Steam Deck vs. gaming laptop computer; it’s a tricky comparability and a tough option to make, however there are key variations that you must contemplate. With the Steam Deck being a way more reasonably priced technique to play the most recent video games, you might surprise why you’d wish to spend a lot extra on a gaming laptop computer. In fact, gaming laptops are going to supply a complete different stage of options and specs, however that doesn’t cease them from being much less moveable and dearer.
With the discharge of the Steam Deck OLED, you’ll must weigh up the Steam Deck vs. gaming laptop computer and determine what’s best for you. However that will help you in your journey, we’ve in contrast each units to offer you an in-depth comparability that can allow you to make your last choice.
We examine the Steam Deck and gaming laptops with the next in thoughts:
Steam Deck vs. Gaming Laptop computer: Efficiency
Gaming laptops can be found in quite a few configurations and sizes that vary from bottom-barrel finances units with AMD or Intel built-in graphics to high-end fashions with highly effective GPUs such because the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30/40 collection and AMD’s Radeon RX 6000M line. Trendy gaming laptops additionally ship with Intel Core and AMD Ryzen processors that, usually, have not less than eight cores. Most energy draw might be extraordinarily excessive, with probably the most highly effective gaming laptops exceeding 250 watts at load.
The Steam Deck all the time ships with the identical, barely personalized AMD APU, even the brand new OLED model. It features a four-core, eight-thread CPU based mostly on AMD’s Zen 2 structure, which additionally seems in quite a few Ryzen 4000 and Ryzen 5000 cell processors (and a few Ryzen 7000 fashions, too). The built-in Radeon GPU has eight RDNA 2 Compute Items, equal to these discovered in lots of Ryzen laptop computer APUs. The Steam Deck’s APU is restricted to a mere 15 watts of energy—at inventory settings, not less than.
Efficiency varies extensively, in fact, however even the least succesful gaming laptops are roughly as highly effective because the Steam Deck. IGN’s Steam Deck evaluation examined its capabilities with the 3DMark Time Spy gaming benchmark, which hit a rating of 1,715. That’s barely behind a laptop computer with Intel Iris Xe graphics, which scored 1,837, and approach behind a finances gaming laptop computer with Nvidia GTX 1650 graphics, which scored 3,764.
In brief, the Steam Deck’s efficiency is miles off that of a finances gaming laptop computer, and it regularly struggles to play demanding video games at acceptable body charges. The Deck can deal with older or higher optimized titles, like Borderlands 3 and Hitman 3, however can choke on infamous system-killers, like Metro Exodus or Horizon: Zero Daybreak.
It’s doable to claw again some efficiency should you swap to a decrease show decision than the Steam Deck’s native 1,200 x 800, or with a body reconstruction approach comparable to AMD’s FideltyFX Tremendous Decision (FSR). This may solely get you thus far, nevertheless, because the quad-core processor is a serious bottleneck that may tank efficiency in trendy video games. Most new video games that concentrate on a cross-platform launch (on PC, Xbox Sequence S|X, and PlayStation 5) will carry out a lot worse on the Steam Deck than on a finances gaming laptop computer.
Efficiency Winner: Gaming Laptop computer
Steam Deck vs. Gaming Laptop computer: Compatibility
Gaming laptops run the identical model of Home windows as another PC and keep compatibility with an unlimited library of video games out there on Steam, the Epic Video games Retailer, GOG, and Ubisoft Join, amongst others. Odds are you have already got a library of video games that span a number of storefronts in addition to older titles you acquired by way of a DRM-free digital platform. A gaming laptop computer will deal with this whole library with out situation.
The Steam Deck is (principally) restricted to a collection of suitable video games discovered on Steam. The working system put in on the Deck is a Linux variant and might run video games which have a Linux model natively. Many don’t, nevertheless, and as a substitute run by way of a compatibility layer known as Proton. Valve has a list of “Deck Verified” games out there on its web site. You additionally type video games by compatibility in Steam, which makes it simple to seek out suitable video games on the shop and in your present Steam library.
