Steam Deck specs list
Your PC library in the palm of your hand.
Steam parent company Valve announced the Steam Deck, marking a bold entrance into the handheld gaming arena. This device packs some seemingly-impressive hardware into a handheld form factor, completely outstripping the upcoming Nintendo Switch OLED model. Pure hardware is just one factor though, as there's also games and pricing to consider.
Steam Deck syncs with your Steam library, meaning many of the best PC games are now playable on the go. We're gathered the full Steam Deck spec list that potential owners will want to go over.
List of Steam Deck specs
Category | Steam Deck |
---|---|
Operating System | SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based) |
Display | 7-inch diagonal, 1200x800 px |
Brightness | 400 nits |
Refresh rate | 60hz |
Processor | AMD APU, Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz |
Graphics | 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6GHz |
Memory | 16GB LPDDR5 RAM5500MT/s quad 32-bit channels |
Storage | 64GB eMMC / 256GB SSD / 512GB SSD |
Expandable storage | Yes, microSD card slot |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 |
Wi-Fi | Dual-band Wi-Fi radio, 2.4GHz and 5GHz |
Headphone jack | 3.5mm stereo headphone / headset jack |
Charging input | 45W USB Type-C PD3.0 power supply |
Battery | 40Whr battery, 2-8 hours of gameplay |
Size | 298mm x 117mm x 49mm |
Weight | 1.47 pounds (669 grams) |
There are three Steam Deck models that'll be available for $399, $529 and $649. These models have identical internal processing power across the APU but there are significant storage size differences. The $399 model includes just 64GB eMMC storage. The $529 model uses a 256GB SSD, while the $649 model includes a 512GB SSD and "premium anti-glare etched glass." Aside from a carrying case and some Steam profile extras, these models are otherwise identical. The more expensive the model, the faster the storage.
All three Steam Deck models include the ability to upgrade storage by adding an SD card in the internal slot. Obviously the less storage you have, the more important this will be, as 64GB isn't enough space to store many modern PC games. At the same time, the SSD can't be upgraded at all, meaning choosing the right model is fairly important. Games installed on an SSD will load faster, with the fastest loading times on the 512GB model.
Steam Deck reservations are expected to open on July 16 at 10:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m ET. A down payment is required in order to be placed in the queue. The Steam Deck is expected to begin shipping at some point in December 2021.
An ultimate PC handheld
Play your Steam library anywhere
Wanted more places to play your Steam library? Now you'll be able to with the Steam Deck. This machine comes in three iterations, which each allowing you to play your games locally and portably.
Expand your games
Store more games
The Steam Deck supports expandable storage through SD cards, meaning you can grab one and just slot it in to make room for more games, especially if you don't have a model with an SSD.
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Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Twitter @SamuelTolbert.