Best 3 Game Handheld Alternatives to the Steam Deck (Not $789)

On May 27, Valve announced a steep price increase for the Steam Deck. Moving forward, it The 512GB OLED Steam Deck costs $789; in the meantime The 1TB edition requires an investment of $949. With a price jump of $200 and $300 respectively, the Steam Deck has gone from a relatively affordable gaming device to a premium luxury item, while opening the door for other handhelds to step up to the plate.

Although still niche in the grand scheme of things, the PC handheld market has grown quite competitive in recent years, giving customers a few options. Due to the store's name recognition and competitive price, Steam Deck generally led the line in both critical and commercial success, though its sales figures fell well short of even underwhelming console handhelds. Is Steam Deck still worth the money? That is something only you can answer, but other options should definitely be considered at this point.

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The Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is the handheld that has the best value for money

Asus retail price: $499.99

Since its debut in 2023, the Asus ROG Ally Z1 has been the Steam Deck's main competitor, mainly because it has similar specs and a comparable price. Prior to May 27, Valve's handheld tended to be slightly cheaper than Asus' Windows device, at least for the 512GB model. After May 27, the Z1 looks like an absolute steal compared to its more popular sibling, especially when you consider that it's technically the more powerful device.

At launch, the Z1 Extreme cost $699.99, establishing itself as the high-end alternative to the original ROG Ally model. But nowadays, The ROG Ally Z1's MSRP comes in at a much more attractive $499.99and it sometimes goes for less. At this point, the ROG Ally Z1 might offer the best value for your dollar, and it's a very solid option for anyone looking for a good entry-level PC handheld that has enough juice to handle most (but not all) modern games.

Full disclosuremy handset of choice is the Z1 Extreme, although I bought it primarily as a laptop to use when visiting family. As a makeshift low-to-mid-level Windows PC, this ROG Ally works like a charm, and is sufficient as both a workstation and a plugged-in gaming PC that mainly runs older titles. As a PDA, however, its capabilities are much more impressive Windows 11 is not at all fun to use in this form.

ROG Xbox Ally now appears to be cheap thanks to the Steam Deck

16GB 512GB base model: $599.99

ROG Xbox Ally is basically a ROG Ally with Xbox branding and a launcher interface. Gamers can jump into Game Pass and bypass Windows 11, giving the illusion of a handheld console (but it's not). Although it has essentially the same screen as the Z1 Extreme, this version's Xbox-like controls deliver improved ergonomics, one of the areas where the standard ROG Ally struggles. This model introduces a much superior battery that should last much longer, arguably making it a more valid hand held device than the Z1 Extreme.

Performance-wise, the Xbox Ally can be seen as roughly the equivalent of the Steam Deck, albeit with a better battery, USB-C ports and a 1080p screen. Due to it being much more expensive initially, the Asus and Microsoft collaboration couldn't really compete with Valve's product, making it almost seen as a console handheld rather than a PC alternative. But now that Xbox Ally's 512GB model is actually cheaper than Steam Deck's cheapest version, things have really changed.

Even after the price increase, the Nintendo Switch 2 will be much cheaper than the Steam Deck

Current Price: $449.99; Price from September 1st: $499.99

OK, this one is a bit of a cheat, as the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Steam Deck occupy different spaces. Realistically, most people interested in one device may be looking for something the other can't offer. But for the few people who just want a handheld device that can keep them entertained while traveling, the Switch 2 is the best option on the table. Unlike Valve with the Steam Deck, Nintendo announced a price increase months in advance, giving interested customers the opportunity to pick one up in the meantime. Even then, the price increase for the Switch 2 amounted to “only” $50, far less than the Steam Deck's increase.

You need to know what you're getting with the Switch 2: Great exclusives, some third-party support, and a huge backwards compatible library. It can also be a great indie gaming device, although its offerings can't possibly compare to Steam's. Games like Donkey Kong Banana and the coming Splatoon Raiders is a system seller, but you don't need to pick up the latest Nintendo game to get mileage out of your Switch 2. While nothing compares to Valve's sales, the Nintendo Store consistently offers pretty big discounts, especially for old Switch games. You don't have to spend a lot to play a lot.