Gamers solely looking for a portable that allows console emulation have a plethora of low-cost options with quality builds, including the older products from Anbernic, and Ayn’s Odin, which runs on Android. The Steam Deck is actually a great emulator for older consoles, and even has enough power to emulate more recent console generations. Anbernic has produced a series of beloved emulation-focused handhelds, and Ayn’s Odin was among the most powerful portable emulation devices at the time of its launch.

Still, many of the games best suited to the Steam Deck’s portable format are not the most demanding, so consumers might get just as much use out of the cheaper, lighter alternatives.Īnbernic and Ayn are not the biggest names to mainstream gaming fans, but both have established fanbases in the emulation community. These competitors certainly do not aim to beat the Steam Deck in raw performance. Both leverage AMD Radeon GPUs, but the somewhat pricier option from Anbernic offers a larger onboard SSD and more RAM. Anbernic’s Win 600 sports either an AMD Athlon Silver 3020e, or a 3050e, depending on the model, and Ayn’s Loki Zero uses the 3050e. Between the more bloated architecture of Windows, and the lower specs, those buying the cheaper Steam Deck alternatives should have realistic expectations. Related: Steam Deck Review: A Handheld Monster In The Makingĭespite its limitations, the speedy Linux OS has its advantages, as tests show Steam Deck performance suffers with Windows installed.

Like Aya Neo, the Win 600 and Loki Zero are loaded with Windows out of the box, providing an edge for those who want to access a wider variety of PC games without the hassle of modding their Steam Deck. Its convenient form factor that packs impressive power has kept Valve hard at work meeting demand. Benchmark comparisons show the Steam Deck matching or exceeding the higher priced Aya Neo in many cases.

In terms of hardware value, the Steam Deck is hard to beat. There are pros and cons to weigh, as the Steam Deck natively supports a large list of Steam games, but its Linux-based architecture means fans hoping to access games from storefronts like Epic or GOG will require workarounds. The Steam Deck runs PS4 games better than PS4 consoles, in many cases, and the lower priced alternatives from Ayn and Anbernic are unlikely to match this feat.

Cost of steam deck