Cross-Section Member Oct 27, 2017 7,018 aka Steam Deck "easier to sneak into work" edition lol I do love my OLED Steam Deck, I use it for some of the less demanding games in my library, but sometimes I really do wish it was something I could just whip out of my pocket like one of the many retro handhelds in the marketplace currently. Obviously, the chief sticking point is the hardware. Would it be possible for Valve to fit the current Zen 2 APU inside a smaller form factor without compromising on performance or usability? Which feature would you be fine dropping in exchange for the ability to truly play your games on the go?  808s & Villainy Member Oct 27, 2017 46,640 Seems like a waste. Steam Deck has only sold a few million total. For Valve it's just an avenue to allow people to play some of their games on a handheld. I don't think having multiple SKUs is worth the effort for them   TimPV3 Member Oct 30, 2017 702 Does anyone else remember in 2004 when people thought the PSP was going to be too big? 😂   Squirrel09 Member Nov 4, 2017 1,911 I don't think valve will make a mini-steam deck. But I do think that we'll get some 3rd party Retroid pocket 5 sized machines that either run windows or steam OS here in the next couple years. Won't be super powerful, but would be good for smaller indies/emulation  PlanetSmasher The Abominable Showman Member Oct 25, 2017 132,801 I don't see how you reduce the form factor without cutting into performance. I don't think there's any real benefit there.   steviestar3 One Winged Slayer Member Jul 3, 2018 5,450 It'd be cool but it wouldn't make financial sense at the moment, no.   Imran Member Oct 24, 2017 8,838 I think if it were a significantly more mainstream machine with an appeal to kids, maybe. But it's a niche machine for adults, most of whom would not rush out to justify the extra production line and R&D on such a thing.   Vanguard Member Jan 15, 2025 592 Yes, it would be easier for kids to hold.   Bardeh Member Jun 15, 2018 3,833 No. Would likely take a decent amount of R+D that I'd prefer they put into other things.   Jamesac68 Member Oct 27, 2017 3,195 If people want it, sure. I don't, but somebody might. I ended up no longer using my Switch once the Steam Deck showed up because the bigger screen is just so much easier on my eyes. I'm actually looking forward to doing some catch-up once the Switch 2 hits, roughly the same size as the Steam Deck.   Roubjon Member Oct 25, 2017 3,083 Yes. I got carpal tunnel from the current model due to its size.   Dota322 Member Aug 13, 2024 86 They will once Arm Translation mature enough   PlanetSmasher The Abominable Showman Member Oct 25, 2017 132,801 Vanguard said: Yes, it would be easier for kids to hold. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Kids want a Nintendo, not a Steam Deck. What is the demographic for kids who want a portable console but don't want access to Mario and Fortnite?  LuciaDMC Member Oct 27, 2017 9,232 Bengali Yes that is my biggest request. Make the touchpads smaller, and make it lighter somehow. Also don't need 4 buttons at back, 2 is enough.  Sabin Member Oct 25, 2017 6,096 No. The deck already has too many SKUs imo and more SKUs.  cw_sasuke Member Oct 27, 2017 29,972 I dont think they can justify a niche revision of a somewhat niche device at that price point. It would be cool but i think they would put these resources behind other products.  Tobor Died as he lived: wrong about Doritos Member Oct 25, 2017 34,023 If they are going to make another model, it should be a box. As a handheld they have the right size.   Fallout-NL Member Oct 30, 2017 8,360 Nope.   Vanguard Member Jan 15, 2025 592 PlanetSmasher said: Kids want a Nintendo, not a Steam Deck. What is the demographic for kids who want a portable console but don't want access to Mario and Fortnite? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Kids like to play different games. There are lots of games that kids see streamers playing like Zort that aren't available on Switch, and they want to play what they see. Teardown and People Playground are other examples and the Steam Deck has easy mod support for both of these with Steam Workshop.  Lumination Member Oct 26, 2017 16,013 I don't think there's a market for two distinct sizes, but the next one should be smaller IMO. This thing is freaking unwieldy, and I have big hands. Reminds me vaguely of holding the Duke in the 2000s. And it's heavy as shit for long sessions.   