The Steam Deck is still on sale for Cyber Monday and I think it's the perfect holiday gift for the PC Gamer in your life

Steam Deck with a cyber monday banner for 2024 — (Image credit: Valve)

Recent updates

December 2: The 512 GB Steam Deck LCD is still on sale and in stock and it's definitely still a gift we'd recommend at its price point.

Steam Deck (LCD) | 512 GB SSD | SteamOS | $449 $336.75 at Steam (save $112.25)
Okay, the Steam Deck may have had an OLED refresh and there are heaps of more powerful handhelds around, but the original version is still the archetype of what a mobile PC gaming device should be. It's just as powerful as the most recent model so all those Steam Deck compatible games should run well. It's the OG PC gaming handheld, and it still demands respect. At the very least because SteamOS is wicked and it's extremely affordable with this deal (which goes on until December 4 if you want more time to think).

👉 We're curating the best Cyber Monday PC gaming deals right here 👈

You can take that from the entirety of the PC Gamer hardware team (we universally love a Steam Deck), or just me, if you like. I have this exact model sitting on my bedside table all year round, with the exception of when I travel. I've stuffed it into the seat backs of various airplanes over the past year and a half or so, and never once has it let me down.

Yes, there are more powerful gaming handhelds on the market, and yes, you can now buy a refreshed OLED version that's even nicer, but the original Steam Deck on offer here is such an archetype of the form, it's PC gaming royalty.

A Steam Deck playing Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun — My particular Steam Deck, looking resplendent. (Image credit: Future)

The controls are perfectly placed, and feel great. SteamOS is fantastic at handling your games. The battery life is... well okay, its decent, not amazing, but then all handhelds tend to suffer from that particular issue.

But what matters most about the Steam Deck is that it's stood the test of time, even as its competitors have moved ahead of it. Despite the fact its cheaper than, well, pretty much all of them (especially on Cyber Monday discount), it doesn't feel or perform like a budget machine.

My model has been my stalwart handheld gaming companion for many moons, and is a genuinely lovely thing to this very day. For indie titles, platformers, the odd RPG, and even a touch of handheld strategy gaming, it's still one of the best handheld gaming PCs you can buy.

And providing you don't mind a 30 fps frame rate or so, it can still kick out some surprising performance in demanding titles, like Cyberpunk 2077.

Nothing's likely to beat this Steam Deck for price. Other than the 64 GB version, of course, but that's pretty piddling for storage. Still, you could always crack it open and stick a bigger and better SSD drive in later on, a la the Lexar Play 2230.

So with the discounts rolling, if you've always been tempted but never quite pressed the button, I reckon now's a good a time as any. The Steam Deck LCD might have been around for a while, but it's still a great buy in 2024.

👉Check out all the Amazon Cyber Monday PC gaming deals right here👈

TOPICS

Andy built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 12, when IDE cables were a thing and high resolution wasn't—and he hasn't stopped since. Now working as a hardware writer for PC Gamer, Andy spends his time jumping around the world attending product launches and trade shows, all the while reviewing every bit of PC gaming hardware he can get his hands on. You name it, if it's interesting hardware he'll write words about it, with opinions and everything.