Steam Decks Compared! 64GB vs 512GB 

Updated EmuDeck guide: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rs9jDHIDKkU.html

Most people aren’t gonna have the opportunity to compare two Decks side-by-side. If you have to scrutinize them that closely to see the difference I would argue that there’s practically no difference. Just be happy with whatever one you ordered. Have fun and don’t over think it!

64gb version is great for Horror games because your reflection can occasionally give you a jumpscare.

FYI, you can use a matte glass screen protector to achieve the same thing as the glass in the 512gb model

I got the 256gb one. I wasn't planning on opening it up and replacing the M.2 storage. This was before I realised that the microSD expansion is pretty comparable to the internal drive. I ended up getting a good 512Gb microsd card and I'm happy wityh everything I've tried so far. Thanks for the video

I have no regrets with picking up the 64GB model. I picked up a 256GB SD card for it and things work perfectly. I've mainly been using it for emulation and I'm happy with that

Thank you for making this comparison video, I'm committed to getting the 64gb version now. You can get a 1tb 2230 ssd (granted it's pricy) and an anti-glare screen protector that fits the deck, could even pop in a 1tb micro SD card for added storage and get 2tb of games out of it. That's practically my entire steam library :)

Would have been nice to see a speed comparison between the new SSD you dropped in vs the one that comes with the 512GB

I got the 512GB version. I like that I didn’t have to take it apart to install the new drive but I’m not opposed to it either to get a 1TB SSD in it either. Tbh any version is great, it’s an amazing handheld with tons of potential

One good thing about this system is that you can always buy a larger SD card later on down the line. I’m planning on getting the 256gb model bc it’s a nice middle ground and planning on storing steam games on the internal and emulations on an SD card.

I have to try really hard to see a difference in the sharpness. Even then I’m doubting if I’m really seeing it. So for me at least, there isn’t a glaring difference between the two. I do notice a bit brighter image on the 64gb and the ever slight colour difference. I think these would not be noticeable to me during gaming.

Considering I plan to use this as a desktop for the most part, but still need portability on occasion, you've convinced me to just go with the 64 gb model I was already planning on upgrading to at least a full terabyte of storage and all manner of other add-ons. The money I save here could easily go into making an actual complete build instead of the not-done it ships as

This is exactly the comparison I've been wanting to see. Thank you!

I feel like the etched anti-glare glass won't make too much of a difference if you are planning to use a screen protector anyways. I mean the fuzziness of the etched glass will be there no matter what, but if you get the cheaper one, you can probably get etching or anti-glare on the screen protector for the cheaper deck if you think you might want it.

Good comparison on the screen and storage case. I was hoping to see a comparison on the impact of difference between different storage like game load times, etc. Maybe that could be a video you could do.

Thank you ! You're one of the first to compare egualy these 2 versions

As someone who has a hard time fitting all my games onto my laptop I went for the most storage with possibility of expanding it even more. I have quite a bit of games on steam and I bounce around a lot between games so more storage is the way I went

Finally a whole video about the screen difference. Thanks a ton!

Thank you so much for this video. Other comparisons have them being waved around under a direct light, and in those conditions the 512 looks super washed out. Your take shows us what we’re actually going to be looking at. Going with the 512 for those colors.

As a CRT-TV user, I really liked this video, how you showed closeups of the sharp vs blended pixels. 512 model it is for me!

I pre-ordered the 64GB one. Simply because you can add not only an SSD, but also a memory card. So for around about the same money as the top tier one, you can get a 1TB SSD, a 1TB memory card, in addition to the 64GB eMMC storage. I understand some people just don't want to fool with upgrading, but if you're ok with it, it's a great way to go about it.

I've been on the fence for a while now. I'm leaning towards the 64 GB version and a 512 GB card. I'm looking forward to exploring all the potential this platform has. Besides gaming, there's streaming videos and tons of other things to do.

Loving the new intro music, this one in particular is, quite nice.

I really appreciate your reviews on the Steam Deck. They've been very helpful.

