Gaming handheld prices are out of control, except for the Steam Deck

The gaming handheld market is booming, with more devices than ever currently available, and an enthusiastic community eagerly awaiting the next big advancements in portable gaming. In fact, PC handhelds are so popular that a large portion of the narrative I saw in the lead-up to the release of the Switch 2 was whether people should buy it or a Steam Deck.

While I stand firmly on team Steam Deck, I found it curious that so many people even made this comparison. I even wrote about my feelings at the time, as the constant comparison between the Steam Deck and Switch 2, and which one was ultimately the best gaming handheld, felt like a moot point when both served different audiences. One of the reasons why it was such an easy comparison for everyone to make, however, is that they are fairly similarly priced, which got me thinking about the state of PC handheld pricing in general.