Valve Steam Deck

Valve Steam Deck Features:

Valve Steam Deck Specifications:

Compute

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 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels)
Storage
64 GB eMMC (PCIe Gen 2 x1)
256 GB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4 or PCIe Gen 3 x2*)
512 GB high-speed NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4 or PCIe Gen 3 x2*)

All models use socketed 2230 m.2 modules (not intended for end-user replacement)
All models include high-speed microSD card slot
*Some 256GB and 512GB models ship with a PCIe Gen 3 x2 SSD. In our testing, we did not see any impact to gaming performance between x2 and x4.

Controls and Input

Gamepad controls
A B X Y buttons
D-pad
L & R analog triggers
L & R bumpers
View & Menu buttons
4 x assignable grip buttons
Thumbsticks
2 x full-size analog sticks with capacitive touch
Haptics
HD haptics
Trackpads
2 x 32.5mm square trackpads with haptic feedback
55% better latency compared to Steam Controller
Pressure-sensitivity for configurable click strength
Gyro
6-Axis IMU

Display

Resolution
1280 x 800px (16:10 aspect ratio)
Type
Optically bonded IPS LCD for enhanced readability
Display Size
7" diagonal
Brightness
400 nits typical
Refresh Rate
60Hz
Touch Enabled
Yes
Sensors
Ambient light sensor

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
Digital
Multichannel audio via DisplayPort over USB-C, standard USB-C, or Bluetooth 5.0

Power

Input
45W USB Type-C PD3.0 power supply
Battery
40Whr battery. 2 - 8 hours of gameplay

Expansion

microSD
UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
External connectivity for
controllers & displays
USB-C with DisplayPort 1.4 Alt-mode support; up to 8K @60Hz or 4K @120Hz, USB 3.2 Gen 2y

Size and Weight

Size
298mm x 117mm x 49mm
Weight
Approx. 669 grams

Software

Operating System
SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
Desktop
KDE Plasma

Frequently Asked Questions about Valve Steam Deck

Steam Cards:

How much is a Steam card in NZ?
There are a few different denominations for Steam Cards such as $20, $50 etc.

Did Steam card have $30?
It depends on the country of purchase whether a particular denomination exists.  For example, in some countries a $30 Steam Card is available, however not in New Zealand.  In Europe you can get a €5 Steam Card.

Is there Steam card of $50?
Yes you can purchase a $50 Steam Card at the Steam Store here: https://store.steampowered.com/digitalgiftcards/selectgiftcard

VS other options:

Which is better Steam Deck or switch?
It depends on the user.  If you are primarily a PC gamer, the Steam Deck would be the better option as you can play your PC and Steam games on the Steam Deck.  However if you are primarily a Nintendo gamer, the games on the Switch might appeal to you more.  Either way, you might find that trying a new platform can introduce you to new games and therefore be just as exciting as sticking with a platform you know.

Is the Steam Deck more powerful than the PS4?
Some sources say that the CPU on the Steam Deck is much stronger than the CPU on the PS4 however the PS4 runs games at 1080p, whereas the Steam Deck operates at 800p so has less resolution to work with.  Both options run just as well as the other when playing similar games.

Is Switch OLED screen better than Steam Deck?
Yes, the Nintendo Switch OLED display is better than the Steam Deck's screen.  However the Steam Deck is much stronger in terms of performance.

Is Steam Deck stronger than PS5?
No, the Steam Deck is not comparable to the PS5 in terms of power.  It is however more powerful than the Nintendo Switch.

Is Steam Deck cheaper than a PC?
Compared to gaming PC's for a similar purpose (ie. playing games), the Steam Deck will be slightly cheaper than gaming PC's.

How powerful is Steam Deck compared to consoles?
There are many elements that add towards overall performance such as CPU and GPU.  As a standalone portable device the Steam Deck delivers a ton of performance power and certainly holds it's own in that regard.

Why buy Steam Deck if you have a PC?
The Steam Deck is a great portable device so if you do not feel like travelling with your PC or gaming laptop, the Steam Deck is a fantastic travel option.

Is Steam Deck stronger than Nintendo Switch?
Yes, the Steam Deck has much stronger performance compared to the Nintendo Switch.

Is the Steam Deck just a PC?
Not quite, the Steam Deck is a standalone handheld device.

