If you don't have a gaming handheld yet, why not buy it now or wait and see?
Is it a good deal to buy a Steam Deck in 2024? Should I buy or wait?
Thinking of buying a handheld to play games? After the Steam Deck became popular, all sorts of alternatives popped up to make you pick.
Actually, the performance of these handhelds is almost the same now, basically the same as the performance of the new home console, play "Elden Ring" or something, and the smoothness is no problem.
Is it a good deal to buy a Steam Deck in 2024? Should I buy or wait?
Following the huge success of the Nintendo Switch in 2017, Valve released the Steam Deck in 2022, which set off a craze in the gaming handheld market that spanned both consoles and PCs. While handheld computers predated the Steam Deck (decades before the Steam Deck, actually), Valve's achievements in gaming have helped propel the market to its current state, with regular releases of Steam Deck alternatives as well as more competitive hardware. But just how competitive will this hardware be by mid-2024, and how much are you willing to spend?
Is it a good deal to buy a Steam Deck in 2024? Should I buy or wait?
Before we dive in, though, it's important to point out that due to current technical limitations and thermal issues, the Steam Deck LCD starting at $399 is still the benchmark for handheld gaming performance, even if more expensive alternatives exist. The performance of the Steam Deck is similar to that of modern consoles (with light ray tracing in some games), but it is closest to the previous generation of Playstation 4 Pro. This includes the ability to play games like Elden Ring at a rate of more than 30 frames per second.
But then again, handheld consoles are not as good as top-of-the-line gaming laptops, and it's more reliable to buy a computer if you want the ultimate gaming experience. But if you want to cool off anytime, anywhere, a handheld is definitely a good choice!
Is it a good deal to buy a Steam Deck in 2024? Should I buy or wait?
Gaming Handheld Buyer's Guide - Analysis of Core Elements
Before you start choosing a gaming console, let's take a look at some of the basics so you can compare and choose later. These terms may be familiar to people who play computer games regularly, but if you haven't played a gaming PC before, understanding them will help you choose the best handheld for you.
Is it a good deal to buy a Steam Deck in 2024? Should I buy or wait?
- Operating system: The operating system used by the handheld determines which game stores you can access and which games you can play. Consoles tend to be more closed, but they're also easier to get started with. In contrast, PC handhelds are more open.
- SoC: The SoC integrates the CPU and the graphics processor. The level of so performance determines the overall performance of the handheld.
- Memory (RAM): Because the CPU and GPU of devices like handheld share memory, higher memory speed and capacity will result in better performance. Generally speaking, the higher the memory speed, the higher the frame rate of the game; The larger the memory capacity, the longer the lifespan of the handheld. The current entry-level Steam Deck comes with 16GB of RAM, and some high-end models are even starting to use 32GB of RAM for better performance and larger GPU buffering.
- Display panel type: The type of display panel affects color representation, ghosting, and input latency. OLED and IPS panels perform best in this regard, but cheaper IPS panels may not work very well.
- Display resolution and refresh rate: The higher the display resolution, the clearer the picture, but the more the performance of the handheld is tested, and the more difficult the game will be. The same applies to refresh rates, where it's difficult or impossible for current gaming consoles to run triple-A titles smoothly at refresh rates above 30-60 Hz.
- Display Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support: Variable refresh rate is a feature of monitors and graphics cards that synchronizes the refresh rate of the screen with the game frame rate, resulting in lower input lag and smoother visuals. VRR technology can also play a role in saving power. This technology is often referred to as G-Sync or FreeSync, with FreeSync being more common in these gaming handhelds, which mostly use AMD processors.
Is it a good deal to buy a Steam Deck in 2024? Should I buy or wait?
Steam Deck 玩不玩得了你想要的游戏？
There's a key guy here, called Proton, and one of Valve's great things about it is that it allows Steam Deck to play a lot of games that would otherwise only run on Windows computers! However, some game manufacturers have added special anti-cheat systems to prevent players from cheating, and Proton is a bit lacking in technology, such as Battlefield 5, which requires EA anti-cheat software, which is temporarily unplayable.
