The Nintendo Switch sparked a revolution, but the Steam Deck ignited the handheld gaming inferno. Suddenly, your entire PC game library, shrunk down and portable, was a reality. This seismic shift didn’t go unnoticed. A wave of challengers emerged, hungry to claim their slice of the pie. Asus, Lenovo, Ayaneo – a new generation of handhelds are vying for your attention, each promising to dethrone the king. Are they worthy contenders? It’s time to find out.
Bored on the bus? Ditch the doomscrolling and dive into adventure! Unleash the power of your Steam Deck with these mustplay titles. Prepare for portable gaming nirvana.
Our Criteria
Hunting for a Steam Deck rival? The handheld gaming market is a wild frontier, but tread carefully. Not every shiny gadget is worth your hard-earned cash. We’ve sifted through the noise to bring you the top Steam Deck alternatives, categorized for your convenience. Get ready to level up your on-the-go gaming.
Performance
The heart of any handheld console beats with processing power. Think CPU, graphics card, and RAM – the holy trinity. While 16GB of RAM is becoming standard fare, the real battle lies in the silicon: the CPU and GPU, where raw processing and graphical muscle determine your gaming destiny.
Display
The screen: your portal to another world. Settle for a pixelated peephole, and you’re shortchanging your adventure. While a 720p display gets the job done on a handheld, true immersion demands more. Feast your eyes on the vibrant clarity of Full HD, the razor-sharp detail of QHD, or the inky blacks and dazzling colors of OLED. Your games deserve nothing less.
Portability
Imagine a portal to other worlds, fitting snugly in your hands. That’s the magic of handheld consoles, where ounces matter and screen size is king. Most weigh less than a hefty sandwich, yet some boast immersive nine-inch displays, large enough to get lost in. But for true adventurers, featherweight champions exist, ready to slip into a pocket and whisk you away on a moment’s notice.
Design and Features
The console’s design is your gateway to gaming bliss. Clunky controls and a boring aesthetic can kill the fun before you even power up. So, what makes a great design? Think intuitive controls, detachable joy-cons for multiplayer mayhem, and a look that screams “future,” not “fridge.” Don’t forget the essentials: a sleek docking station and those all-important USB-C ports. These aren’t just features; they’re the building blocks of an unforgettable gaming experience.
Battery Life
Handheld battery life: a cruel timer ticking down on your gaming fun. Expect a mere two-hour blaze of glory at peak performance, or a stretched-out ten hours if you’re just gently tapping away. In the quest for uninterrupted portable play, knowing which device packs the most power is paramount.
Tip : struggling to make your gaming sessions last? Learn how to improve battery life on your Steam Deck.
User Experience
But the unsung hero of any gaming handheld is its operating system. Forget horsepower; the OS dictates how smoothly you navigate, customize, and ultimately,enjoyyour device. From the sprawling flexibility of Windows 11 to the sleek, proprietary ecosystems crafted by dedicated gaming companies, the OS is your portal – choose wisely, and prepare for a tailored experience. Choose poorly, and prepare for frustration.
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Best Overall Pick: Asus ROG Ally
Forget the Steam Deck, the Asus ROG Ally is here to steal its crown. This isn’t just another Windows gaming handheld; it’s a portable powerhouse. Blazing-fast performance comes courtesy of the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, pushing visuals on a stunningly vibrant 120Hz Full HD display. Asus understands gamers, crafting a device that looks and feels incredible. And when you want to tame the wildness of Windows 11, Armory Crate transforms the experience into a streamlined, gamer-centric UI. The Ally isn’t just an alternative; it’s a whole new level of handheld gaming.
The ROG Ally isn’t just another Steam Deck wannabe; it’s a top-tier contender that’s here to stay. Forget glitches and compromises, this handheld delivers a reliably smooth experience. Buttery-smooth operation meets thoughtful design: a responsive fingerprint reader, immersive haptic feedback, and perfectly sculpted curves that nestle right into your palms. The satisfying click of the ABXY buttons and the secure grip of the textured surface keep you locked in. Sure, the battery begs for more juice during marathon sessions, but even with that caveat, the ROG Ally isn’t just great; it’s arguably one of thebestgaming handhelds you can get your hands on.
FYI : check out our Asus ROG Ally vs. Steam Deck guide to learn more about how the two compare.
