Deal | Dramatically reduced Steam Deck LCD price makes ROG Xbox Ally gaming handhelds less appealing

Recently, the focus has shifted to the upcoming Ryzen Z2 and Ryzen Z2 Extreme gaming handhelds. However, the Steam Deck has a loyal following unwilling to consider a Windows-based option. One advantage of the Valve device is cost, with the Steam Deck LCD price trimmed to $319.20.

Many past deals have been for refurbished stock. Buyers can now purchase a discounted Steam Deck in new condition directly from Valve. Its $319.20 price represents a significant reduction from the $399.00 MSRP.

The most economical version of the Steam Deck includes a 7-inch 1280x800 LCD screen. Gamers can find the Notebookcheck-reviewed OLED model with a slightly larger display, but it requires a $549.99 investment. If the 256GB of storage isn’t sufficient, owners can add a microSD card, replace the internal SSD, or use external drives when docked.

Valve dominates other PC gaming marketplaces, offering an extensive selection of Steam Deck games. Unfortunately, some titles with anti-cheat protection may not boot. Others suffer from reduced performance on the Linux-based device. Still, helpful owners often suggest workarounds for non-Steam Deck verified titles.

How the Steam Deck differs from Windows gaming handhelds

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally should work with most Windows 11-compatible games. On the other hand, the public hasn't tested its new Xbox full-screen experience. To free up resources, it disables background tasks, but essentially tweaks an existing OS.

Meanwhile, the Steam Deck relies on SteamOS 3, which is designed for a console-like gaming experience. Most gamers find the interface to be intuitive and responsive. Also, many competing gaming handhelds lack dual haptic trackpads, which can aid navigation.

Battery life isn’t stellar on the Valve machine, and its 60Hz LCD display shows its age. Even so, for a Steam Deck price of less than $320, buyers will struggle to find an alternative that runs so many popular titles. Although Microsoft has yet to confirm the ROG Xbox Ally price, rumors suggest a $549.99 MSRP. Other options include the $449.99 Nintendo Switch 2. Unfortunately, its library pales in comparison, despite enhanced third-party support.

Affordability, ease of use, and powerful customization are all strengths of the Steam Deck LCD. New Ryzen Z2 gaming handhelds from Lenovo, Asus, and MSI aren’t likely to diminish the massive Steam Deck community.

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.