Beyond the Alphabet
Beyond the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world both inside and out of the confines of Mountain View.
When the Steam Deck originally launched, it blew the rest of the competition away. Not because of its power, but because it struck the perfect balance between price and performance. The Steam Deck released with a $399 price tag, which was $300 less than the original AYANEO Windows handheld, and $250 cheaper than the ROG Ally that arrived in 2023. In the nearly four years since then, the gaming handheld landscape has undergone significant changes.