ProtonDB, a website which tracks Deck Verified games and experiences participant experiences with video games that aren’t verified, at present lists 3,183 Steam Deck verified video games. An extra 5,500 video games are listed as “playable” based mostly on participant experiences although, in my expertise, video games which can be playable can nonetheless undergo bugs. That’s loads of video games, however solely 10 p.c of video games listed on Steam are Deck Verified, and solely 40 p.c are thought-about playable. A mere 20 p.c of the highest 100 video games on Steam (measured by concurrent gamers) are Deck Verified.
The Deck may also play all kinds of older console video games, from the unique NES as much as (some) titles from the Xbox/Wii U/PlayStation 2 period, by way of emulators—however the identical is true of any gaming laptop computer.
How this modifications your shopping for choice is dependent upon the video games you play. The Deck will show alluring in case your favourite video games are supported, and the reverse is true if all of your favourite titles are incompatible. Fortunately, ProtonDB has a helpful characteristic that may type by way of your Library and break down compatibility game-by-game.
You may also surprise: can’t I simply set up Home windows on the Steam Deck? That’s an possibility, however putting in can show a bit difficult and the expertise isn’t clean. Going this route removes a few of the interface conveniences that SteamOS offers. Driver help is spotty, as effectively, and video games which can be Deck Verified could run higher beneath SteamOS than beneath Home windows.
The Deck helps 1000’s of fantastic video games, however a gaming laptop computer can deal with tens of 1000’s of again catalog titles that aren’t Deck Verified. A gaming laptop computer is a extra versatile, dependable gaming system. You can see our listing of the very best Steam Deck video games for more information.
Compatibility Winner: Gaming Laptop computer
Steam Deck vs. Gaming Laptop computer: Portability and Type Issue
Gaming laptops have come a good distance in portability, and lots of fashions now characteristic slim, light-weight designs that measure beneath an inch thick and weigh lower than 5 kilos. Nonetheless, even probably the most moveable gaming laptops are bigger and heavier than the Steam Deck. The Alienware x14, a wonderful compact gaming laptop computer, weighs a bit over 4 kilos, whereas the Steam Deck weighs roughly 1.5 kilos.
The Steam Deck additionally advantages from its handheld design, which makes it snug to carry and play on-the-go. Its kind issue is just like that of the Nintendo Change, making it simple to take pleasure in video games on public transportation, in ready rooms, or whereas reclining on a sofa or in mattress. You would possibly be capable to escape a gaming laptop computer in related conditions, but it surely’s much less snug and infrequently requires a separate wi-fi PC gaming controller, additional rising its weight and bulk.
This can be a clear win for the Steam Deck. Gaming laptops can’t compete with the Deck’s snug, light-weight design.
Portability and Type Issue Winner: Steam Deck
Steam Deck vs. Gaming laptop computer: Battery Life
Essentially the most highly effective gaming laptops often have the shortest battery life, starting from one to 12 hours of gaming on a single cost. Some laptops, particularly these with built-in graphics or entry-level devoted GPUs, provide far superior battery life, but it surely comes at the price of decreased gaming efficiency (although efficiency will nonetheless exceed the Steam Deck).
The Steam Deck gives battery life of 1 to eight hours, relying on the sport and the system’s energy settings, and the brand new Steam Deck OLED gives higher battery life than the unique. Valve has optimized the Steam Deck’s energy administration choices to assist customers discover a stability between efficiency and battery life, which helps enhance battery life in real-world gameplay.
Battery dimension is a vital issue, and one which retains the Steam Deck’s power-sipping APU from vastly outperforming a gaming laptop computer. The small, compact Deck has a small 40 watt-hour battery and the OLED has a 50 watt-hour battery. It’s tiny in comparison with gaming laptops, which are inclined to have a battery dimension between 50 and 99 watt-hours.
