Steam Deck

 

Valve is making a Switch-like portable SteamOS 3.0 gaming PC. The new SteamOS has been optimized for handheld and touchscreen gaming, while it will also have a desktop mode for those who want it. SteamOS 3.0 is also now based upon Arch Linux, with the desktop mode being powered by KDE Plasma. SteamOS 3.0 includes Proton, a “compatibility layer” that allows Windows games to run on Linux “without any porting work needed from developers.

The base $399 Steam Deck comes with 64GB of eMMC internal storage and a carrying case. For $529, you can upgrade the storage to a 256GB NVMe SSD. The 512GB model costs $649 and comes with "premium anti-glare etched glass." The dock will be sold separately.

Possible spec

The Steam Deck’s 7-inch screen is an LCD with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 60 Hz refresh rate at a 720p resolution of 1280x800. Its CPU is based on the company’s Zen 2 micro architecture and tops out at 3.5 GHz. The GPU contains eight RDNA 2 compute units running at up to 1.6 GHz. The APU has a power envelope of 4-15W.The Steam Deck also features a dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi radio  it’s compatible with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks and Bluetooth 5.0 for controllers, accessories. Aside from the built-in storage, users will also be able to use microSD cards to increase their storage. All models will get 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM. The Steam Deck also functions as a normal computer, allowing players to install and use PC software.

 eMMC storage vs NVMe SSD

The current standard for eMMC storage is v5.1A, which can effectively deliver transfer speeds of up to about 400MB/s. NVMe SSD can effectively deliver transfer speeds  up to 1,100 MB/s. Whether or not you should avoid the Steam Deck eMMC verstion is more based on your budget and what you're games your going to be playing.

SteamOS 3.0 not Win11

The Steam Deck is a mini PC that will ship with SteamOS 3.0, which is an Arch-based Linux distro with the KDE Plasma desktop environment. Of course, people could also just get rid of SteamOS entirely and install Windows 10/11. However Valve recommends not wiping SteamOS for Windows.

Proton “compatibility layer” allows "SOME" Windows games to run on SteamOS.  

Proton is a compatibility layer for Microsoft Windows games to run on GNU+Linux-based operating systems. For example, using Proton, it is possible to play Death Stranding on SteamOS at high frame rates and high graphics settings with a controller or a keyboard and mouse, exactly as if you were playing on Windows.  There can be a small performance hit. Always keep in mind that some games might work perfectly the first time you run it. However, other games might never run at all. This is due to the issue anti-cheat software found in games like Destiny 2 Apex Legends, and Rainbow Six Siege.

GNU+Linux Native Games

Many big names from other platforms have been ported over to GNU: Metro 2033/Last Light/Exodus, Counter Strike, DoTA 2, Ark, Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition, Streets of Rage 4 to name a few. Proton compatibility layer is not need for GNU+Linux games.

Conclusion. 

Is The Steam Deck for everyone? No. Will Steam Deck replace a i7 11700KF based system with GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6 GPU? No.  

Steam has a ton of old and new games that will likely never come to Switch, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Dream Fall Chapters, UnReal Gold and Left 4 Dead 2 to name a few. 

I have no need for a portable PC to play games. However, people do have different needs.

Note: SteamOS is a version of GNU/Linux that is distributed by Valve. It contains proprietary software, including the Steam client it self and many proprietary drivers. Steam uses the evil Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) to impose restrictions on the software it distributes via the Steam store.