The Best Steam Deck Alternatives

Valve’s latest hardware venture, the Steam Deck, was a welcome surprise to many. Bringing to attention a niche that had been steadily gaining traction over the past 2-3 years. Due to overwhelming demand, pre-orders for the Steam Deck are not expected to be fulfilled until some point in 2022. For those who can’t wait for handheld PC gaming, we at DroiX present to you nine great Steam Deck alternatives!

What is the Steam Deck?

The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming PC that is similar in design to the Nintendo Switch. Featuring a large central screen flanked on both sides by sets of dedicated game controls.

The Steam Deck is powered by a customized AMD processor. The intent behind the Steam Deck is to provide a portable gaming handheld that can support the vast majority of devices at a bare minimum of 30FPS (this includes both indie games and more demanding AAA titles).

Prior to the development of these kinds of devices, when it came to gaming on the go, there were only two real options. The first of these being retro gaming handhelds, which are very inconsistent when it comes to emulating platforms newer than the PS1. The second option being gaming laptops, which may be too large and bulky for some.

The Steam Deck will ship with an updated version of SteamOS – a linux-based operating system designed to work seamlesesly with Valve’s Steam gaming platform.

Steam Deck Alternatives

#1: The GPD Win 3 – The All-Around Favourite

The GPD WIN 3 is the first on our list of Steam Deck competitors. Coming from GPD, the manufacturer behind various mini laptops, and the WIN 3’s direct predecessor, the GPD WIN 2.

Powered by an 11th generation Intel processor, the tagline for the GPD Win 3 is «The world’s 1st handheld AAA game console» and it’s claim to fame is running AAA games – which it does surprisingly well.

Despite being a handheld device, the GPD WIN 3 is truly capable of running AAA games. The caveat being, you will (and this is a common theme for all gaming handhelds), need to make some concessions in terms of visuals to get games running at higher framerates.

It makes a perfectly viable competitor to the Steam Deck thanks to its respectable performance in a variety of games, as well as the similar form-factor. It is also extremely good at emulation.

The GPD WIN 3 also features a built-in touch keyboard, useful for quickly entering credentials in online games and forms without needing to open an on-screen keyboard.

The GPD Win 3 is available to buy from DroiX, shipping worldwide from the UK. You can also check out our GPD WIN 3 review for further info.

GPD Win 3 vs Steam Deck – Which is better?

On the matter of the GPD Win 3 vs the Steam Deck, it is difficult to say which one is better. It ultimately depends on your use case.

The GPD Win 3 is a released, finalized handheld gaming console. With many performance benchmarks you can currently check out all across Youtube, and just reviews for the GPD Win 3 in general, it’s easier to get an idea of what you’re getting into.

Meanwhile the Steam deck has no real production models out in the wild as of now. Only Steam Deck prototypes exist. Coupled with the fact that the Steam Deck uses a custom APU instead of an already existing model, there is not even a real-world reference that we can extrapolate data from.

Overall, while more expensive, we’d believe the Win 3 to be the more powerful high-end option for handheld gaming. Unless Valve are selling the Steam Deck at a loss, it is unlikely that they’ll be able to outperform the Win 3 at the given price points.

The GPD Win 3 also has the advantage of being compatible with external GPUs, meaning it can function as a fully-fledged gaming PC in its own right.

As a note, both models are compatible with docking stations – which noticeably increase the device’s connectivity. The GPD Win 3’s docking station can be purchased here.