In terms of glare, I don't think it's a big deal for me since I'll be getting tempered glass regardless, so glare will be a thing for either model for me.

thanks for doing this. I went mid tier, specifically as I didn't like what the 512 model did to the glass. Down the road, I might try a screen protector on it with anti glare, see if that makes a difference, and also will add an SSD and Micro SD :-)

I will say about the 64 gig mainly because I had in mind as a tester. When I purchased it. My head was like one console to rule them all and I wanted to make sure that the steam deck did just that. As of right now I will say I am not disappointed. It is absolutely done exactly what I thought it would do. That. Also being said, I would have preferred to pick up the high-end model. In hindsight. The updates alone have blown out my 64 gig. I'm already looking at possible storage expansion and I've only had it for less than a year.

I bought the 512GB last June, just got it yesterday. I haven't even had time to open it yet but I'm pretty freakin pumped! Thanks for the insights!

First off, loved the video. I've been watching steam deck content and reviews sporadically since before they shipped and none have given me such a good look at the screen experiences. Most also brush over the cases with not much detail. Much appreciated for the insight even though I've already committed to the 512 😅 Here's a summary with my loose price estimates: Storage upgrade (assuming same price): $95 after tax Case upgrade: $30 screen upgrade (I prefer the color quality over sharpness on this small of a screen and hate the reflective glare): $30 for the etched glass (can probably find a similar adhesive screen) $30 for the color quality -$10 for the lack of brightness (though it seems to oversaturate the image on the 64gb). $50 total All in all that comes to $175. However, if you aren't experienced with tech repair/modifications like me you gotta factor in upgrade labor. I'm gonna put that at a conservative $50 and another $20 for the risk of frying your device. $245. Which puts it right about equal! I live in a campervan and rely on solar most of the time, so I've been looking for a low power draw PC gaming experience but didn't want to have to learn to deal with the 3rd party PC handhelds and their jank and clunk. Steam deck showed up at the perfect time. I wish the industry were making competitive products in the energy efficient category because they've been reaching severe diminishing returns with power draw to hardware strength for a while now. I doubt steam had any of that in mind when designing the deck. It was definitely just the restraints of a portable device at this price point. Nonetheless, it's perfect for my situation. I really like the extremely competitive pricing that steam chose. The $400 dollar model is outstanding value per dollar. I'm really excited to see how this impacts the industry. I don't consider it in competition with the switch, completely different types of gamers, but a successful steam deck would show the risk averse megacorps that it's possible if done correctly.

I got the 512 gb. It will be here friday (2 more days!!) and im really excited. I, like most gamers, don't do the "outside" very often. That mixed with the fact im a bio-chem/pre-med, i spend all my time in a lab or some similar room. The anti-glare is what sold me. Even just being on my phone, the glare of those super florescent lights of labs is so distracting. For me, the clarity of the device is going to be the thing that impacts me the most on a day-to-day basis.

I reserved the 256 GB Version. I don't feel safe installing a SSD myself, but i don't wanna miss out on one either. Having said that, most games run perfectly fine from a SD Card aswell. I Don't think i will notice the Screen reflections either. So i'm happy with my choice.

Fantastic review! Thanks for taking the time.

I got the 256. I didn't want to spend much more than that and I could easily get a screen protector anti glare on the cheap.

Just bought the 512 version. Super excited with the purchase.

Thanks for letting us know about the drive upgrade

Great video! This was exactly what I was looking for. I actually went back after watching your EmuDeck Guide as I'm actually thinking of pulling the trigger on a Steam Deck purchase. It just seems like such an amazing device for all your gaming needs! Even after this video, I'm still on the fence about which one to get. I'll most likely get one with an additional dock to view on a monitor so not sure the Deck's screen is too much of a concern. Thanks for all of these handy reviews and guides!

Have had all 3, settled on the 256. Didn't like the anti-glare of the 512 and the 64gb was noticeably slower when comparing them for me.

More color saturation =/= more accurate colors And if both the lights and darks are dimmer on the 512GB, then it seems you might get a similar result just turning down the brightness a notch on the 64GB, thus saving a bit of battery.

I don't know if it's youtube compression but when talking about the colour saturation and sharpness, I sat here like, "they literally look the same to me." I have the 512 GB model and I'm happy with it. It's tempting to install a higher SSD but I might just add a 512GB SD card later if I really need it (I have a 128GB right now).

You say the 512GB version looks not as sharp but in my opinion, it more so just looks less pixelated. Yes, slightly less definition, but it gives a similar effect to anti-aliasing where those pixels around the edges of things look better when they're softened out and sort of "blended" together, rather than having jagged edges. Plus, that means you're less likely to be feeling you need anti aliasing in games too and saving some performance and power for other things.