Is the Steam Deck better than a laptop?
The Steam Deck is perfect for portable gaming on the go, whereas a laptop is a well rounded option for gaming as well as office work, however it is less portable than the Steam Deck.

Should I get a Steam Deck if I have a gaming laptop?
It depends on whether you are after something compact and portable versus a much larger screen on a gaming laptop.

Regarding Games:

Can you play old games on Steam Deck?
The Steam Deck is perfect for gamers who enjoy playing the latest titles on-the-go, but it's also great for playing retro games. Luckily, there has been a renewed focus on preserving classic video games, so you can find plenty of old titles on Steam that work well with the Steam Deck.

What games can the Steam Deck not play?
Not all games can be played on the Steam Deck due to differences in how they were developed for consoles and the fact that the Deck runs on Linux. However, Valve has made it possible for Windows-based games to be played on the Deck, although some games may not work perfectly.

How many games can Steam Deck play?
There are now well over 7,000 games that are compatible with Valve's Steam Deck, with titles either being 'playable' or fully 'verified'.

Will Steam Deck run all games?
Per Steam - "While many games run great on Deck out of the box, this shift means there are some games that, while they may be great on a desktop PC, aren't a great experience on Steam Deck. We want it to be easy for you to find great gaming experiences on Steam Deck, so we've designed a system to do just that."

Can Steam Deck run Cyberpunk 2077?
Yes! Cyberpunk 2077 has been verified for Steam Deck compatibility.

Can Steam Deck play Xbox games?
No, but there are ways to add a modified Microsoft Edge on your Steam Deck to give yourself access to your Xbox Game Pass games on Steam Deck.

How do I add PC games to my Steam Deck?
On the desktop, go to the Steam client, and click the “add a game” button in the lower left corner, click 'add a Non-Steam game', then find the application you installed in the list. This app will now show up in the Deck UI library under the 'non-steam' tab.

Can I play Epic Games on Steam Deck?
There is a way to install the Epic Games Launcher on your Steam Deck to load Epic Games.

How many games can a Steam Deck hold?
This depends on the storage size of your Steam Deck.  The 64GB model will hold some games while 256GB and 512GB models would hold more.

Does Steam Deck come with free games?
Yes there are a few free games options on the Valve Steam Deck.

Can Steam Deck run Windows games?
Yes, Steam Deck runs on SteamOS, an Arch-based Linux distro with built-in Proton support. You can run almost any Windows game on the Deck using Proton.

General FAQs:

How long can Steam Deck last?
According to Valve, the Steam deck offers a 40Whr battery, which should give you somewhere between two and eight hours of battery life.

Is the Steam Deck battery replaceable?
Yes, Valve has partnered with iFixit which provides replacement parts, including batteries.

Why does my Steam Deck never get to 100%?
According to Steam - If your device has been left on the charger for long periods of time, it may report less than 100% charge. This is normal. We allow the battery to slowly discharge after long periods of time under charge to optimize long-term battery health.

How much RAM does the Steam Deck have?
The Deck includes 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM in a quad-channel configuration, with a total bandwidth of 88 GB/s.

Can you hook the Steam Deck to a TV?
With a USB-C to HDMI adapter, you can connect your Steam Deck to a TV or monitor.

Can Steam Deck output 4K?
The Steam Deck supports resolutions up to 4K (3840 x 2160) at 60hz when docked.

Is Steam Deck handheld only?
The key thing about the Steam Deck, is that while it is a handheld it's also a full Linux PC with a desktop mode. Many docks are available for it from different brands now and even the official Docking Station from Valve is out and has been for about a month now.

Can Steam Deck play offline?
Just like a PC, you'll need to be online to download games and play online multiplayer games. Once a game is installed on disk, you can play while Steam Deck is offline unless the game requires an internet connection.

Can you use Steam Deck as a laptop?
In Desktop Mode, the Steam Deck will default to its own little screen as primary and will use your external monitor as a secondary display. In System Settings, you'll find it refers to its own display as a “Laptop Screen”

Is the 512GB Steam Deck worth it?
Yes, the 256GB and 512GB versions come with M.2 NVMe SSD compared to eMMC chips on the 64GB version, so they have much faster loading times compared to the lower storage option.