Category	GPD Win 3	Steam Deck
Processor	Intel Core i5 1135G7 (Quad-core, 2.4-4.2GHz) Intel Core i7 1165G7 )Quad-core, 2.8-4.7GHz)	Custom AMD Zen 2 APU (Quad-core, 2.4-3.5GHz)
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics	Custom RDNA 2 Graphics
RAM	16GB LPDDR4x (@4266MHz)	16GB LPDDR5 (@5500MT/s)
Storage Options	1TB M.2 NVMe	64GB eMMC 256GB M.2 NVMe 512GB M.2 NVMe
Storage Expansion	microSD M.2 NVME	microSD M.2 NVMe
Screen	Touch-enabled 5.5 Inches 1280x720p (16:9) IPS	Touch-enabled 7 Inches 1280x800p (16:10) IPS
Wi-Fi	IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (WiFi 6)	IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (WiFi 5)
Bluetooth	5.0	5.0
Controls	A B X Y buttons D-pad L & R analog triggers L & R bumpers 2x Assignable grip buttons 2x analog sticks; clickable (L3/R3) Start & Select buttons Xbox Guide button	A B X Y buttons D-pad L & R analog triggers L & R bumpers View & Menu buttons 4x assignable grip buttons 2x capacitive touch analog sticks; clickable (L3/R3) 2x trackpads
Ports	1x USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 1x 3.5mm headphone jack	1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (w/ DP 1.4 Alt-mode) 1x 3.5mm headphone jack.
Other Features	Fingerprint sensor Built-in rumble Capacitive touch keyboard Controller/Mouse Mode Toggle Switch eGPU Compatible Docking Station Compatible	Gyroscope Ambient light sensor Stereo microphone Built-in rumble Docking Station Compatible
Battery	~45Whr; approx. 3-8 hours of gameplay	~40Whr; approx. 2-8 hours of gameplay
Size	198mm x 92mm x 27mm	298mm x 117mm x 49mm
Weight	~550g	~669g
Price	£869.95 £989.98	£349.00 £459.00 £569.00

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#2: The AYA NEO – An AMD Competitor

The AYA NEO 2021 is a handheld gaming PC – and an excellent Steam Deck competitor – released in 2021 by Chinese start-up AYANEO after a crowdfunding campaign earlier in the year.

Similar to the WIN 3, the AYA NEO’s aim is to provide an AAA gaming experience in a Switch-like package. Making use of a central touch screen flanked on either side by dedicated gaming controls.

Compared to the GPD WIN 3, the AYA NEO 2021 is much more similar in appearance to the Steam Deck. lacking the cradle-like design and sliding screen of the former.

Where the AYA NEO 2021 also stakes its claim as one of the best steam deck alternatives is in the processor. It makes use of an AMD Ryzen 5 4500 APU. While not quite the custom Zen 2 APU found in the Steam Deck, it’s about as close as you can get.

To learn more about this AMD gaming handheld, we encourage you to check out our AYA NEO 2021 review! You can also buy an AYA NEO 2021 from DroiX right now.

Following the WIN 3 came the announcement of the AYA NEO. Another crowdfunded handheld gaming PC from a brand new player to the scene, AYA.

The AYA, like the WIN 3, also intends to bring the gaming PC experience into a handheld form-factor. The key difference being that the AYA NEO features an AMD processor, rather than an Intel one.

#3: The OneXPlayer – Huge Screen, High Performance

Interested in getting a piece of the gaming handheld pie, One Netbook have also produced a handheld gaming PC of their own, called the OneXPlayer.

For those unfamiliar with One Netbook, they are a manufacturer of various mini laptops, much like GPD. Most known for their One Mix line of ultrabooks, One Netbook devices are a stylish alternative to GPD’s more utilitarian aesthetics.

The OneXPlayer features similar internals to the GPD Win 3, with 11th generation i5 and i7 processor options. The key aspect that sets the OneXPlayer apart from the competition, however, is its massive 8.3 inch display with a 2560×1600 resolution.

Its performance in games is similar to the WIN 3 overall when limited to 800p. If you wish to fully utilize the full 1600p resolution, you will however be taking a noticeable performance hit.

Due to the large display, the OneXPlayer stretches the limits of what one could realistically consider «portable» (because it is not too far-off in heft from a small laptop). Regardless, it makes a great alternative to the steam deck for those who find the deck’s display to be too small.

The OneXPlayer can be ordered from DroiX. You can also check out our OneXPlayer 1S review!

#4: The GPD Win MAX 2021 – A Handheld/Laptop Hybrid

The WIN MAX 2021 is a revision of GPD’s popular gaming laptop/handheld hybrid, the GPD Win MAX.

Designed to fill in a space between gaming handheld and gaming laptop, the GPD WIN MAX 2021 is larger than GPD’s usual offerings.