Is it a good deal to buy a Steam Deck in 2024? Should I buy or wait?
The Steam Deck can also be installed with Windows, but to be honest, playing Steam games can be a bit sluggish after installing Windows. This is due to the fact that the SteamOS system has been optimized for Steam games to make the game run more smoothly.
Finally, let's talk about the killer move, and that's ray tracing! This technology makes the game more realistic, but it is very performance-intensive. At the moment, the vast majority of handhelds don't have ray tracing, and if you want to play this type of game on a handheld, the graphics will definitely be greatly reduced, or even not played at all.
To put it simply, if you want to play some single-player games on the go, a Steam Deck or a handheld with similar equipment is a good choice. As for those games with super high graphics requirements, or if you like to play competitive games, you should buy a game laptop!
Is it a good deal to buy a Steam Deck in 2024? Should I buy or wait?
Steam Deck 的替代品
What handheld games to buy under 4000? Steam Deck is too expensive, don't panic! Here are some good options:
- Nintendo Switch OLED: Want to play an exclusive game like The Legend of Zelda and want something lighter? Switch to find out! But I've heard that a new model is coming out soon, so you can wait and see.
- ASUS ROG Ally Z1: Windows-based graphics can be adjusted, but the performance is a bit weaker than the Deck.
- PlayStation Portal: For PS5 games only, nothing else.
- Lenovo Legion Go: Bigger screen and higher resolution.
- MSI Claw: With Intel and Nvidia hardware, some games may outperform others.
- Orange Pi Neo: 目前最便宜的 Ryzen 7840U 掌机。
- Ayaneo Air 1S: 性能强劲，但是屏幕尺寸较小。
- Ayaneo Kun: 性能强劲,屏幕更大。
If you want a handheld that's stronger than the Steam Deck, and you don't care about the price or plug-in gaming, these are all great options. If portability and battery life are more important, we recommend considering Deck or Deck OLED.
Is it a good deal to buy a Steam Deck in 2024? Should I buy or wait?
New devices coming soon: Is it worth the wait?
For gamers looking for extreme performance, it may be a good idea to wait for a new device that is about to hit the market.
Some of the upcoming products are listed below:
- Ayaneo's new handheld (expected to be available in 2024):
- Flip DS: Featuring a clamshell design with two screens, it's all about nostalgia.
- Next Lite 和 Flip KB: 性能强劲的常规款式掌机。
- These devices will all be powered by AMD Ryzen 7840U or 8840U processors.
- Playtron New Devices (Estimated Time to Market Unknown):
- Powered by the self-developed PlaytronOS system, it is compatible with a wide range of PC games, not just the Steam platform.
- It is planned to use a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor, which is said to be powerful.
- New GPD Win Series (expected to be available in 2024):
- Win Mini 2024: Clamshell design with VRR variable refresh rate.
- Win Max 2: Featuring a larger screen, it's suitable for gamers who prefer to play games on a big screen.
- These devices will all be powered by AMD Ryzen 7840U or 8840U processors.
- Nintendo Switch 2 (expected to be available in March 2025):
- A sequel is coming soon, and there are rumors that there will be a performance boost.
All things considered:
- If you're looking for the most powerful performance and don't care about price and portability, you can wait for the upcoming device.
- 如果你更看重便携性和续航，Steam Deck 或 Deck OLED 都是不错的选择。
- Most of the upcoming devices will be powered by AMD Ryzen 7840U or 8840U processors, and the Playtron will be expected to use Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processors.
- For players who love Nintendo games, it may be more cost-effective to wait for the upcoming Switch 2.
In short, the handheld gaming market is highly competitive, with new products constantly being introduced. When choosing a device, you should not only pay attention to the performance price, but also consider your own needs and preferences.