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Valve’s Steam Deck is arguably one of the most distinguished handheld gaming systems globally, prioritizing accessibility and affordability for gamers. Although Nintendo Switch still holds the number one spot for the best handheld console in the market, the Deck seems to be the preferred device for tech-savvy enthusiasts. However, the situation differs in India, where all gaming handhelds tend to be relatively pricey. Does the Steam Deck still outshine the competition despite the cost? Let’s Delve into it!
Is the Steam Deck a Worthy Investment in India in 2024?
Steam Deck’s Price and Availability in India
Although the Steam Deck is not officially available in India, numerous third-party sellers import the device and sell it on various e-commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart, Game Loot, etc. The Deck comes in various configurations for both the regular and OLED display models. Here are the approximate prices for all these devices:
Steam Deck 64GB: 45,499 INR
Steam Deck 256 GB: 50,999 INR
Steam Deck 512 GB: 59,990 INR
Steam Deck OLED 512 GB: 69,990 INR
Steam Deck OLED 1TB: 71,990 INR
As evident, these are significantly higher markups in comparison to the device's original prices in other countries. Additionally, you are restricted to third-party after-sales services, as there are no official repair centers available within the country. Does this mean you should automatically put off your Steam Deck purchase? Well, not exactly.
If you are unaware, the Nintendo Switch also suffers from the same fate, offering no official support in terms of both its hardware and games. However, considering that the console has been well-established within the Indian market, its after-sales service has improved significantly since its launch. Although the Steam Deck has not reached that point yet, it has been reported to be very reliable by owners. Moreover, Valve has designed the device to be easily repairable, with the product even receiving an iFixit rating of 7/10.
What Games Can You Play on the Steam Deck?
Similar to many other handheld gaming devices, the Steam Deck also caters to a niche audience who are looking to play AAA games on the go. Although the Nintendo Switch offers a diverse catalog of games, it fails in comparison to the Steam Deck which can run a colossal amount of games, thanks to its integration with Steam.
The Steam Deck can essentially run almost every game available on Steam, thanks to its RDNA 2 GPU and custom Zen 2 CPU, which is capable of handling most titles, including some demanding AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077, Eldern Ring, Baldur’s Gate 3, and more. If you are unsure about a game’s compatibility on the device, you can also check its support from the list of Steam Deck Verified games before you purchase it. Here are the hardware specifications of the Steam Deck:
APU: 6 nm AMD APU
CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32)
GPU: 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.6GHz (1.6 TFlops FP32)
APU power: 4-15W
RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (6400 MT/s quad 32-bit channels)
Resolution:1280 x 800
Type: HDR OLED or IPS LCD
Display size: 7.4” diagonal
Operating System: SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)
Additionally, the Steam Deck’s hardware capabilities also grant you the freedom to use it as an emulation device to run all of your favorite games that were developed for older game consoles. If you know your way around its software, you can also dual-boot Windows and SteamOS on the device, which further enhances its functionality.
Alternatives to Steam Deck in India
The closest competitors of the Steam Deck would be the Asus ROG Ally, and the Lenovo Legion Go, both of which boast the more powerful Intel Z1 Extreme chipset. However, considering that both these devices run full Windows 11 on a handheld form factor, many have run into issues with game compatibility.
Although Asus has been considerably better when it comes to offering support through updates, neither of these devices comes close to the accessibility of the Steam Deck which runs SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system developed by Valve.
If you consider yourself a tech enthusiast and know your way around Windows 11, we recommend you purchase the Asus ROG Ally, as it offers more performance and hardware for the price and also provides better after-sales support than the Steam Deck, thanks to having official repair centers in India.
However, if you prioritize ease of access and a seamless "plug and play" experience, the Steam Deck is the ideal choice.
