I installed Windows on Steam Deck and I regret it

The video investigates the experience of installing Windows on a Steam Deck and how it compares to using SteamOS. It begins with the practical side of setup, including driver availability and how Windows interacts with the Deck’s hardware controls. The host highlights that Windows recognizes the device, but usable input and navigation can be awkward, since the Deck is primarily designed around SteamOS and its own input paradigms. The analysis continues with a hands-on look at desktop controls, trackpad versus joystick input, and the quirks of the on-screen keyboard, all while noting that Steam must be running for some control mappings to behave as a Steam Controller. The narrative then pivots to empirical benchmarks, showing Windows delivering lower frame rates and more stutter compared to SteamOS in several titles, notably Hitman 3, Doom Eternal, and Elden Ring, with SteamOS often providing a more stable experience. The video also touches on non-game scenarios like launching non-Steam apps, the limitations of windowed and full-screen modes, and the lack of a robust task manager on Windows in this handheld context. In the closing sections, the host assesses practical considerations such as sleep behavior, display rotation, audio drivers, battery management, and the difficulty of dual-booting, ultimately concluding that Windows on the Steam Deck is not ready for prime time. The discussion broadens to Valve’s role in driver support and the potential for future improvements, while acknowledging that if essential games are not available on SteamOS, users may consider Windows as a fallback, though with caveats. The verdict is cautious: for most users, SteamOS remains the more polished and reliable option on the Steam Deck today, and Windows does not yet justify the rougher experience. Viewers are reminded of ongoing updates and future plans around dual-boot support and higher storage capacity upgrades as Valve and the ecosystem evolve. Overall, the video blends first-hand usability observations, rough performance metrics, and practical recommendations for anyone weighing Windows on Deck against SteamOS.

Topics · technology · hardware · gaming · handhelds · linux · windows