The Steam Deck, once the dominant gaming handheld, now faces a tougher choice for buyers in 2026 after a $300 price rise driven by the ongoing "RAMageddon" memory shortage caused by AI firms' data-centre demands. Competition has also intensified since its February 2022 launch, with newer handhelds generally offering stronger raw performance, meaning the decision to buy now hinges more heavily on what games someone plays and how much they value battery life and price over raw power.

Engadget's review found that the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, along with Lenovo's Legion Go line, mostly beat the Steam Deck OLED on benchmark scores such as 3DMark Time Spy, though real-world frame-rate differences can be marginal. The Xbox Ally suits Xbox-focused gamers but runs a criticised Windows OS, while some Legion Go models use SteamOS and offer detachable controllers for docked play. The Nintendo Switch 2, despite its own price rise from $450 to $500 in September 2026, remains cheaper than its rivals and uniquely supports Nvidia's DLSS, while the Steam Deck still tends to outlast competitors on battery life at full performance and remains a solid pick for those focused on Steam's library rather than cutting-edge graphics.