Thank you for doing the comparisons. The 64GB and adding your own drive is the say to go for sure.

Great video! I wouldnt have minded the etched glass, but didnt want to pay even more for it. 256gb gang

I do prefer the saturation, however I decided to stick to a budget and buy the 64gb model, BUT due tot he fact I can't really do crap with 64gb of space (thanks shader cache \o/) I actually ended up buying a 256gb module for cheap. slapping it in there, and using my 512GB SD card for some games too. Mainly it came down to FF14 and warframe, both of which would not patch on the 64gb model EVEN though they are installed on the SD card, now that I upgraded, oddly enough even though they are still on the SD card, they work fine, which it could have been just a storage issue overall, but meh. I'm happy either way.

I preordered the 512 model, and it's finally shipping. I don't have any regrets on ordering the 512 model, as I placed the order for the etched glass, along with the initial 512gb storage. The etched glass was just such a huge selling point for me, and everything I've seen so far, I'm glad I did.

Thanks for the comparison. The 64 gb version is exactly what I need. A replacement drive and a matte film will make it better and way cheaper than the 512 gb version. The ccarry ase I couldn't care less about. More money for upgrades that matter (sticks, fan etc)

While yes the 64GB model does get brighter, if you are outside, the anti-glare glass the 512GB model has might compensate for it. It would be nice to see a comparison outside, while in sunlight. Although it may be hard to record, it would be nice to see how much the anti-glare glass actually affects the need for higher brightness.

The "richness" of the colors and saturation if anything should have the reversed effect of what you are actually saying with the coatings. I suspect Valve does some screen binning so the more expensive model gets better binned screens to look better no matter what, even outweighing the usual downsides that come with anti-glare coatings. I know this is actual glass that's treated and not a foil but I've done anti-glare removals on 4 screens now and besides the even larger shaprness boost than you see here the much bigger difference is always how much more saturated the colors look and the deeper blacks (since the light spreading goes both ways). So saying an anti-glare coating makes colors more saturated and blacks deeper couldn't be further from the truth. Either it's really just panel variation as the one thing the steam deck REALLY cheaped out on was the screen, or Valve does some actual screen binning for the top end model.

I went cheap and bought the 64GB. I bought a 128GB SSD to replace the eMMC but it's looking like I might not have to. Most everything, even Proton, can be run from the SD card and I have just the OS and one other runtime install on there. If I ever dual boot, then I'll upgrade. That said, SD Cards are notorious for dying over time and mine runs hot, so I think I'll wait for a 1TB before upgrading. I'll have enough space to dual boot and install my library. Any overflow can go to whatever SD card I have installed at that time.

I do enjoy the colour richness, it makes games feel that much more atmospheric but I've had some difficulty reading text or making icons on certain games. The less reflective screen has actually been a huge plus. I'm not someone who would have been comfortable opening mine up so I love my current one!

i went with the 512gb model although yeah i could've gone for the 64gb and upgraded the ssd i also want to support valve because they are the only other company that is mass producing a powerful handheld at an affordable price and that can essentially play almost any game if you really try

Now those of us needing A Install video! Need that video for the upgrade!

I want a non etched screen. I want to use a screen protector. Possibly an etched one, possibly not. But the money is just a big deal for storage and etching. Great video

Hey there, with the 64GB model, would you be able to purchase a screen protector with an anti-reflective coating on it and see if a glass screen protector can compare to the 512GB screen?

I have the 512 gb with a 1tb SD card and gaming on the SSD vs the SD is almost not even noticeable. They are both lightening fast considering it’s loading actual PC games.

thanks man, this guide gave me a lot of info on which one to buy

I bought the 64gb version and found a 512gb ssd for 40 bucks so I saved quite a bit lol also I ended up buying another case on Amazon for 15 bucks that fits my charger, my Samsung buds, a mini Bluetooth keyboard with built in track pad, and my external nvme and multiple slots for SD cards.

I'm actually pretty impressed with the performance of gaming from an SD card. I have a Sandisk Extreme 1TB and the load times seem pretty reasonable. You could also just get a fast USB-C drive if you don't want to risk damaging your unit but want more performance than an SD card. Write speed on the SD card is pretty bad, though, so installations can take a while.

