Both the Steam Deck and OneXPlayer are excellent handheld PCs that let you play your PC games on the go. Functionally, they offer the same thing, which is to let you play PC games on a handheld device, but they differ when it comes to internal hardware and software. The Steam Deck runs on SteamOS that lets you play all your Steam games while you’re out and about, while the OneXPlayer is a Windows device in a handheld form factor. If you are looking to buy a handheld PC/gaming device, which one should you buy? Here is our in-depth look at the two.
Steam Deck vs OneXPlayer Comparison Chart
Design
Both the Steam Deck and OneXPlayer are big handhelds that aren’t the most portable, but they offer immersive gaming.
Both of these machines are quite big for handhelds. The Steam Deck measures 11.73 x 4.61 x 1.93 inches while the OneXPlayer’s physical dimensions are 10.23 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches. From the numbers, you’ll see that the Steam Deck is bigger, despite having a smaller display. It’s wider, taller and bulkier. However, it weighs less than the OneXPlayer (1.47lbs vs 1.80lbs). Both of them won’t fit inside pockets, but you’ll have no trouble putting them inside a bag.
When it comes to comfort, both handhelds have excellent ergonomics. They have curved grips at the back, so your hands won’t feel discomfort when playing for long periods. That said, the Steam Deck has the advantage here since it’s a bit lighter.
Build quality is great for both devices. There are no wobbly parts, there’s no rattling inside when you shake them, and even though they are made of mostly plastic, they still feel like premium products when you hold them.
Display
One of the major differences between these two is with their displays. The Steam Deck has a 7-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. Meanwhile, the OneXPlayer sports a larger 8.4-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.
The bigger screen of the OneXPlayer is one of its standout features, and it allows for a more immersive experience. However, it is more demanding, so you’ll need to lower the resolution for some of the more demanding games, which can lead to a blurry image.
Controls
The Steam Deck shines when it comes to its controls. Aside from the standard ABXY face buttons, thumbsticks, shoulder buttons and dpad, the Steam Deck also has two trackpads, four back buttons and a gyroscope. The trackpads can be used interchangeably with the thumbsticks and they offer precise mouse movements. Meanwhile, the OneXPlayer comes with a standard control layout with features such as tactile bumpers, linear triggers and rumble.
Performance
The Steam Deck offers better gaming performance and overall experience than the OneXPlayer.
CPU and GPU
All Steam Deck models come with the same custom AMD APU with a Zen 2 4-core/8-thread CPU. Meanwhile, the OneXPlayer has three models with three different CPUs. There’s an Intel i7-1195G7 variant, an AMD Ryzen 4800U model and one with an AMD Ryzen 5800U. When it comes to CPU performance, the OneXPlayer has the advantage over the Steam Deck.
However, gaming is more dependent on GPU performance, and on that front, the Steam Deck’s RDNA 2-base GPU has the advantage. The OneXPlayer’s Iris Xe and Radeon RX Vega 8 are on par with each other in gaming performance, but the Steam Deck’s RDNA 2 graphics will outperform them. The Steam Deck can handle modern AAA titles with ease and run them at more than 30fps, and even reaching 60fps, at 720p. The OneXPlayer will struggle to reach this level of performance even when turbo-boosted.
Software
The Steam Deck ships with Valve’s SteamOS 3.0, which is a Linux-based proprietary OS. It’s basically an updated version of the OS running on Valve’s Steam Machines. It offers a console-like experience that’s easy to figure out, even for those that aren’t familiar with Steam’s interface. Since it is a handheld PC, you also have the option to install Windows on it, if you prefer.
On the other hand, the OneXPlayer ships with Windows 11. It doesn’t offer the same console-like experience that the Steam Deck does, but you can still have a similar experience by using Steam’s Big Picture mode. You also have access to various digital storefronts such as GOG and EGS.
Battery Life
The Steam Deck and OneXPlayer offer similar battery performance.
When it comes to battery life, the two handhelds offer similar performance despite having different battery capacities. The Steam Deck has a 40Wh battery which is equivalent to 5200mAh. It can run between two to eight hours, depending on your settings. Playing demanding games that draw more power will result in less playing time, and vice versa. Recharging the device to full capacity can take up to three hours.
Meanwhile, the OneXPlayer has a 15,300mAh which can last up to two to eight hours, depending on how the device is used. Even though it has a larger capacity battery than the Steam Deck, it offers similar battery performance due to having a larger screen and a more power hungry APU. When playing AAA games, the handheld can last about two to four hours.
Check out our AYN Odin vs Steam Deck comparison here
Verdict
The Steam Deck is better than the OneXPlayer if you consider their pricing and gaming performance.
Steam Deck
Better gaming performance and cheaper
OneXPlayer
Better CPU performance and larger screen
If you are looking to buy a handheld device to play games, you should definitely go with the Steam Deck. It’s cheaper and it offers a better gaming experience due to having a better iGPU. It also offers a more streamlined experienced with SteamOS 3.0, and its control scheme is also better. The OneXPlayer has a larger screen and a better CPU. However, it is quite expensive for what it is. The only time you should consider the OneXPlayer as an alternative is when you absolutely must have its larger screen. Otherwise, the Steam Deck is the no-brainer option.
FAQs
The Steam Deck offers better gaming performance than the OneXPlayer due to its superior AMD RDNA 2 GPU.
Yes, it’s basically a Windows PC in a handheld form factor, so you can install and run Steam on it.
While not at the same level as PCs with discrete GPUs, the Steam Deck can play most AAA games.
Yes, it’s a portable PC, so you can install Windows on it.
