I really hope we get a Steam Deck 2 with a November 2025 release date. I know we probably won't, but I can dream. Zen 2 APU just isn't powerful enough, we need a new custom SoC on the 4nm node or 3nm.

Space LynxI really hope we get a Steam Deck 2 with a November 2025 release date. I know we probably won't, but I can dream. Zen 2 APU just isn't powerful enough, we need a new custom SoC on the 4nm node or 3nm.

I hope the opposite, hardware obsoletion isnt a good thing. In addition Valve have said it isnt happening in the forseeable future.
Asus device is there if you want more horsepower?

A good release date for a #2 model would perhaps be around 2027-2030. Dev's if they put their mind to it and pick the engine they use wisely dont need to require so much grunt.

chrcolukI hope the opposite, hardware obsoletion isnt a good thing. In addition Valve have said it isnt happening in the forseeable future.
Asus device is there if you want more horsepower?

A good release date for a #2 model would perhaps be around 2027-2030. Dev's if they put their mind to it and pick the engine they use wisely dont need to require so much grunt.

I think Z2 Extreme APU handheld devices will be launching late spring or early summer, so I will probably grab one of those. Assuming it will have SteamOS, which it should, seems like everyone on board with SteamOS on any handheld, just a matter of time now.

Space LynxI think Z2 Extreme APU handheld devices will be launching late spring or early summer, so I will probably grab one of those. Assuming it will have SteamOS, which it should, seems like everyone on board with SteamOS on any handheld, just a matter of time now.

Yeah now the Steam OS will be supported on 3rd party devices, its a game changer for the alternative models. :)

I wouldnt be surprised if we never see a steam deck 2, Steam wanted Steam OS to take and have a portable platform, they launched the deck to get it going, and now 3rd party vendors have bitten, they could potentially just go back to being software only.

Space LynxI really hope we get a Steam Deck 2 with a November 2025 release date. I know we probably won't, but I can dream. Zen 2 APU just isn't powerful enough, we need a new custom SoC on the 4nm node or 3nm.

Zen 2 is fine, it's the GPU that's anaemic.

dgianstefaniZen 2 is fine, it's the GPU that's anaemic.

I really think a Z2 Extreme APU device later this year combined with SteamOS is going to be the magic winner, assuming they are not stupid and don't go above 1200p resolution, which is all any handheld should ever have imo. I'm perfectly happy with the deck OLED 900p too. I'd prefer that 900p and a z2 extreme and steamOS, that would be the trifecta. almost every AAA games would look amazing at native rez and 60 fps

chrcolukYeah now the Steam OS will be supported on 3rd party devices, its a game changer for the alternative models. :)

I wouldnt be surprised if we never see a steam deck 2, Steam wanted Steam OS to take and have a portable platform, they launched the deck to get it going, and now 3rd party vendors have bitten, they could potentially just go back to being software only.

I believe this may have turned into the plan after all once Valve got the ball rolling.

My theory is that Valve asked AMD (Commissioned, perhaps? These are businesses after all) to create a custom Zen 2+RDNA2 quad-core Van Gogh APU to meet the 15W TDP specs for handheld battery use, which became the Steam Deck.

AMD then built on the previous idea and used existing APUs (7540U & 7840U) with specific TDP specs (e.g. allow high-power mode even on battery) and rebranded them as the Z1 and Z1 Extreme, which is considered first gen.

Then now that the x86 handheld market is continuing to boom, they now have the Z2 Go (a quad-core 6800U with 12 CUs, which I consider the spiritual successor of the Van Gogh with Zen 3+ and still RDNA2) and the upcoming Z2 (possibly an eight-core AI 9 365) and Z2 Extreme (most likely an eight-core AI 9 HX 370), which are technically "custom" cores aimed at handheld use for OEMs to license/buy.

So if ever Valve will create a Steam Deck 2 in the future, they will most likely go with the Z2-series or go with whatever Zen 5+, Zen 6, RDNA4, etc. equivalent AMD may have available in the future. Right now the only newest APU that I can see that can meet 15W TDP and below is that Z2 Go but it shows bad performance due to Windows 11 and the older architecture (but still better than Van Gogh).