For me I have the 64 gb and honestly it's the most fun I ever had with the system in a long time and usually I just use an SD card that has the most storage

Hmm, you should also cover the main difference - native storage (and microSD option) capacity and performance difference. Also, what is storage difference after custom SSD installed (as OS still run from native 64 storage).

From what I heard, the 256gb and 512gb models may load some games faster than model with eMMC storage. Not sure how well it works with third party storage but would presume that there's not a big difference between that and what Valve offers on higher tiers... The only issue is that your warranty will more likely be voided

I have the mid 256 model. It has the 64 case inside with an all white raised logo with the power adapter bag. Just got a 1tb sd card too, so I’m set for a while. LOVING it.

I ordered the 64GB model. I'm happy with that one since I see absolutely no difference at all in your video. Well except for the reflection but I'm sure a cheap screen protector can fix that. By the time I get my steam deck I'm sure we will have the second gen coming out anyway :P

i was very worried about my 64gb model, mostly because of the loading speed on an SD card, but apparently it's still pretty good if you buy a fast SD card. I am very happy with my choice right now and I hope my model won't get delayed again (supposed to be avialable Q3).

The first review I've ever heard where the etched glass looks better indoors and the flat glass looks better outdoors lol. Can't wait for my 64gb model. Got my email and paid last Monday, still hasn't shipped though 😓

Would the anti-reflection be as good with a £10 frosted screen protector? Most people will get a screen protector anyway so that might make the screen difference mute

There appears to have been a hardware revision to the touchpads. You can clearly see the gap around them is a bit wider on your 512GB model compared to the older one. Are you able to tell if there's any difference in haptics or general feel when pressing them in various directions?

I would’ve enjoyed comparison of low times, since the storage is different speeds

I received my 512 today. Generally glad I got this model. Probably should have gone with either of the other two, but then I might want the high end one and regret that purchase.

what’s the difference between changing the internal storage and just getting an sd card?

And what about those mate screen protectors you can purchase in Amazon? Maybe a comparison with the top tier?

This video answered my questions that for some reason I couldn't find elsewhere 👍👍 Now I'm at ease with buying one.

The thing is I had the same issue on the switch. I found a screen protector that does the same thing. Makes it darker with less reflections plus it protects the screen. I ordered the 512. Might as well have gotten the 64. Not sure if this kind of screen protector is out yet for the Sdeck but it is coming.

Today I was finally able to buy mine after months of waiting. Retrospecitvely I should not have bought the 256 gb version, because if you are willing to install a new drive, then there is no difference between that and the 64 gb version. I could have probably bought a 64 gb version and modded it to 512 gb for less than the 256 costed. Nonetheless I am still excited and cannot wait to see what it can do.

I had the 512GB model and although I really like the case and the fact that it comes with a pouch for the charger, I can see myself buying a third party case in the future that can hold more items (like a dock and battery pack), so that kind of negates buying the most expensive model. I went for the most expensive model because I sold my Aya Neo for significantly more than the €670 that I paid for the Steam Deck, and managed to sell my previous Steam Deck with a nice profit while waiting for my reservation to become available. Even if I hadn’t, even the most expensive Steam Deck offers an insane value over every other handheld on the market. The 64GB model is an absolute steal for $400.

Thanks a lot! This help me so much in deciding on which steam deck I should buy. 10/10 great video

Honestly I feel like you'd only notice these differences if you had two Steam Decks next to each other like in the video, and looked VERY closely at every minute detail to try and spot the difference.

I got the 512gb. Just dont want to mess with my deck. Im happy with it and loading on a microSD card is just as quick compared to internal

The biggest difference is that the 256 and 512gb versions have a pci gen 3 and the 64gb just a pci gen 2 slot ssd slot. That means the cheepest one is also the slowest one in terms of loading times.

Looking at getting one of these versions. Thanks for the comparison. As of this date, all three versions are on sale on the Steam Summer Sale. 10%-20% off!

Finally a video about the Steam Deck that really helps with the purchase decision. I will (have to) buy the large version because I want to play on the terrace more often in the summer. Many thanks says Michael from Germany!

