
The 2023 Steam Deck is a portable gaming console that has been highly anticipated by gamers since its announcement. Developed by Valve, the Steam Deck promises to provide a console-like gaming experience on the go, with the ability to play PC games on a handheld device. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s find out.

Design and Build Quality:
The Steam Deck has a sleek, portable design that makes it easy to carry around. The console measures 298mm x 117mm x 49mm and weighs around 669g, which is slightly heavier than most portable consoles. However, it’s still lightweight enough to be carried around comfortably in a backpack or a purse.
The console is made of high-quality materials that feel premium to the touch. The build quality is excellent, with no creaks or rattles, and the buttons and joysticks feel solid and responsive. The console also has a built-in kickstand that makes it easy to prop up on a table or a flat surface.

Display:
The Steam Deck features a 7-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The display is bright and vibrant, with good color accuracy and viewing angles. It’s not as sharp as some of the higher-end tablets, but it’s still more than adequate for gaming on the go. The touchscreen is responsive and works well for navigating the Steam interface and in-game menus.
Performance:
The Steam Deck is powered by an AMD APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) that combines a quad-core Zen 2 CPU and a RDNA 2 GPU. It also comes with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a choice of storage options ranging from 64GB to 512GB of eMMC or NVMe SSD storage.

The performance of the Steam Deck is impressive, especially considering its portable form factor. It can run most PC games at decent frame rates and graphics settings, thanks to its powerful hardware. However, more demanding games may require some tweaking of graphics settings to achieve a smooth performance.
The Steam Deck also runs on Valve’s new SteamOS 3.0 operating system, which is based on Arch Linux. It’s a modified version of Linux that has been optimized for gaming, and it comes with the Steam client pre-installed. The SteamOS interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate, and it provides easy access to your Steam library and in-game settings.

Controller:
The Steam Deck comes with a built-in controller that features two thumbsticks, a D-pad, four face buttons, four shoulder buttons, and two touchpads. The thumbsticks and buttons feel solid and responsive, and the touchpads provide a unique input method that can be customized to suit your preferences.
The controller also features haptic feedback, which provides a tactile response when playing games. It’s a nice touch that adds to the immersion of games, and it’s especially useful for games that support rumble or force feedback.

Battery Life:
The Steam Deck has a 40Whr battery that is rated to provide up to 8 hours of gaming on a single charge. In our tests, we found that the battery life is impressive, and it can last up to 7 hours of continuous gaming on medium to high graphics settings. However, more demanding games may drain the battery faster, so it’s advisable to carry a charger if you plan to play for extended periods.
Conclusion:
Overall, the 2023 Steam Deck is an impressive piece of hardware that has the potential to revolutionize handheld gaming. It provides a seamless transition between PC and handheld gaming, and the ability to play games from a vast library of titles is a huge advantage.
While the device is not without its flaws, such as the smaller screen size and the potential for overheating, the Steam Deck’s advantages far outweigh its drawbacks. It provides an unmatched level of flexibility and portability for gamers, and its price point is reasonable given its capabilities.
If you are a PC gamer looking for a handheld device that can deliver a high-quality gaming experience, the Steam Deck is definitely worth considering. With its innovative features and expansive library of games, it has the potential to become a game-changer in the handheld gaming market.
_______________________
Follow us on Twitter! @freqplatoon