The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming device nobody expected Valve to announce before quickly becoming one of the most desirable. However, there is a question mark over how comfortable this large handheld will be to hold and use, so one YouTuber decided to find out.
As Tom’s Hardware reports, the YouTube channel Handheld Obsession decided to 3D print a model of the Steam Deck, which had been created by game artist Alastair Low (who recorded his hour-long modeling session). The end result won’t play any games, but it gives you a very good idea of how the Steam Deck feels in your hands and whether all the buttons are within easy reach.
The main concern about the layout is the position of the B button. It’s right on the very edge of the casing and could potentially be uncomfortable to use for extended periods of time if you are also using the right shoulder button repeatedly. The back buttons may also be a problem. If you are gripping the Deck tightly then placing pressure on the lower buttons becomes more difficult.
What really brings home how big the Steam Deck is happens at the 3m 30s mark in the video when he compares it to the Nintendo Switch. The Switch looks tiny in comparison even though it only has a slightly smaller display (6.2-inches vs. 7-inches).
If you have access to a 3D printer and would like to try this for yourself, the 3D model file is available to download on Thingiverse. Alistair admits his model has a few things that are “a bit off,” but it’s good enough to give you a very good impression of what the Steam Deck will be like.
