Valve, the developers behind the online game store Steam, has unveiled a new portable, handheld gaming PC called the SteamDeck. It features a custom designed AMD APU with a Zen 2 based CPU and RDNA 2 based GPU, 7-inch touchscreen display, and a wide-variety of inputs ranging from thumbsticks, triggers, grip buttons and touchpads.
According to Steam, the Steamdeck is capable of playing AAA titles, and out-of-the-box it runs a new version of SteamOS that is optimized for a handheld gaming experience. Once a user logs in, the Steamdeck will synchronize with their existing PC steam library, and through the Proton compatibility layer, users can play any game without needing developers to port the game.
It has an ergonomic design with a wide variety of controls and inputs, including thumbsticks, triggers, grip buttons, trackpads and of course a 7-inch touchscreen. The Steamdeck also supports a USB-C dock that is sold separately, with which users can connect USB peripherals, and connect to an external display.
The specifications of the Steamdeck are as follows:
| Specifications | Steamdeck |
| Processor | AMD APU CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz GPU: 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6GHz APU power: 4-15W |
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM |
| Storage | 64 GB eMMC (PCIe Gen 2 x1) 256 GB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4) 512 GB high-speed NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4) |
| Display | 7-inch touchscreen optically bonded LCD panel, 1280 x 800px resolution, 60Hz, 400 nits brightness typical |
| Controls and Input | A B X Y buttons, D-pad L & R analog triggers, L & R bumpers, View & Menu buttons, 4 x assignable grip buttons, 2 x full-size analog sticks with capacitive touch, 2 x 32.5mm square trackpads with haptic feedback. |
| Audio | Stereo with embedded DSP, Dual microphone array, 3.5mm stereo headphone / headset jack, Multichannel audio via DisplayPort over USB-C |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, Dual-band Wi-Fi |
| Battery | 40Whr battery |
| Input | 45W USB Type-C PD3.0 power supply |
| Expansion | UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC |
| Size | 298mm x 117mm x 49mm |
| Weight | Approx. 669 grams |
| Operating System | SteamOS 3.0 |
The Steam Deck will become available from December 2021 in 4 regions, namely United States, Canada, European Union, and the United Kingdom priced starting at $399 (Rs. 29,760 approx.).