First Impressions of the Steam Deck: A Powerful Handheld

Unboxing and Initial Setup

The first thing you notice with the Steam Deck is the 7-inch display. It features an anti-glare reflective coating, a nice touch that comes with the top-of-the-line version. Despite the screen size, the device is surprisingly light, although still quite thick. This thickness is justified by the array of controls: two thumbsticks, a D-pad, X-Y-A-B buttons, integrated touchpads, shoulder triggers, and four back buttons. The back buttons, however, feel a bit mushy and require more game-specific testing to evaluate their effectiveness.

Unboxing reveals a stylish case (included with the top-of-the-line model), a charging cable, and a cleaning cloth. The charging cable is unfortunately tethered to the brick, which could have been made more portable with a separate cable.

Setup is relatively straightforward. You’ll be guided through a series of steps, including language selection, time zone configuration, and Wi-Fi connection. The initial boot and download process can take some time, but the progress indicator is helpful, displaying download speed.

Once the update is complete, you’re greeted with the login screen, where you can access your Steam library.

Exploring the Steam Deck’s Features

The 512 GB model boasts fast storage, with a whopping 465 GB readily available. This is a significant advantage over some next-gen consoles that initially offer limited storage. For those seeking even more space, the Steam Deck’s storage can be upgraded through an M.2 slot or a microSD card.

The Steam Deck offers some extra bonuses, including community badges and custom virtual keyboard themes. The included Dex 85 keyboard stands out for its unique and visually appealing design.

Testing the Hardware and Performance

The Steam Deck’s custom AMD APU (combining CPU and GPU) with 16 GB of RAM delivers impressive performance. The experience feels surprisingly smooth, comparable to playing a game on a full-fledged PC. I downloaded Elden Ring and Hades to test the system’s capabilities.

The download process is easy, offering a detailed download page with speed information and the option to prioritize downloads. While the ability for dual downloads would be ideal, the easy switching between download priorities is a valuable feature.

Game loading can take some time, allowing you to choose between DirectX and Vulkan. While the fans can be noticeable, especially during intense gameplay sessions, I’m reserving judgment as the system is still new and likely operating at higher temperatures due to the update and testing process.

Initial impressions of the gameplay are positive. The controls are responsive, and the visual experience is impressive for a handheld console. The fluidity of the gameplay on such a small device is a testament to the powerful hardware within the Steam Deck.

Adapting to Steam OS

The Steam Deck runs on Steam OS, a Linux-based operating system that presents a departure from the Windows-based gaming landscape. While Windows remains the dominant system, the shift to Linux is a notable change and one that’s worth exploring further.

The Future of Handheld Gaming

The Steam Deck marks a significant step forward for handheld gaming, promising a powerful, PC-level gaming experience in a portable device. It remains to be seen how Steam OS will impact the broader gaming landscape, but the Steam Deck offers a compelling alternative for players seeking a more flexible and mobile gaming platform.