The handheld console that we’ve been waiting for Steam to announce has finally been unveiled. The console, called Steam Deck, has a 7-inch touchscreen, and Valve says it can play the latest AAA games.
The device uses a new version of SteamOS as its operating system, which is actually a Linux-based system. But steam deck will of course not be limited to Linux games, otherwise it would not have much appeal anyway.
Perhaps one of the most important features of Steam Deck is that you can connect it to the monitor and other accessories so that you can use it like a regular PC. Valve says , “whether you’re walking around the net, watching videos, or even setting up other game stores.” The idea of a homebrewa open handheld console from the very beginning is quite attractive.
The technical characteristics of the device are as follows:
- CPU: AMD Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops)
- GPU: 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6GHz (up to 1.6 TFlops;
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 64GB, 256GB, 529GB versions available
- Screen: 7″, 1280×800 (16:10), 60Hz LCD touchscreen
- Audio: 3.5mm stereo input, dual microphone, multichannel USB-C/Bluetooth output
- Controls: Two analog arms with capacitive touch, D-pad, action buttons, analog triggers, various command-assignable buttons
- Trackpad: Two trackpads
Of course, there are some questions about the battery life of the device. The optimistic forecast refers to an 8-hour battery life in light use, which means the device will surely need extra charging on long journeys. This time is expected to decrease to two hours, especially in games that challenge the system.
The 64GB version of the Steam Deck will sell for $400, the 256GB version for $529 and the 512GB version for $649. Expensive models have not only wider, but also faster storage. The 256GB and 512GB models will use an NVMe SSD, with micro SD card support included in all three models.
You can get detailed information about the device from the website.
