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The NY Times isn't the first place I go to for my gaming news, but that doesn't mean they don't know what they're talking about! In a recent article looking over the best game consoles for differing situations in 2026, the NY Times concluded that the Steam Deck OLED is the best way to play your PC games on the go.

Steam Deck

What were their reasons for going with the Steam Deck? Firstly, they liked the compact form factor compared to a gaming laptop, and the fact that everything is included in one package, with no need for a mouse or a gigantic wallet to purchase said laptop. Plus the fact that most gaming laptops only last, at most, 1-2 hours before the battery dies, whereas the Steam Deck OLED can run for hours depending on the games you play.

They also mention the Steam Deck's biggest strength, in my opinion: the fact that the UI/OS is designed around a gamepad. Those coming from a console may well get frustrated with using Windows on a handheld, such as with an ROG Xbox Ally.

As for downsides, they do mention that the device has older hardware that struggles to run some modern games, and that Linux inherently has some software incompatibilities, but you're probably not going to be top of the class at Valorant with a handheld anyway.

Regardless, the NY Times believes that the Steam Deck should be the entry point for gamers interested in handheld PC gaming, and we're inclined to agree. It's available at a low price point, it can run most games, and it's the easiest handheld to use so far.

Source: NYTimes

If you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of the content on SteamDeckHQ! We have a wide variety of game reviews and news that will help your gaming experience. Whether you're looking for news, tips and tutorials, game settings and reviews, or just want to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, we've got you covered!

Oliver Stogden
Oliver began playing video games at an early age, starting with the SNES console and Commodore Amiga computer. Nowadays, his interest is in the future of portable technology, such as handheld gaming systems, portable power stations/banks, and portable monitors. And seeing just how far we can push these devices.
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