The PlayStation 5 offers superior graphics and performance with 10.28 TFLOPS versus Steam Deck's 1.6 TFLOPS, making it better for cutting-edge AAA games, while the Steam Deck prioritizes portability with a 7-inch screen and plays your existing PC library anywhere. PS5 delivers better visuals and performance; Steam Deck delivers flexibility and library access on the go.
Steam Deck vs PlayStation 5 — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
PC handheld gaming device running SteamOS with access to 50,000+ games via Steam
Sony's flagship console with strong exclusive franchises and cutting-edge features.
GPU Performance (TFLOPS). Primary Use Case. Game Library Access. Resolution at Native Performance. Price Entry Point. Portability. Exclusive AAA Titles
Choose PlayStation 5 if you want the absolute best graphical performance, exclusive AAA titles, and 4K gaming on your living room TV. Choose Steam Deck if you value portability, already own a large Steam library, and prefer playing games anywhere with flexibility to upgrade your library over time. PS5 wins for dedicated home gaming; Steam Deck wins for flexibility and ownership of your game collection.
Steam Deck: $399.00 | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 256GB (64GB discontinued) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: Heavier and bulkier form factor | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: AMD Zen 2 (4 cores, 2.4GHz) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: OLED (2024) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 1280 x 800 (OLED/LCD) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 16 GB | PlayStation 5: 16 GB GDDR6
Steam Deck: 575 grams (OLED) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 2-8 hours (throttle-dependent) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 70,000+ via Steam | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: Custom Zen 2 APU @ 2.4GHz | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: SteamOS 3.5 (Linux-based) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 4 cores (Zen 2) | PlayStation 5: 8 cores @ 3.5 GHz
Steam Deck: 1280x800 | PlayStation 5: 3840x2160 (4K)
Steam Deck: 2.5-8 hours (game dependent) | PlayStation 5: 0 hours (requires power)
Steam Deck: $549 (512GB OLED) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 25,000+ Steam + Game Pass | PlayStation 5: 500+ AAA titles
Steam Deck: 1280x800 (portable max) | PlayStation 5: 4K (3840x2160)
Steam Deck: 60 fps at 1280x800 | PlayStation 5: 120 fps at 4K
Steam Deck: 50,000+ Steam games | PlayStation 5: ~2,000 PS5 optimized
Steam Deck: ~400 MB/s (base model) | PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s
Steam Deck: Fully portable (7" OLED screen) | PlayStation 5: Home console only—stationary
Steam Deck: $649 (OLED) | PlayStation 5: $499
Steam Deck: 1.63 TFLOPS (OLED model) | PlayStation 5: 10.28 TFLOPS
Steam Deck: $199 (64GB LCD) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 50,000+ games | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 4 hours average (2-8 range) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 1280x800 (Steam Deck LCD) / 1280x720 (OLED native, but upscales) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 565 grams (Steam Deck OLED) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: $549 (OLED 1TB) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 512 GB (OLED) / 256 GB (LCD) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 2-6 (depends on game) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 40000+ (Steam) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 1.6 GPU | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: Yes (official dock available) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 7.4 inches (OLED) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 16 GB LPDDR5 | PlayStation 5: 16GB GDDR6
Steam Deck: 4-8 hours | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 60,000+ Proton-verified | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 256GB/512GB/1TB NVMe SSD | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 5.5 hours average | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: $399 (OLED base) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 70,000+ verified games | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 256GB (base, expandable to 2TB) | PlayStation 5: 825GB SSD (fixed)
Steam Deck: 30-60 seconds (typical) | PlayStation 5: 0.8-3 seconds (optimized)
Steam Deck: 7,000+ verified compatible | PlayStation 5: 500+ optimized releases
Steam Deck: 1280x800 | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 2000GB (via microSD) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 6-8 hours | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: $399 (256GB) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 70000+ (variable compatibility) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 2400 MB/s | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 30-60 seconds | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 256-512 GB SSD | PlayStation 5: 825GB usable (1TB total)
Steam Deck: 90 Hz (OLED) / 60 Hz (LCD) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: 1.6 TFLOPS (OLED) | PlayStation 5: 10.28 TFLOPS
Steam Deck: $549 (OLED) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 150+ exclusives
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 0.8 seconds
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 26 AAA exclusives
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Standard noise levels
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 3 (Standard, Digital, Slim)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: ~95% PS4 compatible
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $120/year (PS Plus Premium)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 8+ major exclusives
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: PSSR2 AI upscaling (2026, free)
Standard Console Launch Price (MSRP 2026)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $499 (PS5 Standard)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 4K (2160p) at 120fps
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Custom ultra-fast SSD (faster)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 250+ games (PS Plus Extra)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 40 million units
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 2-3 generations (PS2-PS4 selective)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 91.04 million
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 60-120 fps (PS5 Pro exceeds)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Horizon: Zenith Chronicles, Ghost of Tsushima: Revelations, Marvel titles
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 10+ (PS4 select titles)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 10.28 TFLOPS
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 4K @ 120fps
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 400 games (PS Plus Extra)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 2 generations
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 6-8 major titles
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Advanced haptic feedback + adaptive triggers
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 4K (3840×2160)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 60 FPS standard, up to 120 FPS
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Yes (hardware accelerated)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 18 major exclusives
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $9.99/month (PlayStation Plus Essential)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $599.99
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 825 GB/s
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 16GB GDDR6
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 750+ titles (PlayStation Plus tiers)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Baseline
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 30% faster custom SSD
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 6 years of custom optimization
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Limited PS4 backward compatibility
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Yes, 4K/60FPS capable
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Select PS4 titles only (1 generation)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Custom SSD (faster)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Native 4K capable
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Limited
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Closes gap through optimization
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 6 years of proven optimization techniques
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz variable
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $649.99
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 4K/1080p
