While the Steam Deck 2 remains a speculative future product, one perspective from PC Gamer suggests that a successful successor might not chase raw power but instead embrace a more compact, pocketable design reminiscent of the PlayStation Portable.
The current landscape of high-end handheld PCs, often priced over $1,000, presents a series of compromises, according to the author's observations. These devices tend to be expensive, large, and prone to fan noise and short battery life, issues that have plagued gaming laptops for years. Furthermore, many of these devices run Windows, a system the author finds less than ideal for a handheld experience.
The original Steam Deck is seen as a machine suited for indie titles, older PC games, and emulation, rather than pushing the boundaries of current AAA gaming. The ideal Steam Deck 2, in this view, would retain similar performance capabilities but feature significantly improved battery life and a considerably smaller form factor.
Evoking nostalgia for devices like the PSP and Game Boy Advance, the argument is made that handheld gaming has lost its way by pivoting to larger, Switch-sized devices. This shift, while perhaps intended to differentiate consoles from smartphones, has left a void in the market for truly portable gaming computers. A PSP-sized Steam Deck 2, the author posits, would fill this niche and be a highly desirable piece of hardware.