I went with the middle tier just based on "Which one is most likely the least popular" (so I could get one asap).... Would go with the 399, but felt that would be the highest demand, but have a more limited stock. (Kind of like the Digital PS5, that I felt Sony just used as a Marketing Ploy just so they could brag that they have a 399 PS5, but in reality they are just barely starting to mass produce more digital than Disc versions... also my main reason for buying it was interest in the modding/emulation scene

I think the color variation might be a difference in time and panels. I don't think they reserve different panels for different models. That wouldn't just be feasible. Also you can get a 1tb SSD for it now, so the 512gb variant makes even less sense.

I love the little pull up tab they put in the case. Dont get my finger prints all over it taking it out.

you need to show us what the etched glass screen looks like compared to the other in direct sunlight. that would have been a good second look at the feature that would definitively say whether it's worth it or not.

I got the 256GB model. I wanted the 512, but knew I was going to put a screen protector on it. The only good quality screen protector is the Dbrand, which is glossy. Adding a glossy screen protector to a non-glare screen would defeat it's purpose.

IFixit is selling the 512 screen replacement for $99….so if you don’t mind doing some modding you can actually get the full 512GB experience for about $600.

Honestly couldn't tell the difference other than the anti glare. I love they had flexible options for all price points that don't hinder preformance.

I just grabbed a 64gb model because of the cost, I may eventually upgrade the hard drive but I’m not overly concerned with that right at the moment.

If I could go back I’d probably order the $399 version but I’m happy to stick with the 512. I don’t want to give up my place in line just to save some money

I got the 512 GB model. I wanted the etched glass, and it's nice to have a good bit of storage right out of the box. Also, prices for these SSDs were different a year ago. The demand went up by an insane amount because of the steam deck, and so production of them also ramped up. The maximum capacity for that size SSD when the steam deck was announced was only 512gb, but now manufacturers are making 2TB SSDs of that form factor. It wasn't a technical challenge or anything, it's just that the demand was extremely low. The prices were also higher for these SSDs when the steam deck was announced than they are now. Another reason that I'm not too opposed to buying the 512GB one is that Valve has razor thin margins on these systems, and is likely losing money on the 64GB model. I'm happy to spend a bit extra, since it will be supporting the steam deck project and valve's development of Proton, and likely encourage them to release future revisions of the Steam Deck. Valve's development of Proton benefits everyone, not just steam deck owners. As a Linux gamer, it is what allowed me to completely remove Windows from my system. Without their development of Proton, I would still be locked into the Windows ecosystem for gaming. I'm happy to say, that I have not touched a Windows install in months.

You can get a screen protector that gives you the same kind of display like the high tier screen

Dang! I thought only the two higher models had replaceable m.2 storage. I am glad I can just pick up the 64gb version with no regrets. Thanks!

As much as i like the nicer case, the lower end model's clearer text is a necessity for me. Thanks!

A big thing that wasn’t mentioned was how much easier the etched screen scratches, and if you’re adding a screen protector, then you’re kind of defeating the point of the screen

Because the Steam Deck can be adapted modularly, you should definitely (in my eyes) go for the 64gb version and adapt it to your own wishes. I mean, you can customise everything, whether it's sticks, screen, RAM upgrade etc. So there is no reason to get the expensive version, because with the 64gb you have an optimal basic construction kit to add everything you need. Just to give you an example: if you buy the 64gb and upgrade it with a 1tb SSD, you will end up with a total price of around 620€. If you buy parts and deck used, even less. Much more sensible than the other two versions.

I see some people avoiding the 512 specifically because of the etched glass fuzziness, though it is a little sad to be losing out on the nicer carrying case. Still, for the price difference, you can spring for a 1TB micro SD and come out ahead on cost, so it feels like the right decision by a long shot.

Now the ultimate test: glossy screen protector (on 512GB model) versus matte screen protector (on 64GB model) 😁

Could you give us some insight on what the memory read/write speeds are for the two models?

I bought the middle of the road option because A. I knew if I wanted I could upgrade the stuff I didn't like and B. the price was perfectly in the range I wanted

I'm quite happy with my decision to order the 65 GB model. I do hate screen glare, like, a lot, but the difference in cost was too much for me. I figure someone's most likely going to make a matte screen protector for the Deck at some point (if there's not one available already), and I'd rather spend the extra money on games.