With the recent popularity of handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch, as well as handheld PCs like the AYA NEO, it's no surprise that Valve has recently revealed the Steam Deck; a handheld gaming PC that will let users access and play their Steam library. With the ability to play every Steam game on the go, the Steam Deck could be a real game-changer in the rise of handheld gaming.

Performing like a mini gaming PC, the Steam Deck will be able to be hooked up to a TV, PC or any other monitor. It will also come in three different storage tiers: 64GB, 256 GB, and 512GB. Set to release sometime this holiday season, fans are undoubtedly wondering how the Steam Deck's specs will be able to handle the power required for PC gaming on the go. Here's a complete breakdown of the Steam Deck's specs and how it compares to other systems.

RELATED: Valve Reveals Switch-Like Handheld Gaming PC the Steam Deck

Steam Deck's Hardware Specs

steam-deck in someone's hands

The Steam Deck features a custom AMD APU that contains a quad-core Zen 2 CPU with eight threads alongside eight RDNA 2 CU's for its GPU. It also features 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, meaning that it will contain quite a bit of power in its handheld package. There will be three different storage tiers: 64GB eMMC for $399, 256GB NVMe SSD for $529 or 512GB high-speed NVMe SSD for $649. While 64GB might seem a little small for an entire library of Steam games, Valve assures players that all models will include a high-speed microSD card slot so storage can be expanded.

The Steam Deck will feature a 7-inch screen with a 1280x800 resolution designed for 720p gameplay. It will have full touchscreen capabilities, and it seems that Valve will be making use of virtual keyboards to ease the handheld transition. The Steam Deck will have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, allowing users to use controllers, headsets, and even external keyboards and mice. The Steam Deck dock will contain HDMI, Ethernet, and USB ports. The Steam Deck also has a 40 watt-hour onboard battery which should give anywhere from 2-8 hours of gameplay depending on how graphically intensive the game is. Valve estimates that Portal 2 can be played for four hours and that can be stretched to five-six hours on 30 FPS.

Steam Deck's Controls and Size

Steam Deck touchscreen

The controls and input for the Steam Deck seems influenced by the Steam Controller, with its unique trackpad design. Alongside the traditional ABXY, LR bumpers and triggers, D-Pad, and thumbsticks, there are two square trackpads underneath the thumbsticks which will likely be used for precision-based games like FPS or MOBAs. These trackpads will also feature haptic feedback and will supposedly have 55% better latency than the Steam Controller. The big thing to watch out for is the ABXY buttons right beside the right thumbstick. It looks a little unwieldly in the photos that Valve has revealed but only time will tell how big of an issue it might turn out to be.

The Steam Deck also features four remappable grip buttons on its back, which can be used in place of the face buttons. Similar to the Xbox Pro Controller, it allows users to map actions such as reloading without needing to take their fingers off of the thumbsticks. It will also include a 6-Axis IMU Gyro for better motion control when users physically move the Steam Deck. The Steam Deck is also quite a bit bulkier than other handheld systems like the Nintendo Switch as its dimensions measure 117mm x 29mm x 50.5mm with a weight of 120 grams.

RELATED: Valve Boss Gabe Newell Says Steam Deck Price Was ‘Painful’ to Achieve

Steam Deck's Software

steam deck and steam laptop

Valve states that the Steam Deck will run on a new version of SteamOS that is supposedly optimized for the handheld form. Based on Linux, the Steam Deck will use Proton to ensure compatibility of Windows-based games and saves developers the trouble of porting their games. However, Proton isn't perfect and several popular games like Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and Rainbow Six Siege seem to have issues booting up. Valve stated that they are working on a fix and hopefully this gets smoothed out before the Steam Deck's holiday release date.

The SteamOS also has a quick suspend/resume feature built in, meaning the Steam Deck can be easily placed in sleep mode and users can pick up where they left off. The Steam Deck's UI is designed to mirror the desktop Steam experience as it includes features such as Steam Chat, remote play, cloud saves, notifications as well as the Steam Store and Community tabs. Furthermore, the Steam Deck will keep users' libraries, collections, and favorites in sync with the desktop app. Valve has also overhauled a few desktop Steam features like the Steam Overlay, quick access menu, and universal search to fit together with the Steam Deck.

How The Steam Deck Compares to Other Handheld Systems

Steam Deck vs Switch Size Comparison

Although the Steam Deck certainly isn't the first handheld PC on the market, it's certainly aiming to be the most affordable. Unlike devices like the AYA NEO and GPD Win3, the Steam Deck offers pricing closer to the Nintendo Switch. Valve was willing to be aggressive in the Steam Deck's pricing as an attempt to establish themselves in the market.

With the average PC ranging from $800-$1400, having the Steam Deck start at $399 means a wider audience can be reached and it will help the company long-term. Gabe Newell stated that Valve didn't want to compromise on the components and performance of the Steam Deck which is why it has such powerful specs. For comparison, the AYA NEO costs around $900 and includes Vega 6 graphics, something which is multiple generations behind RDNA 2 now.

Gabe Newell described the pricing strategy as "painful" and implies that the cost was purposely undercut as a strategy to stand out from competitors. It has certainly worked as the Steam Deck has drawn immediate comparisons to the Nintendo Switch's pricing despite boasting hardware that blows it out of the water.

Furthermore, the other handheld PC competitors will have trouble convincing users to spend upwards of $1000 when the Steam Deck arrives with full integration with Steam. This is especially important as almost the entire handheld PC market is currently from Asia meaning support and parts can be difficult to acquire. With Valve's reputation, it's easy to see how enthusiasts would naturally gravitate towards the Steam Deck over other handheld PCs.

Valve's Steam Deck releases this holiday.

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