This revision for the GPD Win Max is purely related to the internals of the device. Featuring a choice of either a Ryzen 4800U or an Intel i7-1195G67 processor. The WIN MAX 2021 promises to run a plethora of AAA games at high frame-rates.

In all other aspects outside of the processor/RAM, the WIN MAX 2021 is identical to the WIN MAX.

As an alternative to a Steam Deck, it is much more viable as a daily driver portable device in general, rather than exclusively be for gaming.

Interested? Have a look at our GPD WIN MAX 2021 review to learn more. Or even buy a GPD WIN MAX 2021 from DroiX yourself!

While we don’t have any footage of the WIN MAX at the time of writing, you can check out our blogpost containing everything you need to know about the WIN MAX 2021 for more info.

#5 OneXPlayer 1S AMD – More AMD Alternatives

THe OneXPlayer AMD is, as the name implies, a variant of One Netbook’s OneXPlayer that features an AMD processor instead of the typical intel one.

The AMD processor used comes in two varieties. The first being an Ryzen 7 4800U, and the second being a Ryzen 7 5700u. It’s unknown why One Netbook opted for two versions of the device, considering their very similar performance (with the 5700u being marginally more powerful), but we suspect it’s due to part availability more than anything.

Nonetheless, the performance of the AMD variant is also top-class among handheld gaming PCs. Being fully comparable to the OneXPlayer and highest-spec GPD WIN 3 in terms of performance, if not exceeding them in some games.

The only real caveat is that the AMD variant does not have a Thunderbolt 4 port, so it can’t be used wtih external GPUs.

To learn more about the OneXPlayer AMD, we encourage you to check out our OneXplayer AMD Review. Or if you want to buy one yourself, buy a OneXPlayer AMD from DroiX today!

#6 AYA NEO 2021 PRO -A Beefed Up AYA NEO

The AYA NEO 2021 Pro is a slightly souped up variant of the AYA NEO 2021. This model was unveiled later in the development lifecycle of the AYA NEO 2021, and would launch about 1-2 months after it it’s weaker predecessor.

The heart of the AYA NEO 2021 Pro is an AMD Ryzen 7 4800U processor. While not an earth-shattering, game changing upgrade, it offers a nice, noticable boost in all manner of games. From AAA titles to more humble emulation.

Outside of the processor, however, it is essentially identical to the AYA NEO 2021. This model is perhaps the closest and best alternative you’ll be able to find to the Steam Deck on the market for some time.

To learn more about the AYA NEO 2021 Pro, we encourage you to check out our AYA NEO 2021 Pro review, as well as buy your own AYA NEO 2021 Pro from DroiX today!

An updated version of the AYA NEO is planned, called the AYA NEO 2021. It features numerous hardware improvements made from the feedback received from the original backers of the project. There is also a more powerful version of the AYA NEO 2021 planned called the AYA NEO 2021 PRO.

For more on this handheld gaming PC, check out our guide covering everything you need to know about the AYA NEO. Check out our blog post on the AYA NEO 2021 Pro for more information on the enhanced model too.

The AYA NEO 2021 can be ordered from DroiX for £849.95. The release date for the AYA NEO 2021 Pro is yet to be announced.

#7 OneXPlayer Mini – A Smaller Alternative

Unveiled at the very tail end of 2021, the OneXPlayer Mini is an eponymously titled iteration of the OneXPlayer gaming handheld that is noticeably smaller in size than the original model.

A common criticism of the OneXPlayer 1S was regarding it’s size. It was pretty much stretching the limits of what many would comfortably consider a «handheld».

The display of the OneXPlayer Mini sizes up at approximately 7 inches. This is not a gargantuan decrease from the 8.4 inch display of the original model, but it is enough to bring it in line with other contemporary handhelds such as the AYA NEO 2021 Pro. The resolution is also slightly smaller, at 1920x1200p instead of the original 2560x1600p.

The OneXPlayer Mini also comes with a slight rearrangement of interfaces, with some being moved around (like the volume butotns), and some being removed (like the microSD card slot).

