2022’s Best Tablets, Laptops, Phones, and Other Tech Gadgets

Earlier this year we called them steam deck “Gorgeous, but unfinished.” Now that there are more updates, improved stability, and added better support for docking and external monitors, I’m willing to just call it awesome. Yes, it’s still a bit heavy and drains quickly if you don’t limit the FPS or TDP. But being able to make these tweaks speaks to the customizability of the experience, and lately I’ve been using it more than my Switch or PS5.

The beauty of the Steam Deck is that it’s a full-fledged gaming PC. Most of the games in my decades-old Steam library work on the thing, and I can even install programs from other stores on it. I’m only limited by the Linux operating system, although intrepid gamers can install Windows on it.

It’s much more powerful than the Switch, which makes playing games a pleasure God of War possible in a way that would never work on Nintendo’s computer, but since I’m a nerd I’ve used it to play indies and retro titles that don’t have switch ports (God of War is also only on PC and Sony machines, so AAA gamers definitely get some extra variety here, also). Curling up in bed with my Steam deck and a text-heavy title isn’t all that dissimilar to reading a book, and the sheer comfort of the experience means I’m finally working through my massive Steam backlog in a way I wasn’t back then I had to sit at my desk or fiddle with a fiddly living room PC. It’s also great for logging into MMOs from bed to get through the day, and if I want a big screen for something more action-heavy, I can just plug it into my dock and either play natively or stream from my PC, depending on the title. The best part? I can easily take my Steam library to my next gaming device, but I can’t say the same for the Switch.

Handheld gaming PCs are nothing new, but the Steam Deck is affordable in a way that previous entries from the likes of GPD and Aya weren’t. Now, however, we’re seeing promising competitors like that Aya Neo Airand the future of handheld gaming looks brighter than ever.

– Michelle Erhardt