. Prices for each model are detailed below:
Base model
- Cost: $399.00
- Comes With: 64 GB eMMC and a carrying case.
Middle Tier
- Cost: $529.00
- Comes With: 256 GB NVMe SSD (Faster storage), Carrying Case, and an exclusive Steam Community Profile Bundle.
Top Tier
- Cost: $649.00
- Comes With: 512 GB NVMe SSD (Fastest Storage), Premium Anti-Glare Etched Glass, exclusive Carrying Case, exclusive Steam Community Profile Bundle, and an exclusive Virtual Keyboard theme.
Gamers that choose to reserve their Steam Deck will have to wait for the holiday season later this year before they receive their handheld. Reservations will require a reservation fee, and once your device is available, you will be able to then finalize your purchase. The Steam Deck is slated for release December of 2021. Reservations will be open to customers in the United States, Canada, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
Steam’s vast library on a handheld is certainly appealing, but hopefully Valve’s handheld endeavor fairs better than its previous Steam-link and Steam-Controller hardware devices, both of which have been discontinued. You can check out the Steam Deck in action in a hands-on video from IGN.
