To give the Steam Deck more of a challenge I tried some local co-op with a single console, and two PS5 DualSense controllers connected via the handheld's Bluetooth capabilities. Valve had previously said it can last anything from 2-8 hours depending on what you're playing, and our short hands-on time didn't leave room to test that theory. I couldn't see what it was like to play a big MMO or a casual hidden object game, but between the touchpads that can be used to control a mouse pointer and the processing power, it's hard to imagine a favorite of mine it couldn't handle.īattery life is definitely going to mean that if you want more than a few hours you'll want your charger around. So, you definitely get something extra the more you pay, and it isn't just for the base model.We were limited in what we got to play - Valve had sought permission from a few specific developers to use their games for the demonstration - but I checked out Doom Eternal, Dying Light: The Following, and Prey. The highest-end model comes with an anti-glare etched glass too.

It's worth pointing out that there's a difference in storage speeds between the 256GB and 512GB variants too, according to Valve. Related: Best NVMe SSDs for Faster Performance You cannot buy the 64GB model and swap it with an aftermarket NVMe drive down the line since none of the internal hardware is user-upgradable. The mid and high-end models with NVMe SSDs can deliver transfer speeds upwards of 2000MB/s which should be plenty for any game you throw at it for years to come. These speeds wouldn't matter in casual games, but it may limit you with loading times, especially if you play demanding PC titles. The transfer speeds for eMMC storage max out at 400MB/s at its present standard, which is just a fraction of what an average NVMe drive can deliver. This is the cost-cutting measure we were talking about. Now, here's why it may matter to you. Instead, it uses eMMC storage similar to the one in the Nintendo Switch. Unless you go through the specifications, you possibly wouldn't know that the base model doesn't have an SSD.

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