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Good (PS4/PS3 select)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Not disclosed
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Home Console Only
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Estimated 70+
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: God of War, Spider-Man, Gran Turismo, Returnal
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s (custom optimized)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 15-20 PS Plus tier
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 120 fps (capable)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Behind by 6.39M
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: None (stationary)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 120Hz at 4K
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Precision 3D Audio (evolved)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Advanced adaptive triggers
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 3840x2160 (4K)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $499-$549
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Stable native 4K
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Baseline (100%)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 120fps (PS5 Pro)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $499.99
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Slightly lower frame consistency
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Yes - DualSense haptic triggers
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 5,500 MB/s
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 16 GB GDDR6
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 120 fps
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 40+ exclusives
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Limited (PlayStation Plus Extra tier)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 4K (2160p)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 5-10 seconds
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: ~500 PS5-exclusive/optimized
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 5-15% typical
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $80 (PlayStation Plus Extra)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 4K/60fps or 1440p/120fps
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 5 minutes (unbox, connect, play)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: ~15% of multiplayer titles
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $70/year (PlayStation Plus)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 10 GB (unified architecture)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 30 minutes
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 40+ (God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 38.9 million units
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 825 GB (usable)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: No equivalent (PlayStation Plus Extra $18.99/month)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 14 major exclusives
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s raw (22 GB/s effective)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 110+ million
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 110W typical
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $17.99 (PS Plus Premium)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 700+ (PS Plus Premium)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 50 million
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 4K 120Hz
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 12 major exclusives
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 168 games
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 600 (PS Plus Premium)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 8 cores @ 3.5 GHz
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 825 GB SSD
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 2.1 seconds
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 4K (2160p) @ 120Hz
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz (variable frequency)
Average Game Load Time (Major AAA Titles)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: ~3.2 seconds
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: Variable scaling, 40-60fps typical
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 47 major exclusives
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz (variable)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 825GB SSD
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 4K @ 120fps (select titles)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 280+ (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 296 exclusives
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $85 for 1TB
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 70+ games (Premium tier)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 4,000+ PS4 games
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz (8-core)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 58-60 FPS
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $19.99/month (Plus Premium)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 120fps at 4K
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: N/A—not portable
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: God of War, Spider-Man, Final Fantasy, Hogwarts Legacy
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 25+ major exclusives
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 120+ million
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: $80 (PS Plus Essential for online)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 0-3 PlayStation exclusive day-ones
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: PlayStation Plus Premium (iPhone, Android, browser — limited)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 115 fps average
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 3.8 seconds
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 670 games (PlayStation Plus Extra)
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 67 exclusives
Steam Deck: N/A | PlayStation 5: 8-core Zen 2 @ 3.5 GHz
How to choose between Steam Deck and PlayStation 5
Steam Deck vs PlayStation 5 — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Steam Deck vs PlayStation 5. Contains 243 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Steam Deck vs PlayStation 5 — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Steam Deck vs PlayStation 5.
No. PS5 games are exclusive to PlayStation 5 and cannot be played on Steam Deck. However, Steam Deck can play hundreds of games that PS5 users also own (like Elden Ring, Control, or Baldur's Gate 3) through the Steam library.
Which has better frame rates and graphics?
PlayStation 5 is dramatically superior. PS5's 10.28 TFLOPS GPU delivers 4K at 60fps for optimized games, while Steam Deck typically runs games at 1280x800 resolution (720p) with 30-60fps depending on optimization. For AAA games like Final Fantasy XVI or God of War Ragnarök, PS5 is incomparably better.
Can I dock the Steam Deck to play on a TV like a console?
Yes. Steam Deck supports docking via USB-C to connect to a TV or monitor, and you can use controllers. However, it won't match PS5's performance at high resolutions. Docked gameplay still requires the Steam Deck's own hardware limitations.
Which is better for playing indie games?
Steam Deck has a significant advantage. It provides access to thousands of indie titles on Steam (many verified for optimal performance), whereas PS5 has fewer indie releases prioritized. However, both platforms support indie gaming well.
Can I upgrade components on either device?
Steam Deck allows storage expansion via microSD card (up to 2TB) and can modify the SSD. PS5's storage is fixed at 825GB internally, though external M.2 SSD expansion is available ($100-200). Steam Deck offers more user upgrade flexibility.
How to Choose Between Steam Deck and PlayStation 5
GPU Performance (TFLOPS): Steam Deck has 1.6 TFLOPS, while PlayStation 5 has 10.28 TFLOPS.
Primary Use Case: Steam Deck has Portable PC gaming, while PlayStation 5 has Living room console gaming.
Game Library Access: Steam Deck has 7,000+ Steam games verified compatible, while PlayStation 5 has PS5 exclusives + 3rd party titles (~500 optimized).
Consider: Resolution at Native Performance
Resolution at Native Performance: Steam Deck has 1280x800 handheld (720p typical gameplay), while PlayStation 5 has 3840x2160 (4K at 60fps for many games).
Price Entry Point: Steam Deck has $349 USD (256GB), while PlayStation 5 has $499 USD (standard edition).
Portability: Steam Deck has Fully portable, 1.47 lbs, plays anywhere, while PlayStation 5 has Stationary, requires TV/monitor connection.
Exclusive AAA Titles: Steam Deck has None (plays PC games), while PlayStation 5 has God of War Ragnarök, Final Fantasy XVI, Tekken 8.