Five things that the Steam Deck 2 needs to feature to compete with its rivals in 2027... and beyond
I go through everything that a prospective Steam Deck successor would need to include to be viable against the fierce competition that has emerged in the last half-decade.
Valve's Steam Deck, first announced in mid-2021, was a groundbreaking handheld gaming PC. The original model shipped in February 2022, and the OLED version followed in November 2023. The device boasted a semi-custom AMD APU, featuring a four-core CPU clocked between 2.4 and 3.5 GHz, and 8 RDNA 2 Compute Units running at 1.6 GHz.
However, the Steam Deck now appears underpowered compared to top handheld gaming PCs. To remain competitive, Valve must take specific measures when releasing the Steam Deck 2 in 2027 and beyond. First, the device should feature a 120Hz Full HD (1080p) OLED display. This would help the Steam Deck 2 keep up with competitors using high refresh rate 1080p displays.
Second, Valve should employ a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 and RDNA 3.5 APU (or a better alternative). While Valve typically avoids standardized components, the semi-custom approach used in the Steam Machine could provide the horsepower needed for the portable device. Finally, the Steam Deck 2 should be priced under $1,000 or £1,000. While the original Steam Deck was sold at a loss, Valve should avoid this mistake with its successor.
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