thewienke Member Oct 25, 2017 19,288 I'm more interested in a faster pro version with a bigger and better screen with less backlight bleed and larger hand grips. Something like the Portal. I've never played the Steamdeck away from a wall outlet personally  StrangerDanger Member Jul 18, 2018 6,696 Lumination said: I don't think there's a market for two distinct sizes, but the next one should be smaller IMO. This thing is freaking unwieldy, and I have big hands. Reminds me vaguely of holding the Duke in the 2000s. And it's heavy as shit for long sessions. Click to expand... Click to shrink... If they went the Nintendo route and had detachable sticks, then it would be fine.   ramenline Member Jan 9, 2019 1,670 It would be cool, but I think you'll have to rely on things like the Ayaneo Air to fill that niche for small PC handhelds for now.   Mocha Joe Member Jun 2, 2021 13,413 I would love Steam Deck 2 to be even smaller and lighter. LCD was really uncomfortable due to the weight but the OLED made it tolerable. I still love using it though. Greatest handheld ever   Cipher Peon One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 9,649 Yeah I think the Steam Deck is way too big. I'd like it to fit in my pocket, please.  BeansBeansBeans Member Jan 14, 2025 986 I'd love to buy a smaller deck for my son. He is 7 and loves games, but the deck is simply too big.   GravaGravity Member Oct 27, 2017 4,704 One way or another society will always return to the PS Vita   JetstreamRorschach One Winged Slayer Member Dec 30, 2017 2,153 Zaragoza, Spain. Not feasible. Steam Deck is very performant due to it being an absolutely inefficient laptop class x86 SoC on a big handheld casing. They are very energy consuming and need a whole lot of active cooling (the LCD Deck's back usually burns to the touch and the fan makes a lot of noise). Not all GPU and CPU architectures are compatible with all foundries. You'd either sacrifice performance to the point it isn't a Steam Deck anymore or get a smaller handheld with lower battery and hotter thermals than the original.   DieH@rd Member Oct 26, 2017 12,017 I would be fine with same case as DS1 [and same 7.4" OLED, only 120hz and with VRR].   CesareNorrez Member Oct 25, 2017 6,054 My wife didn't like playing on the Deck handheld at all until I got her one of those gaming pillows (the arm mount one from Mechanism). It is simply too large and heavy for extended use. So, in that regard, a smaller lighter version would be great. But I'm not sure if Valve sees any financial sense in it. Maybe when they do a Deck 2 they introduce a Deck Lite that matches the power specs of the original.   mattycubed Member Dec 12, 2021 289 My crushed hands say yes, my heart says no   Dekuman Member Oct 27, 2017 21,021 Steam Deck is tied to whatever APU AMD produces. Unlike a console, it's very unlikey they will take that old chip and shrink it down. That's a huge expense for a niche product. Die shrink is where you get your thermal headroom to go smaller. Granted, Valve can probably get deck-like performance from a more modern chip by downclocking it, and shipping it in a smaller form factor. But if they are designing with a new chip in mind, that would be a deck 2.  Apollo Corrupted by Vengeance Avenger Oct 25, 2017 10,053 I mean if they could, and it had a OLED model, I would absolutely get it Day 1. I use my Steam Deck a whole lot. But it is too big for me. If it was even slightly smaller it would be a huge improvement for me.   Sai Prophet of Truth The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 6,987 Chicago No, it's tiny enough.   iswasdoes Member Nov 13, 2017 3,330 Londinium Cant wait to see what Valve have in store hardware wise. I do see a deck 2 in the near future. Deck mini, less likely I think but I would like one   Bran Member Oct 25, 2017 540 For what it's trying to do, I can't see anything smaller working quite as well. The ergonomics, input options (trackpads), and screen are a core part of its appeal. Reduce or remove any of that, and you risk compromising functionality. It's already difficult enough to read text in some games. Making a flatter, tinier, more transportable machine that plays fewer games seems like a hard sell—you'd be better off with a different device.   