Space LynxI really think a Z2 Extreme APU device later this year combined with SteamOS is going to be the magic winner, assuming they are not stupid and don't go above 1200p resolution, which is all any handheld should ever have imo. I'm perfectly happy with the deck OLED 900p too. I'd prefer that 900p and a z2 extreme and steamOS, that would be the trifecta. almost every AAA games would look amazing at native rez and 60 fps

I think you mean 800p, 16:10. 900p is scaled 1600x900, standard 16:9. 1200p (1920x1200) is good too since it's also 16:10 and would go well with the more abundant CUs in the APUs.

2560x1600 (16:10, 1600p like the Legion Go) would work fine too as long as integer scaling is implemented properly. Makes the SteamOS UI look really crisp with the high DPI but you would need to deal with the panel refreshing when switching between the two resolutions.

Yes, I meant 800p. I wish we could the current Deck OLED screen in a Z2 Extreme steamOS device, that would be amazing as fk. I wouldn't be surprised if it could play spider-man 2 at 90 fps at that resolution with that APU/steamOS optimizations.

Space LynxI really hope we get a Steam Deck 2 with a November 2025 release date. I know we probably won't, but I can dream. Zen 2 APU just isn't powerful enough, we need a new custom SoC on the 4nm node or 3nm.

Steam Deck would be under 4 years old if they do a new one in Nov 2025, that's too soon. At 10-15W TDP there is only a small % increase they can do so far. I'd wait for TSMC 2N or at worst 3N before a new SoC and maintain the same battery life as SD OLED for a meaningful performance gain of maybe 2x... If I were Valve I'd wait until spring 2027 at the 5 year mark, half a year before PS6 should ship.

These other handhelds are not impressive to me so far. They distinguish themselves by being overly large with absurd TDPs and poor battery life. Hard pass on them so far. Steam Deck OLED is the best still.

Yeah, I also feel that Valve needs to refresh the Steam Deck sooner rather than later.
That said, I do hope they forgo an off-the-shelf APU for another custom design.

My Steam Deck 2 APU wishlist:

• 6x Zen 4c cores, with a unified 16MB L3 cache
  • The compact cores are plenty performant for a handheld, and the reduced power budget/die footprint can be put to better use.
• Either 12x or 16x RDNA 3.5 CUs
  • Depending on which configuration gives better performance at 15W and lower.
  • RDNA 3.5 is optimized specifically for low power devices, and forgoes unnecessary raytracing and AI accelerators.
• 32GB LPDDR5X/LPDDR6 over a 128-bit bus
• At most, 4x PCIe 4.0 lanes
  • Nothing more is needed, and an argument could be made for 2x PCIe 3.0 lanes being sufficient.
• Massively cut down I/O and uncore
  • Display interface, cut-down media engine, a few USB2.0, and 1x USB4.0. What else does a handheld need??

Fabbed on TSMC's N3E node in a year or so, it should be relatively affordable, and quite a bit more performant than the current handheld optimized variants of standard APUs.
Couple it with a 7~8" 120Hz+ 2560x1600 screen (still works fine rendering 1280x800, especially with integer scaling) with VRR, and they would have a massive winner in their hands :cool:

One can only dream...

If Valve slapped the Strix Halo in a steam deck. I’ll buy 3.
Even at 15W the Halo stomps the Z2 extreme in CPU and GPU

crank it upto 70W and it matches the RTX 4070 Mobile

that’s more than enough for a mobile handheld to last a very long time.

Durvelle27If Valve slapped the Strix Halo in a steam deck. I’ll buy 3.
Even at 15W the Halo stomps the Z2 extreme in CPU and GPU

crank it upto 70W and it matches the RTX 4070 Mobile

that’s more than enough for a mobile handheld to last a very long time.

yep I agree, or just have it when not plugged in set to max 15w - and 40w when plugged in due to limitations of handheld cooling. but even then, optimized under SteamOS - it would be amazing at 800p resolution OLED...