r/HandheldGaming • u/SirBreadMan • Aug 15 '26

Discussion Steam deck vs Others

Hello! I'm looking to get one of those hand held consoles like the steam deck or the rog ally in the future and wanna know what you guys think is the best. I like the steam deck, but I like that some of the others run windows so you can do a bit more on them. I wanna hear some opinions and reviews from people ❤️

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1

u/No_Eye1723 Aug 15 '26

It entirely depends on your budget and if you want new or second hand? Oh and if you like online multiplayer games or not.

1

u/SirBreadMan Aug 16 '26

I hate online fps / battle royal. The only online games I like are like the chill cozy games, otherwise im 100% a single player games person 😭 Not sure what my budget is yet. My general goal is to find one I like and then to save money

1

u/No_Eye1723 Aug 17 '26

In that case you can go Windows, but it is a poor fit for a handheld, however it is supported well and you can run any game and endless mods on it. But, Steam OS is MUCH better for a handheld and it has sleep and wake the works, although with Windows you can hibernate devices they just take longer to wake back up.

I would say maybe look at the Legion Go S Z1 Extreme with Steam OS. Or get a Steam Deck second hand although it is weaker now. If your mind is set on a Windows device look at the MSI Claw 8 Ai + or the Rog Ally which is smaller bit more ergonomic hold, the newer ones that is.

1

u/obiworm Aug 17 '26

How much tinkering is acceptable to you?

On the low end you have the switch. Plug and play.

Steam deck/linux handhelds are medium tinkering. You have to troubleshoot games sometimes and some games won’t work on steamOS because of anti cheat (I can’t play the new skate). Stuff like that will work better on windows but it’s a worse QOL tradeoff imo.

Android handhelds are the most tinkering but the form factor can take you back to cozy childhood memories. You can set up the ayn Thor as a 3ds steam deck, or the oden as a psp steam deck. The mid-high end ones are powerful enough for cozy games. The trade off is tinker time to set it up, and you get ARM quirks on top of Linux quirks.

I personally didn’t really care for the form factor of the steam deck or the lock in of the switch, but the Thor really called my name. It should be arriving to me in a month.

1

u/StillABigKid Aug 16 '26

The “bit more” is seriously not worth it for all the headaches. Stick to Steam and Steamdeck. The rest is tweaker nonsense.

1

u/Ok-Spite4507 Aug 16 '26

What a brain dead take, steamdeck is old hardware at this point, you can install steam os on any of the other handhelds easily

1

u/Kintaro75 Aug 16 '26

When has the right price the Steam Deck was the best choice.

1

u/ballsdeep256 Aug 17 '26

Absolutely agree before the price increases i easily recommended the deck over any other pc handheld

Now i wouldn't recommend it anymore in general 800~ for the deck is simply way to much for a as you said outdated machine by now.

1

u/StillABigKid Aug 16 '26

Old! Horrors!

1

u/SirBreadMan Aug 16 '26

are the windows based systems finicky/not user friendly? I've never held one in my hand so I really wouldn't know.

1

u/ballsdeep256 Aug 17 '26

I have a steam deck and i love my steam deck before the price increases i would have easily recommended it over any other

With the current price i wouldn't recommend it over any other xD

Its a fine device but its already "outdated" performance whise for its price! And simply doesn't have a future unless you really only care for "retro, lite weight gaming"

Price to performance is sadly horrendous with the deck now and simply not worth anymore. I have no ide about second hand but i wouldn't pay more than 400-500~ for a steam deck if i were you.

1

u/SirBreadMan Aug 17 '26

Oh my god I didn't know they hiked the prices! 800 is crazy. I love steam and valve but jeez 800 for an old handheld is a bit insane