More from Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and more: all the news about the handheld PC gaming revolution
The $800 OneXGPU Lite is tiny and versatile with both OCuLink and 80Gbps USB 4 v2 (which should work with Thunderbolt 5 machines too). Its older AMD 7600M XT won’t beat the pricier Asus XG Mobile, though, which has an internal power supply — while the OneXGPU requires a big external brick.

Remember when the Steam Deck burst onto the scene and validated Linux for gaming in one fell swoop by making your Windows games handheld? Your phone might be next.


We’re rather fond of Mechanism accessories around here, and Siri’s latest is something I’ve never seen before: a credible, folding way to attach your handhelds to an airplane seatback without becoming a Reddit meme. Hopefully. $19, shipping today, or bundled with a Magsafe adapter for your phone for $25.
Find Nvidia’s updated Linux app here. In the app’s Settings > Gameplay, set Frame Rate to 90 fps. For best results, I also recommend setting resolution to 3456 x 2160, and running each game at 1440p.
Nvidia also launched its RTX 5080 servers today, but it’s a soft launch:
Valve has filed two trademarks, one for consoles, accessories, and controllers, and one for “computer hardware” generally. The Valve Index VR headset trademarked the same, so don’t take “console” literally! With Steam Deck, it filed for handhelds, too. I bet the “Frame” isn’t Deckard, Roy or Fremont, but the whole enchilada:
Few handheld gaming PCs have OLED screens — fewer of those have variable refresh rates. The Legion Go 2 has those and sustained brightness of 500 nits, peaking at 1000 nits, in a native landscape orientation to avoid panel refresh weirdness! According to Evan Blass’s huge new dump of leaked images, anyhow.
I thought it breathed new life into the Steam Deck even in my 60Hz tests — but next month, Nvidia’s adding its promised new mode that matches the Steam Deck OLED’s 90Hz refresh rate, too. Also, you’ll be able to stream some games with the power of an RTX 5080.
I adore Mechanism’s mounting solutions, but always felt its $15 kickstand was a skip; I bought this amazing $25 mount instead. But the brand-new Kickstand 2 is better! Slimmer, stronger, anti-skid, no more detach when you lean back. Still can pop off when pulling forward at some angles, though! Tradeoffs.
Why reboot your whole SteamOS handheld to desktop when you can visit the desktop from inside the gaming mode? Nested Desktop does have limitations (no file management, no Steam-within-Steam) but gosh are there times this’d come in handy. Jacob at XDA calls it “the best Steam Deck feature you aren’t using”.
Setup: In desktop mode, tap Steam logo on taskbar > scroll down to Lost and Found > Right-click “Nested Desktop” > “Add to Steam.”
Not to be outdone by GPD, which teased a handheld so powerful it’s begging to be plugged into the wall, Ayaneo is teasing its own Strix Halo handheld — alongside a mountain of other product. There’s so much you’ll need to scrub through not one, but two “strategy sharing session” videos to see it all. The Strix Halo device will be the Ayaneo Next 2, and it’s promising its battery will be internal unlike the GPD one.
GPD, the company behind the most potent tiny laptops, is now teasing the most potent handheld. The GPD Win 5 will somehow fit a AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 — also see Framework Desktop and Asus’ ROG Flow Z13 gaming tablet — into a chassis that’s like a large PlayStation Vita with hidden keyboard.
The Phawx has shown that Strix Halo can already beat today’s handhelds on efficiency, and destroy them plugged into the wall.

Testing the $599 and $829 SteamOS models.
We have the early answer, thanks to Digital Foundry and Cary “The Phawx” Golomb, and... it’s so nuanced and intriguing I recommend you watch both videos yourself! But TL;DR:
- Switch 2 plays Cyberpunk 2077 far better docked... but Steam Deck wins handheld.
- Handheld, the Switch 2 is less stable; missing some detail; load times are slower.
- Switch only uses around 1/3rd the power! But since Steam Deck has 2.5x the battery, both last around 2 hours.


Want to tell Siri (no, not that Siri, I mean the goofy guy below) what he should make next? You could already suggest ideas on Discord, but now there’s a Feedbear page to vote up ideas.
My existing fav is the do-it-all Phone Mount that I’ve featured here before, though I’m very tempted by the ball joint adapter and the gaming pillow. I’m also overdue to write about the very good sling bag.
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