Is the Steam Deck still worth it in 2026?

The Steam Deck launched in February 2022 as the leading gaming handheld, but the landscape has shifted. Memory shortages driven by AI data center demand, which Engadget calls "RAMageddon," have pushed up prices across the gaming industry, and the Steam Deck now costs $300 more than before. The Steam Deck OLED, now the only model available, was released in 2023 and still has no performance upgrade over the original; its improvements focused on the screen and battery life.

Engadget identifies the Asus ROG Xbox Ally (and Ally X) and the Lenovo Legion Go line as the Steam Deck's main competitors. In testing, most models in these lines delivered better frame rates than the Steam Deck and achieved higher raw 3DMark Time Spy scores, though the gaps were sometimes minimal depending on the game. The Xbox Ally is often held back by its Windows operating system, while Lenovo has introduced Legion Go models that run SteamOS. The Legion Go also offers detachable controllers, making it attractive for docked play.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is another alternative, though it has a limited title pool. Its price rose from $450 to $500 in September 2026 but remains below the Xbox Ally and Legion Go lines. Switch 2 is the only handheld in this comparison to support Nvidia DLSS, and it and the Steam Deck both support HDR.

Engadget's reviewer Jessica Conditt said that Switch 2 is "the only handheld that makes sense for its price at the moment," calling prices "ludicrous." But for players focused on Steam games, she said, "Steam Deck is still a great little machine, even with the price increase." Engadget notes that SteamOS cannot run games with certain anti-cheating software, such as Fortnite or Call of Duty: Warzone.

Battery life is another factor. While the Xbox Ally and Legion Go lines have larger batteries, the Steam Deck OLED often lasts longer in real-world use because the others drain quickly when not in low-power mode. The Steam Deck is also lighter than most of its rivals, second only to the Switch 2, making it comfortable for long sessions.

On price, the Switch 2 is the cheapest option, followed by the regular Xbox Ally, which has the tradeoff of Windows. The Steam Deck OLED is less expensive than the Xbox Ally X and all current Legion Go models when purchased from the source, though Legion Go S models occasionally appear on Amazon below MSRP. Engadget concludes that Lenovo's line is effectively ruled out for price-sensitive buyers, leaving a choice between Nintendo, Windows handhelds, and the Steam Deck.