The Steam Deck: The most gaming power you have ever held; 499$ coming next December

Could be cool, but curious about a few things, one being what kind of potentiometers they're using, as everyone from MS, Sony, Nintendo, even the Steam Controller used the corner cutting versions that are total crapshoots for a lifespan. Being as the thing is a solid unit, that's a big deal to me. Next issue would be battery life. That aside, seems like a cool idea, and probably at a price I might consider if I got interested.

Could not have unveiled at a better time though, after many seem largely disappointed by the unveiling of the Switch OLED.

@xantufrog: Heck yeah, it’s fun.

Your iphone 12 costs $399 and has a 7" screen and plays Portal 2 on High settings 60FPS for 4 hours?....

Mobile games are trash stop it.

Same reason Nintendo fans are excited about a Switch is same reason people are for this, I can play DESKTOP games at 720p 30FPS locked on High settings on this thing for 5-6 hours?... Erm yes please.

Remember Nintendo fans defend Doom which runs at 540p 20-30FPS with settings LOWER than LOW on the Switch and the battery life is similar to this thing.

It won't sell don't get me wrong, but I will buy the base model and throw in a 400GB micro SD card that I have in my Switch.

@Grey_Eyed_Elf: IPhone 12 does WAY more than this cheap handheld mate. It’s not even close.

Will it quantify how dumb you are?

How is he dumb?

@Grey_Eyed_Elf: And guess what, almost everyone already has a nice phone to play these same games on. 😆

This thing is such a failure.

Ohhh wow.... lets goooo

A touch pad AND a traditional stick... IF I can launch from this and not have to stream from a steam link or something, this is everything I wanted

Not possible. Same thing I was saying to the Nintendo fans who fell for the DLSS Turing Switch Pro rumour.

Mobile SOC have to balance battery, cost and power, 8 CU chip is not even the best RDNA 2 SOC coming there is a 12 CU chip coming also... It will just not be possible for a mobile system to handle in terms of TDP and battery.

Nvidia aslo will struggle to get 3x the CU count of a Maxwell based Tegra X1 using Turing architecture on to a 18w SOC. Meaning a 2024 Switch 2 will be around 512-640 CU's anything more and like the people in this thread we will be worrying about the cost and battery.

@girlusocrazy: and you can! It's actually pretty sweet.

I've made up my mind

512GB version of that thing goes for 650USD, meanwhile iphone 12 is 800USD, but it's actually way cheaper if you finance it with a phone plan. Iphones are pretty cheap and price competitive in America. I got mine for 480USD.

And for 650USD you can get the best gaming Android tablet which will have a better game library than SteamOS

Have you read his posts?

He is claiming 1 hour battery life, when the only talks of battery life this thing has is for Portal 2 4 hours and if its 30FPS it can get 5-6 hours battery life.

Then he goes and says:

Cause when I play star wars on max I get 1 hour?...

If that isn't dumb, I don't know what is.

@Grey_Eyed_Elf: I get you. 👍

Costs a piddly £4 to reserve, I'm in. Just cancel before December if you don't want it.

Ok. Another step by Valve to further consolize PC. Not a very good one.

@Grey_Eyed_Elf: 11 posts and a locked thread trying everything to bash a Steam handheld announcement. I'm willing to bet it's a Nintendo cultist shook by someone else providing some competition in the handheld market.

@rmiller365: You mean like Phones do? This can’t compete with Phones. And it’s battery life is horrible. Imagine playing Star Wars max out and barely getting an hour. IPhone 12 destroys this thing. And you can carry you phone to work and FaceTime your momma.

The iPhone 12 is 800 for the 64GB version the 256GB version is $949.

There is a word for what some people are doing here when it comes to comparing things, taking the highest spec and comparing it to the lowest spec to suite a argument/point/agenda?...

Simple fact is a Switch has a 64GB and Micro SD card slot, same as the base model here and for that extra $50 you get 4x the gaming performance?...

Thats actually a lot cheaper than i thought it would be. i thought valve would go more for the "what can we cram in this for 1000 bucks" school of thought.

I have always loved the idea of these devices and the PC has one hell of a library suitable for portable gaming.

a lot of sensible hardware choices there too. not too high res on the screen (because why would you?). Trackpads! Flappy Paddles! Some of the button layout looks a bit naff. remapping the ABXY buttons to the flappy paddles could make a lot of sense.

More horsepower than i thought too (though i dont think it will have enough to make Ray tracing practical). Its not really going to be a AAA munching 120FPS monster (really for a portable locking the framerate to 30 for many games would make sense to help with battery life) but for a ton of games its going to be great.

Linux too! \o/.

Looks like the Steam Boy is finally a thing :D. I dont think i will reserve one but will probably pick one up next year at some point.

@girlusocrazy: ah, word of caution though - looks like to do that you'd either need a USB-C adapter of some sort or their dock (sold separately). Still

@girlusocrazy: Yeah, I use for my IPhone 12, it works and looks great.

I already have a USB C dock for my M1 MacBook Air. This thing will do just fine for me.

The reservations start tonight... Will drop my £4 soon as I can and will be getting the base model.

