PS5 vs. Steam Deck - which one is a better buy for $500?

[Deleted member 13]

NOTE: This comparison is ONLY talking about using the built-in OLED screen - NOT the TV as it would lose badly to a Television/Monitor based PS5.

I've now had my Steam Deck for a couple of months and I've thoroughly enjoyed the experience as a PC console. If I had to choose between the 2 for $500, I would pick the SD. And here's why:

- Basically like a console when setting up games. It's a completely smooth experience installing games from steam on here. The ONLY thing that requires a little finesse would be games that are tied to stores like Battlenet, Ubisoft, etc.. which requires an extra step.

- Completely backward compatible with most PC games from over a decade ago

- PS games getting ported to PC helps with being able to experience the top notch PS games both previous gens and next-gen games on this handheld

- Complete control over the graphics features. I can literally taylor my gaming experience with graphics features that may be too heavy for the SD or I can choose features that even the PS5 doesn't support with their games (i.e. HBAO+ or 16x anisotropic filtering).

- Can play it on-the-go while traveling.

- Agnostic hardware that won't degrade over time like the consoles do. I can be assured that future games and past games will relatively work on this even after this generation is over.

Thoughts?

 

[Dr Bass]

I think it depends on what game libraries you want to experience. Yeah some PS games are making their way over, but the steam deck won't play them like a PS5 will. If I had to pick ONE I would definitely pick the PS5. It's the style of setup I prefer, and (for the most part), the library I prefer.

That said I see huge potential in the steam deck, especially the way PC hardware is advancing in terms of performance per watt and what they can pack into these form factors. I also like how Valve is trying to "console-ize" the PC experience as much as possible. I don't really have enough time for what is available for me on my Switch and PS5 already, and I am dying for some Xbox games to come out that I feel like I can't miss, so Steam Deck is currently way down on my priority list. But I could totally see picking up a V2, or maybe even this current version, if I got a little more time. The PC games library is fantastic, and it has things that no console does.

I haven't looked into it much beyond the initial hype honestly, are you able to run emulators on the thing?

 

[Deleted member 13]

I think it depends on what game libraries you want to experience. Yeah some PS games are making their way over, but the steam deck won't play them like a PS5 will. If I had to pick ONE I would definitely pick the PS5. It's the style of setup I prefer, and (for the most part), the library I prefer.

But it doesn't need to. And it comes very close to it since it only needs a 800p framebuffer for graphics. Limiting it to 30FPS will match PS5's graphics features on most games. Keep in mind the PS5 right now is only getting you a resolution bump and a "Performance" mode bump. As I said, you can taylor the SD to your needs. You want 60fps, then turn down some graphics settings just like the PS5 does.

That said I see huge potential in the steam deck, especially the way PC hardware is advancing in terms of performance per watt and what they can pack into these form factors. I also like how Valve is trying to "console-ize" the PC experience as much as possible.

100%.

I don't really have enough time for what is available for me on my Switch and PS5 already, and I am dying for some Xbox games to come out that I feel like I can't miss, so Steam Deck is currently way down on my priority list. But I could totally see picking up a V2, or maybe even this current version, if I got a little more time. The PC games library is fantastic, and it has things that no console does.

Yup.

I haven't looked into it much beyond the initial hype honestly, are you able to run emulators on the thing?

Yea, I think people are able to run Dolphin for Nintendo stuff. I haven't done it.

 

[Hobbygaming]

PS5 hands down! I don't want to game on anything other than my TV and I get most PS exclusives when they release

 

[Deleted member 13]

PS5 hands down! I don't want to game on anything other than my TV and I get most PS exclusives when they release

Fair enough.

 

[Papacheeks]

Fair enough.

You are generalizing a lot of things about PS5. Where do you get the same experience on steam deck as playing a PS5 game with instant loads and Dual Sense?

Two different devices doing different things. On top steam deck is not VR ready. Also steam deck I doubt can do ray tracing well. PS5 can do it within its means by utilizing certain techniques.

Steamdeck is a all around portable PC that has api and OS designed for mobility.

PS5 is meant to be on you're tv.

 

[Dr Bass]

You are generalizing a lot of things about PS5. Where do you get the same experience on steam deck as playing a PS5 game with instant loads and Dual Sense?

