4 reasons I want to see more SteamOS handhelds

With Valve rolling out SteamOS to more devices than just the Steam Deck, like the Lenovo Legion Go S, it seems like more handheld PCs will feature the OS. SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system that turns the Steam experience on a handheld device into a console-like experience. You can still boot into desktop mode if you want, and even install Windows if you feel compelled, but it minimizes some of the hassles that might come with a more PC-like operating system.

It also ties into Steam's Deck Verified program, making it easier to know which games work and which don't on the handheld. Since the Steam Deck was released in 2022, SteamOS has been exclusive to the Steam Deck, Valve's own handheld PC. As a Steam Deck owner, I'm excited for more gaming handhelds to utilize this operating system, for a few reasons.

4 SteamOS offers ease of use over Windows 11

I don't want to tinker with my settings while I'm out with my handheld

Handheld gaming is great at home in my bed, but I often take my Steam Deck with me on trips or to do something as mundane as waiting for an oil change. While I'm happy to sit down in the settings menu to get a game running the best it can on the Steam Deck, I really don't want to if I can help it. SteamOS is much more streamlined when it comes to messing with a game's settings compared to a Windows 11-based handheld. Yes, you have less control with SteamOS, but it's not a huge gap. But a gaming handheld PC is about convenience. If I want something to run at max settings, that's what my desktop PC is for.

Having SteamOS on more handhelds means that those systems are more focused on convenience and ease of use, which is exactly what I'm looking for.

3 Valve support means more information about how games run

SteamOS compatibility is likely just a first step

Valve announced its new SteamOS compatibility tracker, which will be used on SteamOS devices that aren't a Steam Deck. Instead, it marks if a Steam game works through SteamOS, marking if you need an internet connection or a mouse or keyboard on first boot. It would also mark if the game isn't compatible, which would make it easy to know if you should buy a game or install one at a glance. Valve also said that information is already there automatically for any game that has been tested to be verified by Steam Deck. Any game that does get Steam Deck tested will automatically get SteamOS compatibility tested, which is a ton of games.

The Steam Deck verified marker has been great for saving time and money on Steam games that I wanted to play handheld but wouldn't actually be able to. That system has also been supported by Valve and the community, so I feel confident that SteamOS compatibility will also be supported. This will make it easy for me to know which games I can or can't play on my SteamOS handheld. Anything that makes the handheld gaming experience easier is a big win for me.

2 More hardware options for consumers are a big win

If you like SteamOS but want something newer than a Steam Deck, that seems likely

Since the Steam Deck was announced in 2021 and released in 2022, it isn't the newest hardware available. The Legion Lenovo Go S comes at around the same price as the high-capacity Steam Deck, but the newer hardware means better performance. If Valve rolls SteamOS out to even more manufacturers, there will be a larger range of specs and pricing to choose from if you like using SteamOS. It could potentially force Valve to make a beefier version of its handheld as well, and a more competitive marketplace could mean better products. The biggest boost is that if Valve is really letting other companies get in on this, the range of hardware could get much wider. Depending on what type of person you are, you might be interested in a lower-end but much cheaper handheld, or you might want the most powerful handheld money can buy, while still running SteamOS. However, there is something else to consider.

Even with more options available, I could also just wait for the next Steam Deck model. My Steam Deck still runs great, and I have other ways to play the more beefy AAA titles coming out. But, even with that option on the table, I still benefit from more SteamOS devices. If the new Steam Deck doesn't make a big enough leap for my liking, there will be more devices available using SteamOS that I can go get instead. An increased number of people using SteamOS could also mean more community support for the Steam Deck verified system, which would benefit me if I were using any SteamOS device. Ultimately, it feels like we are entering a golden era of handheld gaming, and having more options than ever for how I play games on the go means a better experience for me and better options to pick from in the future.

1 SteamOS is more consistent than Windows

It's nice to know exactly what you are getting

Another important aspect of using SteamOS instead of Windows for handheld gaming is the consistency. Each Windows handheld operates a bit differently and uses the operating system a bit differently. Not only do navigation and behavior change from system to system, but they can also be a bit buggy. SteamOS is consistent in how it works, both in terms of UI and navigation, and in how it runs. While I have had some issues with my Steam Deck in the past, it's far more reliable than my PC running Windows 11, almost never crashing. Having consistency, especially with a portable device, is important.

More SteamOS devices are coming

It's hard not to be excited by Valve's decision to allow SteamOS to appear on more handhelds. Having more options in the marketplace gives people more options and should create a larger price range for devices. SteamOS has proven so far to be a more streamlined and reliable experience compared to the current Windows handhelds, and if all you care about is easily being able to play your Steam library, SteamOS is the way to go.