@Grey_Eyed_Elf said:

@ivangrozny said:

@Grey_Eyed_Elf said:

@ivangrozny said:

@rmiller365 said:

@mesome713: https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/15/22578783/valve-steam-deck-gaming-handheld-pc

As for the battery, “Steam Deck’s onboard 40 watt-hour battery provides several hours of play time for most games,” Valve says. “For lighter use cases like game streaming, smaller 2D games, or web browsing, you can expect to get the maximum battery life of approximately 7-8 hours.” Valve tells IGN that “You can play Portal 2 for four hours on this thing. If you limit it to 30 FPS, you’re going to be playing for 5-6 hours.”

My iphone 12 can play games for longer than that and its costs almost the same.

Your iphone 12 costs $399 and has a 7" screen and plays Portal 2 on High settings 60FPS for 4 hours?....

Mobile games are trash stop it.

Same reason Nintendo fans are excited about a Switch is same reason people are for this, I can play DESKTOP games at 720p 30FPS locked on High settings on this thing for 5-6 hours?... Erm yes please.

Remember Nintendo fans defend Doom which runs at 540p 20-30FPS with settings LOWER than LOW on the Switch and the battery life is similar to this thing.

It won't sell don't get me wrong, but I will buy the base model and throw in a 400GB micro SD card that I have in my Switch.

512GB version of that thing goes for 650USD, meanwhile iphone 12 is 800USD, but it's actually way cheaper if you finance it with a phone plan. Iphones are pretty cheap and price competitive in America. I got mine for 480USD.

And for 650USD you can get the best gaming Android tablet which will have a better game library than SteamOS

The iPhone 12 is 800 for the 64GB version the 256GB version is $949.

There is a word for what some people are doing here when it comes to comparing things, taking the highest spec and comparing it to the lowest spec to suite a argument/point/agenda?...

Simple fact is a Switch has a 64GB and Micro SD card slot, same as the base model here and for that extra $50 you get 4x the gaming performance?...

Again, it depends on the region you live. I bought my Iphone12 256GB for 480USD with a phone unlimited Internet data plan.

And let's not start with Ipad alternatives that you can buy a 10-inch one for 430USD and you can also convert it to a phone with a plan and finance it.

@mesome713: Triggered damage control post #12 from Nintendo cultist confirmed. We get it. The announcement hurt you in some twisted tribal way.

@ivangrozny: Plus, everyone has a phone already. And if you don’t have a gaming phone, buy one. Would be crazy to waste money on this thing when can buy an IPhone 12.

@onesiphorus: Yes! That's what Valve did to Switch with this announcement!

but you are buying a Switch OLED!...

@Grey_Eyed_Elf: I'm going to try for the 256GB - might as well, I think. I'm pretty excited for this little gadget. Hope I don't get bludgeoned out of it somehow in this insane hacker-scalper-bot-infested world we live in now

@ivangrozny said:

@Grey_Eyed_Elf said:

@ivangrozny said:

@Grey_Eyed_Elf said:

@ivangrozny said:

My iphone 12 can play games for longer than that and its costs almost the same.

Your iphone 12 costs $399 and has a 7" screen and plays Portal 2 on High settings 60FPS for 4 hours?....

Mobile games are trash stop it.

Same reason Nintendo fans are excited about a Switch is same reason people are for this, I can play DESKTOP games at 720p 30FPS locked on High settings on this thing for 5-6 hours?... Erm yes please.

Remember Nintendo fans defend Doom which runs at 540p 20-30FPS with settings LOWER than LOW on the Switch and the battery life is similar to this thing.

It won't sell don't get me wrong, but I will buy the base model and throw in a 400GB micro SD card that I have in my Switch.

512GB version of that thing goes for 650USD, meanwhile iphone 12 is 800USD, but it's actually way cheaper if you finance it with a phone plan. Iphones are pretty cheap and price competitive in America. I got mine for 480USD.

And for 650USD you can get the best gaming Android tablet which will have a better game library than SteamOS

The iPhone 12 is 800 for the 64GB version the 256GB version is $949.

There is a word for what some people are doing here when it comes to comparing things, taking the highest spec and comparing it to the lowest spec to suite a argument/point/agenda?...

Simple fact is a Switch has a 64GB and Micro SD card slot, same as the base model here and for that extra $50 you get 4x the gaming performance?...

Again, it depends on the region you live. I bought my Iphone12 256GB for 480USD with a phone unlimited Internet data plan.

And let's not start with Ipad alternatives that you can buy a 10-inch one for 430USD and you can also convert it to a phone with a plan and finance it.

Not sure your brain is Switched on... You do realise that you didn't buy your Iphone 12 for 480USD, you paid 480 and the rest is in your monthly contract with your mobile carrier.

To flat out BUY a iphone it is not 480 USD anywhere!

You got a phone contract, the price of the phone is including in your monthly direct debit.

And this is kids how Valve failed again

@ivangrozny said:

And this is kids how Valve failed again

Oh word and what games are you going to play on that?