Best Value: Lenovo Legion Go
Forget everything you know about Windows handhelds. The Lenovo Legion Go isn’t just playing the game, it’s rewriting the rules. Sure, it packs the same punch as the ROG Ally under the hood, but that’s where the similarities end. Imagine this: a breathtaking 8.8-inch, 165Hz, Quad HD+ display exploding with color and detail, dwarfing the competition. Now, picture detaching the controllers and going wireless, transforming your gaming rig into a portable entertainment powerhouse. The right controller? It’s got a scroll wheel and extra buttons, mimicking a mouse for pinpoint accuracy. Movie time? Pop out the built-in kickstand, and that stunning screen becomes your personal cinema. The Legion Go isn’t just a handheld; it’s a revolution in your hands.
The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor unleashes face-melting performance, but the RAM and storage play it safe. Honestly, if it weren’t built like a tank and plagued by software hiccups, this would be the undisputed champion. Even with its flaws, the Legion Go delivers a knockout punch. Craving the ultimate screen and unparalleled, Switch-esque controls? Prepare to meet your match – there’s simply nothing else like it.
Best Lightweight: Ayaneo Air Pro
The Ayaneo Air Pro isn’t just a Windows handheld; it’s a statement. Imagine the power of an 8-core AMD processor, now picture it nestled inside a device so sleek, so featherlight, it defies belief. But the Air Pro is real, a marvel of engineering that delivers serious performance without the bulk. And it doesn’t just pack heat – it dissipates it. Experience whisper-quiet gaming while reveling in a customized configuration, brimming with CPU, RAM, and storage options tailored to your every need. This isn’t a handheld; it’s a pocket-sized powerhouse ready to redefine mobile gaming.
Imagine holding a Nintendo Switch, then picture a powerhouse not much heavier. That’s the Ayaneo Air Pro. Its AMD 6-core heart beats strong, fueling a vibrant 1080p OLED display that shames the Steam Deck’s dull LCD. Yes, the ultra-portable design demands a premium, but the smooth controls and surprising performance deliver a knockout punch for on-the-go gaming. While Ayaneo’s newer Air 1S boasts souped-up specs with a matching price tag, the Air Pro hits the sweet spot for most gamers seeking portable bliss.
Best for Dual Screen Gaming: Ayaneo Flip DS
Imagine a clamshell console that bends to your will. The Ayaneo Flip DS doesn’t just flip; it locks its vibrant dual screens at 120, 150, and a full 180 degrees, giving you ultimate viewing control. But the real magic? It’s the power to game and conquer multitasking. Dominate your favorite titles while seamlessly streaming videos or browsing the web on the second screen. Simple, intuitive controls, including perfectly placed joysticks and responsive buttons, put the power directly in your hands. Unleash a new era of handheld gaming and boundless possibilities.
Dive into the Ayaneo Flip DS: where vibrant visuals explode on a 120Hz, 1200:1 contrast ratio display, boasting a razor-sharp 314PPI. Choose your weapon: sleek black or pristine white. Its ergonomic grip melts into your hands, transforming gameplay into pure, unadulterated comfort. Fine-tune every nuance with customizable joystick sensitivity and a treasure trove of adjustable settings, ensuring a gaming experience sculpted to your exact desires.
Best for Keyboard-Based Gaming: GPD Win 4
The GPD Win 4 morphs to your gaming style. Unleash keyboard commands or dive into classic handheld controls. SteamOS compatibility unlocks a universe of PC games on the go, and a simple connection turns it into a desktop powerhouse. Plus, the glowing backlit keyboard lets you game even when the lights are out.
Pocket-sized power meets ergonomic perfection in the GPD Win 4. Its grip melts into your hands, offering supreme comfort as you game. Under the hood roars an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U, promising desktop-level performance on the go. Unleash gaming bliss on its vibrant six-inch display; the Win 4 is compact enough to be your constant companion.
Tip : want to stream your games from your PC to your handheld? Check out Steam Remote Play.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do these alternative devices differ from the Steam Deck?
Steam Deck alternatives echo its design, but ditch SteamOS for Windows, unlocking unique tricks like detachable controllers and sculpted grips.
How does the price of Steam Deck compare to its alternatives?
Valve’s Steam Deck comes in hot with three tempting flavors: a 256GB LCD starting at $399, and the vibrant OLED versions at 512GB and 1TB, topping out at $649. But the handheld gaming arena is a battlefield! You can jump in for as little as $299 with the cloud-centric Logitech G Cloud, or go all-in with the ROG Ally and Legion Go, both demanding $699 for entry. Choose your weapon!
What chipset does the Steam Deck and its alternatives use?
While the Steam Deck boasts a capable 4-core AMD Zen 2 heart, its rivals, the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, unleash the fury of the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme. Imagine double the cores, jumping from Zen 2 to the cutting-edge Zen 4 architecture. The competition isn’t just playing; they’re flexing serious muscle, leaving Valve’s portable PC trailing in raw power.
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