J_ToSaveTheDay "This guy are sick" and Corrupted by Vengeance Avenger Oct 25, 2017 22,527 USA Nah, I don't personally think it stands to make much sense business wise for them. I say that as someone who would very likely be interested… but as someone who is generally interested in smaller form factor electronics—it hasn't seemed like audiences are there for them anymore.   Sabin Member Oct 25, 2017 6,096 Bran said: For what it's trying to do, I can't see anything smaller working quite as well. The ergonomics, input options (trackpads), and screen are a core part of its appeal. Reduce or remove any of that, and you risk compromising functionality. It's already difficult enough to read text in some games. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Exactly. There are also already enough smaller pc handhelds available that already cater that niche while steam deck is the device to offer great ergonomics.  Kaworu Member Oct 28, 2017 433 I don't care much about power. Give me a Steam Deck Lite to play indie titles with a decent battery life.   Ouroboros Member Oct 27, 2017 16,111 But the ergonomics are so good!! I'd hate to use a smaller version.   Adam_Roman Member Oct 25, 2017 3,399 I think this is something they're at least thinking about. Last year there was a lot of work happening on an ARM translation layer for Steam. While it's probably immediately for something like their Deckard VR headset, it would also be very lucrative for ARM-based handhelds to run SteamOS, like an Odin 2 or a Retroid.   BeansBeansBeans Member Jan 14, 2025 986 Bran said: For what it's trying to do, I can't see anything smaller working quite as well. The ergonomics, input options (trackpads), and screen are a core part of its appeal. Reduce or remove any of that, and you risk compromising functionality. It's already difficult enough to read text in some games. Making a flatter, tinier, more transportable machine that plays fewer games seems like a hard sell—you'd be better off with a different device. Click to expand... Click to shrink... I think that we will see some good options once Steam OS gets licensed more and more. I feel like the ergonomics could still work. Also I don't think i've ever once used the touch pads.  horkrux Member Oct 27, 2017 6,467 TimPV3 said: Does anyone else remember in 2004 when people thought the PSP was going to be too big? 😂 Click to expand... Click to shrink... That's crazy  closer Member Oct 25, 2017 5,580 gamers and their concern with their deck size smh   Regular Sega Fan Member Jul 22, 2022 1,825 Ally X + Steam OS could work I guess   BeI Member Dec 9, 2017 6,804 Probably not. Leave that up to third party SteamOS devices to handle. If first party Steam hardware covers everything too well, there wouldn't be much reason for third party SteamOS devices to exist.   FakePlasticTree Member Jul 24, 2018 13,995 The next Steam Deck should be a new hardware leap anything else seems like a waste.   thecaseace Member May 1, 2018 3,743 Yes they should. I get it, most Steam Deck users love everything about Valves machine, but the numbers show that even amongst the 'core' audience there's people like myself that think it's too large. The Steam Deck and Switch are both handhelds but only the Switch is truly portable. They could make a sound mainstream play if they found a way to drop the touch pads and make the device smaller. It would make a great additional SKU.  KalBalboa Member Oct 30, 2017 9,717 Massachusetts TimPV3 said: Does anyone else remember in 2004 when people thought the PSP was going to be too big? 😂 Click to expand... Click to shrink... Oh yeah, I remember friends in high school giving the 16x9 screen some side-eye, haha.  Siri Member Nov 7, 2017 1,367 I think we're more likely going to get x86 to ARM translation to a decent state than Valve releasing a smaller Steam Deck. In fact, it's one of the reasons I've just got a Retroid Pocket Mini V2 in the post. Even in their infancy, I think Winlator and/or MiceWine should handle some lighter stuff. Of course, the floodgates will open as and when Steam really does set up a flavour of Proton for ARM and you can just have Steam on your phone, but for now trying to get the likes of Project Diablo 2 and Outrun 2006 C2C running should be a fun thing.