@Grey_Eyed_Elf said:

@ivangrozny said:

@Grey_Eyed_Elf said:

@ivangrozny said:

512GB version of that thing goes for 650USD, meanwhile iphone 12 is 800USD, but it's actually way cheaper if you finance it with a phone plan. Iphones are pretty cheap and price competitive in America. I got mine for 480USD.

And for 650USD you can get the best gaming Android tablet which will have a better game library than SteamOS

The iPhone 12 is 800 for the 64GB version the 256GB version is $949.

There is a word for what some people are doing here when it comes to comparing things, taking the highest spec and comparing it to the lowest spec to suite a argument/point/agenda?...

Simple fact is a Switch has a 64GB and Micro SD card slot, same as the base model here and for that extra $50 you get 4x the gaming performance?...

Again, it depends on the region you live. I bought my Iphone12 256GB for 480USD with a phone unlimited Internet data plan.

And let's not start with Ipad alternatives that you can buy a 10-inch one for 430USD and you can also convert it to a phone with a plan and finance it.

Not sure your brain is Switched on... You do realise that you didn't buy your Iphone 12 for 480USD, you paid 480 and the rest is in your monthly contract with your mobile carrier.

To flat out BUY a iphone it is not 480 USD anywhere!

You got a phone contract, the price of the phone is including in your monthly direct debit.

Nop. This is a plan of returning the phone in 2 years and getting a new one. I usually get a new phone in 2 years anyway. In this way, i don't need to deal with reselling a used phone on ebay. In 2 years you can return or pay the difference and keep it. So in reality i will only pay 20 USD plus phone plan for next 24 months

The ergonomics of that thing though. Looks like those portable retro consoles.

@techhog89: Overdramatic much?

@xantufrog: I am tempted by the 256GB model also as its a NVME so faster OS... Comes with a carrying case and is £459.

Hope the bots don't get to it.

I don't know broh, perhaps a JRPG Dragon Quest 7 that is not available anywhere but Android and Iphones

Or Genshin Impact

@gifford38: It will hook up to your TV, and support bluetooth devices. This is essentially a small PC, and has most of the usual functions.

Don't think I'll be getting one, but this still seems like a cool piece of tech.

@ivangrozny: Or Xbox and Steam games too. IPhone 12 has an insane library and amazing controllers.

Didn't realize we had so many closet iOS mobile gamers one here. Times are a changin'

@ivangrozny said:

@Grey_Eyed_Elf said:

@ivangrozny said:

@Grey_Eyed_Elf said:

@ivangrozny said:

512GB version of that thing goes for 650USD, meanwhile iphone 12 is 800USD, but it's actually way cheaper if you finance it with a phone plan. Iphones are pretty cheap and price competitive in America. I got mine for 480USD.

And for 650USD you can get the best gaming Android tablet which will have a better game library than SteamOS

The iPhone 12 is 800 for the 64GB version the 256GB version is $949.

There is a word for what some people are doing here when it comes to comparing things, taking the highest spec and comparing it to the lowest spec to suite a argument/point/agenda?...

Simple fact is a Switch has a 64GB and Micro SD card slot, same as the base model here and for that extra $50 you get 4x the gaming performance?...

Again, it depends on the region you live. I bought my Iphone12 256GB for 480USD with a phone unlimited Internet data plan.

And let's not start with Ipad alternatives that you can buy a 10-inch one for 430USD and you can also convert it to a phone with a plan and finance it.

Not sure your brain is Switched on... You do realise that you didn't buy your Iphone 12 for 480USD, you paid 480 and the rest is in your monthly contract with your mobile carrier.

To flat out BUY a iphone it is not 480 USD anywhere!

You got a phone contract, the price of the phone is including in your monthly direct debit.

Nop. This is a plan of returning the phone in 2 years and getting a new one. I usually get a new phone in 2 years anyway. In this way, i don't need to deal with reselling a used phone on ebay. In, 2 years you can return or pay the difference and keep it

Literally the same thing, you do not own it... owning something means you can do what you want with it.

If you have to keep it for 2 years and return it's called borrowing, if you break it or drop it in the 2 years you have to pay the rest right?

By your argument and logic technically every console is 100-150 cheaper because you can just sell it when the new one comes out.

Also cool you can get a iphone for 480 on a borrowed contract with apple?... What the absolute f*** does that have to do with a hand held gaming device that plays actual desktop games like GTA 5 at 60FPS or Fallout 4?...

@xantufrog: Yeah, mobile gaming is getting insanely popular now. Plus I can hook my IPhone 12 to my 4K tv and rock out.

@mesome713: feels like just a few years back you basically couldn't bring up mobile gaming on here (mobile in the iOS/Android sense, not the Gameboy/3DS sense)

@ivangrozny said:

I don't know broh, perhaps a JRPG Dragon Quest 7 that is not available anywhere but Android and Iphones

Or Genshin Impact

@Grey_Eyed_Elf said:

Oh word and what games are you going to play on that?

Yeah no thank you.

That Iphone hand held gaming device is also gaming and also provides 100+ additional essential functionalities; the Valve device, like it or not, will have to compete against it in America, and most probably fail miserably.