Outside of that however, the device is mostly the same as the OneXPlayer 1S, only in a smaller, more wieldy package. Making it a preferable alternative to the Steam Deck, for those with smaller hands.

Check out our OneXPlayer Mini review for more information on the OneXPlayer Mini. You can also pre-order a OneXPlayer Mini from DroiX!

#8 The WIN MAX AMD – An AMD Laptop/Handheld Hybrid?

The WIN MAX AMD was a variant of the GPD WIN MAX 2021, that released in late 2021. While it was initially planned to launch at the same time as the WIN MAX 2021, component delays would push its release back a few weeks.

Like other variants of existing devices, the WIN MAX AMD is essentially the same device, but with a different set of internals powering the whole system.

This time, instead of containing an Intel i7 1195G7 processor, the heart of the device is an AMD Ryzen 7 4800U.

This comes with its own ups and downs, as AMD and Intel use different graphical drivers. Something to also be aware of is that the Thunderbolt 4 port is replaced with a regular USB Type-C port.

To learn more about this steam deck alternative, please check out our WIN MAX 2021 AMD review. Or buy a WIN MAX 2021 AMD from DroiX today!

#9 The AYANEO NEXT – A Premium Alternative

The AYANEO NEXT Is a recently announced handheld gaming PC. Teased in late December, and fully revealed in early January.

Rather than being just a simple processor upgrade, the AYANEO next is more like an entirely new device! Featuring an AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor and LPDDR4x RAM.

A particular highlight of the model is the new «Hall-sensor» analogue sticks that promise to eliminate (or significantly reduce) stick drift, as well as general wear and tear.

(For those uninformed – stick drift is what happens when the analog stick gradually becomes decentered after hours and hours of use)

Improved ergonomics can also be observed, with the device having more natural contours in which to rest your hands in.

Of all the handhelds in this article, the AYANEO NEXT is truly one of the best steam deck alternatives thanks to its exemplary performance in games, matching and even beating out the deck in some areas.

To learn more about the AYANEO NEXT, please check out our AYANEO NEXT FAQ! Also learn more in our AYANEO NEXT ADVANCE review!

#10 AYANEO AIR – The smallest Windows handheld with an OLED

The AYANEO Air is the smallest Windows handheld with an OLED screen. The 5.5″ OLED screen looks amazing with bright and vibrant colours that pop out of the screen as you are playing.

There are three models available the AYANEO Air with AMD Ryzen 5 5560U processor and 28W battery, and the AYANEO Air which will have the same processor and alternative AMD Ryzen 5 5825U both with 38W batteries.

We mention the batteries because the battery life is a little shorter than other handhelds. The Air will last around 90 minutes on average and the Pro will be around the 2 hour mark. Read our AYANEO Air review here and performance comparison with other AYANEO models for more details

Despite the battery life we love the AYANEO Air. It comes with AYA SPACE which is a fully featured frontend for the handheld which transforms it into more of a console like experience than a Windows one. It also has customisable LED lighting around the joysticks. The triggers and sticks use hall sensors which reduces wear and tear compared to traditional methods which increases the lifespan and accuracy of input.

You can learn more and buy the AYANEO Air here.

#11 GPD WIN MAX 2 – Work and play

The GPD WIN MAX 2 brings work and gaming together with some very cool features. Featuring a great sized keyboard you can do your boring work during the day and game at night! There are full gaming controls with a clever design of two removeable panels that hide the gaming controls, keeping a professional look.

The 10.1 inches 1920×1200 resolution IPS touchscreen is the largest for handhelds and games look great on it. It also has a touchpad for easy mouse navigation as an alternative to using the touchscreen.

There are two models available, an Intel Core i7-1260P and AMD Ryzen 7 6800U which will have similar specifications. The decision here is which is best suited for you? The Intel model has great day to day performance for work related tasks as well as support for more recent games console emulation. But it does fall short as we noticed in our Intel model review that when it comes to playing AAA Windows games compared to the AMD Ryzen 6800U which will outperform it by a noticeable difference.

You can learn more and order your GPD WIN MAX 2 here.

