Or, if it helps to think of it this way, a somewhat affordable “Steam Deck Pro.” Finally, we have a “budget” boutique Steam Deck competitor. But if you’re just looking to spend less than $1,000 for a genuine Windows gaming PC that’s more powerful than the Deck and isn’t much bigger than a Nintendo Switch OLED, it’s a great choice, especially compared to gaming laptops. That will still set you back more than even the most expensive Steam Deck ($640).

But it starts $150 cheaper than the Ayaneo 2, at $849. It features more in common with the Ayaneo 2 than it doesn’t, including its excellent Hall Effect joysticks and a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 6800U processor. Launching alongside the flagship Ayaneo 2, the Ayaneo Geek ( available on IndieGoGo) maintains a premium status but is the first of the company’s full power handhelds to at least get within spitting distance of the Steam Deck’s price (there’s the Ayaneo Air, but it’s intended for less demanding games than the Deck). Remembering Enterprise: The Test Shuttle That Never Flew to Space These Winning Close-Up Photos Show Life That's Often Overlooked Valve is now the elephant in the corner of every handheld PC manufacturer’s room. To enthusiasts, Ayaneo’s sometimes four figure devices have been mouthwatering, but even a boutique manufacturer can’t ignore the Steam Deck forever. Premium is kind of the direction you have to go in if you don’t also own some kind of store that lets you subsidize low cost products for the mass market. It’s in this space where Ayaneo has traditionally operated, offering full-fledged Windows gaming PCs with high-performance components and instant compatibility across Steam and every other launcher’s full library.

While Valve may lay claim to being the “best value” portable PC with its loss-leadingly low price, if you’re in the market for comfort, sheer performance, or the functionality of having Windows right out of the box, there are plenty of more capable Steam Deck alternatives available to those with bigger budgets. Handheld gaming PCs have been around for longer than their recent boom might indicate, even if the Steam Deck blew the doors off of the market by making a model that the average person could actually afford.

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