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HANDHELDVERDICT

Glossary · PC Handhelds

SteamOS

SteamOS is the Linux-based operating system on the Steam Deck: it boots to a gamepad-first interface, sleeps and resumes reliably, and its power management earns real battery gains over a desktop OS. The trade-off is compatibility — a handful of launchers and some anti-cheat titles do not run — though the Proton compatibility layer covers a large and growing share of the Windows library. For most people it is the more livable handheld experience; the exception is a library that lives behind software SteamOS refuses.

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