#12 ANBERNIC WIN 600 Budget Windows gaming

The Anbernic Win 600 is the first handheld for Windows by Anbernic. It is designed as a budget Windows handheld with a lower price than all of the other models. Despite its low cost the Win 600 does have some strong points.

The Win 600 has two models available, the first is with an AMD Athlon Silver 3020e processor and the second with a 3050e processor. They both have 8GB DDR4 RAM and 128GB and 256GB SATA SSD respectively. There’s a high quality 5.94 IPS display at 1280×720 which is great for the era of games this handheld was designed to play.

With the lower performance processor you would not be able to play the latest AAA Windows games. The Win 600 is however great for older Windows games, you probably have many of them uncompleted on your Steam library? 😉 It is also quite impressive for retro gaming, supporting all of the greats from Atari 2600 up to PSP era very easily.

You can learn more about the Win 600 and buy yours here. And read our review here where we see what kind of games this handheld is capable of.

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When is the Steam Deck being released?

The current ETA for the Steam Deck depends on when you were able to snatch up a pre-order, and on the model you’ve chosen!

The Steam Deck officially launches on February 25th, according to Valve in a blog post. The first batch of pre-orders can expect their units to begin shipping out from this date. If you order now however, expect to receive your device no earlier than after Q2 2022 (July 2022 or later).

Early reservations can expect for shipping to begin in December 2021. However, due to extremely high demand, if you try to place an order now (as of 27/07/2021), the expected availability for the Steam Deck is currently after Q2 2022. So if you place an order right this moment, you probably won’t be seeing your unit for around a year at the earliest.

Initially, early adopters could expect to receive the Steam Deck by December 2021. But due to unexpected delays, the Steam Deck is now expected to start shipping in February 2022.

If you can’t wait for an AAA handheld gaming experience, we’d recommend going for one of the many fine handhelds you’ve seen in this article, as well as browse other gaming handhelds.

How much does a Steam Deck cost?

As of now, there are three different versions of the Steam Deck priced at £349, £459 and £569 respectively. With more expensive models featuring higher storage (64GB, 256GB, and 512GB).

Interestingly, the cheapest variant of the Steam Deck features a different type of storage than the other two. It is saddled with slower eMMC storage (much like you would find in mobile phones).

The Steam Deck is noticably cheaper than most alternatives, but that is because Valve can afford to subsidize the cost. Because Valve take a cut of all games sold on Steam, they expect to recoup the cost from any subsequent games you buy.
This is comparable to the blade and razor business model. Wherein a high quality device is sold at a loss, but has a cheaper component that you will need to replace frequently.

Can the Steam Deck replace a PC?

By itself? No. But with the docking station that Valve are promoting with the device, the Steam Deck could easily replace your PC.

As a note, the AYA NEO 2021 has a special docking station available. The GPD WIN 3 can also be purchased with a docking station. Docking stations allow you to connect a smaller device to more peripherals and displays, drastically improving their usability without rooting them to the spot in the long term.

Will the Steam Deck (or any UMPC) be worth it?

We think these handheld gaming PCs, as well as the Steam Deck, are absolutely worth it! But you need to go into it with tempered expectations. While these devices are fully capable of playing many recent AAA games at 30/60fps, they will often not be capable of doing so at the highest settings. This is because they lack a discrete GPU.

Another important factor to consider is that you do not need any additional peripherals with these devices. You do not need to purchase an extra keyboard, you don’t need to buy a monitor, you don’t even need to buy a mouse, or speakers. When you factor in all these costs, plus the current state of the market – it will be difficult to find a PC that outperforms these devices for a similar price.

Is a gaming laptop better than the Steam Deck (or any UMPC)?

This mostly comes down to your priorities.

In favor of a laptop, you will likely get a bit more value for money, as the larger size allows for beefier internals and cooling. You can also use the gaming laptop as a daily driver without any extra investment thanks to their dedicated keyboards.

In favor of a gaming handheld however, you do not need to purchase a gaming controller – and there are simply some games that play better with controllers as opposed to keyboards (like racing games). Handhelds are much more lightweight as well, making them easier to carry around.
Finally, you can purchase docking stations to greatly expand the functions of your handheld.