In reality, each gaming laptops and the Steam Deck may benefit from improved battery life, Neither system can deal with quite a lot of hours of gameplay in most conditions, although much less demanding 2D titles (like Stardew Valley or FTL) can lengthen your expertise.
Battery Life Winner: Tie
Steam Deck vs. Gaming Laptop computer: Additional Options
Gaming laptops provide all of the options discovered on any Home windows laptop computer. They arrive geared up with bodily keyboards, massive touchpads, and a number of ports for connecting peripherals and exterior shows. Most even have a built-in webcam and microphone for video calls and loud, highly effective audio system (in comparison with the Deck, not less than). All of this makes a gaming laptop computer extra versatile than the Steam Deck. You can use a gaming laptop computer for work all day, then swap to utilizing it for video games at night time.
The Steam Deck is a extra centered system. It has an built-in gamepad with thumbsticks, face buttons, a D-Pad, and touchpads for exact management in video games that require a mouse. Connectivity is offered by a single USB-C port, which prices the Deck and can be utilized to attach an exterior show. The Deck additionally has a MicroSD card reader, which is beneficial for loading video games and different content material. A microphone is included, however a webcam is absent.
Clearly, a gaming laptop computer and the Steam Deck serve completely different wants, and this truth is necessary to remember. You would possibly suppose it’s doable to make use of the Deck like a Home windows desktop should you dock a keyboard and mouse, or that it’s doable to make use of a gaming laptop computer just like the Steam Deck should you join a wi-fi gamepad. That is true, however I anticipate most avid gamers will discover these workarounds irritating. They’re essentially completely different units constructed for various conditions.
Additional Options Winner: Tie
Steam Deck vs. Gaming Laptop computer: Worth
The Steam Deck has a tempting base MSRP of $399. That leaves you with a mere 64GB of inside storage, nevertheless, which isn’t sufficient to put in many trendy video games. I like to recommend the 256GB mannequin, which retails at $529. The highest-tier 512GB mannequin, priced at $649, is an efficient improve should you plan to play video games that check the Deck’s limits (like Horizon: Zero Daybreak or the most recent Name of Obligation).
Gaming laptops cowl a a lot wider vary of pricing. Entry-level fashions just like the HP Victus and Acer Nitro might be discovered on sale for round $600, whereas high-end fashions just like the Razer Blade 18 and MSI Titan can exceed $5,000.
That would appear to offer the Deck an edge, however keep in mind: gaming laptops are extra versatile and highly effective. On the time this text was written, it was doable to choose up an HP Victus gaming laptop computer with an Intel Core i5-12450H, Nvidia GTX 1650 graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage for $550. This configuration will simply thump the Deck in benchmarks.
A gaming laptop computer may also accomplish duties the Deck can’t deal with. A laptop computer just like the HP Victus is a workable entry-level alternative for content material creation, sport growth, and primary residence workplace productiveness. The identical cannot be mentioned of the Deck, which hurts its worth.
Worth Winner: Gaming Laptop computer
Verdict: Gaming laptops win, however the Steam Deck stays alluring
Making the selection between a Steam Deck and a gaming laptop computer isn’t simple, however this comparability has a transparent victor. Gaming laptops win the day. Gaming laptops are extra versatile, extra highly effective, have extra included options, and help a wider library of video games. The sport is simply rising as time goes on, too, as gaming laptops commonly obtain new {hardware} updates. Valve has plans to launch a successor to the Steam Deck, however when that can occur is anybody’s guess.
Does that imply the Deck needs to be thrown in a bin? In fact not. The Deck is much less succesful however stays an alluring system that gives a handheld expertise at a horny worth. Evaluating the Steam Deck to a gaming laptop computer is a case of evaluating apples to oranges. Or, to actually torture the metaphor, it’s like evaluating an apple towards a complete bag of oranges.
A bag of oranges is nice, however a thousand kilos of citrus gained’t fulfill your urge for food if all you need is an apple.
Matthew S. Smith is a {hardware} and tech freelance author with greater than 15 years of trade expertise.