Two different devices doing different things. On top steam deck is not VR ready. Also steam deck I doubt can do ray tracing well. PS5 can do it within its means by utilizing certain techniques.

Steamdeck is a all around portable PC that has api and OS designed for mobility.

PS5 is meant to be on you're tv.

You can do Steam Deck on TV with the dock right? Its just not as nice as the Nintendo dock from what I've seen. But I think it's possible. I personally like the direction, so I hope it has legs.

 

[Deleted member 13]

You are generalizing a lot of things about PS5. Where do you get the same experience on steam deck as playing a PS5 game with instant loads and Dual Sense?

It's basically a comparison for what to spend $500. It's a subjective topic of course. Instant loads and dual sense aren't as important as backward compatible games being able to run imo.

Two different devices doing different things.

How so? They are meant to play games.

On top steam deck is not VR ready.

OK. There's a plus for PS5 even if there really is nothing much out in the way of VR.

Also steam deck I doubt can do ray tracing well. PS5 can do it within its means by utilizing certain techniques.

Neither can the PS5 do it really well. It's so insignificant to the next-gen consoles right now that it's not really needed to enjoy a game. Hell, even the high-end GPUs have to have DLSS/FSR 2.0 in order to make it feasible.

PS5 is meant to be on you're tv.

That's true and an advantage. But for me, the $500 is best spent on the go with 100% backward compatibility and the ability to play PS games too. I've heard a lot of Sony guys here say their PS5s are sitting collecting dust because they are waiting on that next game to pop. I'm on my SD every day and spending hours on it because I have so many other games to play (PC + Xbox + PS + Nintendo (running Dolphin)).

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Phone and Game Pass.

 

[ethomaz]

PS5.

It is not even a choose.
Or go PS5 or if you want to be on PC a high-end PC… Steam Desk makes no sense imo.

 

[Sharinghack]

Why would I wanna play PC games with potato graphics? For portability I have a Switch and a Vita.

 

[kyliethicc]

you should read your own sticky lol

 

[Heisenberg007]

Phone and Game Pass.

 

[Heisenberg007]

PS5 all the way.

• Better games available on day one. I don't want to wait for 2+ years to play God of War Ragnarok and see all the spoilers beforehand.
• Better visual fidelity, frame rates, ray-tracing, bells, and whistles, etc.
• Better controller support.
• VR gaming.
• And I can play for more than 1.5 hours without having to worry about recharging my console.

Steam Deck is a good step in the right direction, but it needs to be reiterated in a better 2.0 version before I buy it to play PC games and indies.

 

[Deleted member 140]

PS5 all the way!

I think having a Switch vs Steam Deck discussion would be more interesting.

 

[Bernd Lauert]

This is extremely subjective. Depends on which library of games you prefer, depends on if you need a portable device or not, etc...

 

[Yobo]

Handhelds do nothing for me

There is rarely of ever a chance I'm playing games on the go. If I'm playing at home I have a big TV setup

 

[arvfab]

PS5 for many reasons, but the most important ones for me:

- Sony first party day 1
- Physical games

 

[BigMclargeHuge]

Ps5 for me, I don't really care about portability. My switch barely leaves its dock.

 

[PropellerEar]

Suddenly specs and graphical features don't matter?

PS5 is the only choice.

Handheld gaming is crap, there is no situation where I would like to play it, and for travel battery time sucks and the device is too big.
If I want to play at home, I will go to my own gaming room with 77LG Oled, AVR, Surround Sound.
When traveling I prefer something in the size of Vita, even switch feels too big.

For me SteamDeck would be collecting dust, there is no use case for it for me..

- Complete control over the graphics features. I can literally taylor my gaming experience with graphics features that may be too heavy for the SD or I can choose features that even the PS5 doesn't support with their games (i.e. HBAO+ or 16x anisotropic filtering).

I heard you were crashing with GoW all the time because of high settings and in your usual stubbornness you wouldn't budge on those settings.
I prefer less controls give me performance and eye candy mode, that already plenty.

- Agnostic hardware that won't degrade over time like the consoles do. I can be assured that future games and past games will relatively work on this even after this generation is over.

If you mean generation changes or actual hardware degradation, neither is an issue with PS5.
While i see more problems with Steam Deck on that front.