All I Want From a Steam Deck 2 Is Better Portability

While some argue that the Steam Deck is getting on a bit as we get closer to 2026, it still works beautifully for what I want from it. Well, mostly, at least.

I bought the original Steam Deck at launch back in 2022, and it's been a lovely way to rediscover my PC library. I've accumulated many Steam games in my backlog over the last decade or so, but a desk isn't exactly where I want to be spending my downtime after work when you spend 8-10 hours each day working on your PC. It's great for playing off the sofa, and the dock makes life considerably easier when playing games with friends.

There's no denying that plenty of recent AAA releases on PC have struggled to achieve decent performance, though my biggest problem with the current Steam Deck isn't the specs. Indies are my usual jam there, which generally aren't so performance-heavy. No, my only major complaint is that I wish it were easier to take it with me when commuting.

What's put this into perspective for me is the Switch 2. I'm not here to get into a specs comparison, though the battery life - which is better but not massively so on Nintendo's new console - is an important aspect of my complaint. Extended use of either usually means I need to take my hefty power bank with me, giving me even less space. It's worth noting Steam Deck OLED has a better battery life, but I'm not buying it for that alone.

What's winning me over with the Switch 2 is the more pleasant form factor; it's lighter, thinner, more comfortable to hold, and so much easier to travel with. By comparison, the Steam Deck is a chunky device that's certainly impressive specs-wise, given the cost, but lacks that same portability.

Not that the Switch 2 is tiny either, and I miss fitting handhelds comfortably into my pocket. Yes, I know I could use my phone, and I often do for Balatro. However, that's not where my wider library is, and cloud streaming isn't reliable enough when using 5G tethering.

None of these complaints is anything particularly new, and while a performance boost would certainly be welcome, that's all I really want if Valve ever releases a full-fledged Steam Deck 2. Give me something more comfortable that doesn't need me constantly plugging it into a charger, and I'll be there day one.