It really comes down to what your priorities are.

If you travel a lot and also have a PC/laptop that you only work on/casually browse with, a handheld gaming PC is a much more appealing proposal.

Meanwhile, if you just need a portable computer outright, consider a Laptop (or a GPD WIN MAX 2021!)

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“Steam Deck” Revealed – Valve’s Latest Hardware Venture

Originally posted by benjamin on: 16/07/2021

Earlier this year, rumors began circulating that Valve was developing a handheld games console that was similar in form to the Nintendo Switch. Yesterday, this rumour came to fruition as Valve have officially announced a handheld gaming PC called the «Steam Deck»

This came as a surprise to many, particularly due to the less-than-successful line of «steam machines» that Valve had attempted to spearhead in 2015. There had since been radio silence on Valve from the hardware front (excluding their highly successful Valve Index VR Headset).

The Steam Deck Specs – A Ryzen Handheld?

The Steam Deck is powered by a custom-designed AMD APU capable of clock speeds of up to 3.5GHz, running the Zen 2 architecture. Developed in partnership with AMD – it remains to be seen what the real-world performance of the Steam Deck will be.

Given AMD’s track record with Mini PC‘s lately however, we’re comfortable saying that we have a positive outlook on how the handheld will perform.

This handheld also features 16Gb of cutting-edge LPDDR5 RAM, which should provide excellent performance in a variety of games in tandem with the custom-designed AMD APU.

The Steam Deck also comes with three different storage configurations. The first of these and the cheapest being a £349 model that comes with 64GB of eMMC memory. The latter two £459 and £569 models featuring 256GB and 512GB NVMe SSDs.

Allegedly, the 512GB model features a faster SSD than the 256Gb model. We are yet to see real-world performance however. All models feature expandable storage via a microSD card slot.

For wireless functionality, it features built-in Bluetooth 5.0 compatibility, and Wi-Fi 5 functionality, standard-fare for most handheld devices nowadays.

The Steam Deck Controls – Haptics Galore?

The Steam Deck features 7-inch 1280x800p display capable of touch input. The aspect ratio of this is 16:10, which is standard-fare and should work fine for most modern titles.

Curiously, the Steam Deck features two trackpads present underneath the analogue sticks. This technology was previously seen in Valve’s now-discontinued Steam Controller and was met with a mixed reception.

The handheld also features gyroscopic aiming, a feature that was first widely noticed on the Wii U.

When is the Steam Deck launching?

The Steam Deck begins shipping in December 2021 to the United States, Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom. You can however place a reservation for the Steam Deck on Valve’s storefront for a small fee.

Note that this release date is tentative however.

Are there alternatives to the Steam Deck?

Are you looking for an alternative to the Steam Deck? If so, you have three main choices to consider.

GPD Win 3

The GPD Win 3 is a handheld gaming PC developed by GPD that features an 11th generation Intel CPU. Like the Steam Deck, the GPD Win 3 can play AAA games with ease.

Much like the Steam Deck, the GPD WIn 3 is similar in appearance to the Nintendo Switch. Featuring a central screen flanked by controls on either side. The GPD Win 3 uniquely features a touchpad keyboard that is obscured by a sliding screen.

AYA NEO

The AYA NEO is an up-and-coming handheld gaming PC that features an AMD APU. The APU in the AYA NEO is not a custom design, being a Ryzen 7 4800u.

AYANEO have informed us that the AYA NEO will be receiving a hardware update in the next batch of devices, with the current ETA for arrival being the end of August 2021.

OneXPlayer

The OneXPlayer is another handheld gaming PC developed by One Netbook, the company behind devices such as the One GX1 and the One Mix 3 Series. The OneXPlayer contains an 11th Generation Intel processor.

This handheld PC features the largest display at 8.4 inches. Beyond that however, there is not much to say. Currently, there is no way to buy the OneXPlayer. This will undoubtedly change in the future however once the device reaches the mass production phase.

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We’ll be keeping tabs on the Steam Deck as it will undoubtedly bring more attention to the scene of handheld gaming PCs as a whole. For the latest updates, feel free to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.