Before buying a Steam Deck, try this free Android app instead

Steam Decks offer gamers the same luxury and portability of home console-caliber handheld systems like the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, but with the power of modern PCs powering it and the entire Steam library at its disposal. For some, the console is the superior system to get their hands on in today’s gaming economy, and some gamers have even chosen Steam Decks over laptops for portable gaming purposes. However, before purchasing your own Steam Deck, you may want to consider another cheaper option that you can access if you are an Android owner.

The DroidDeck app aims to bring gamers SteamOS processing to the comfort and convenience of their Android devices. DroidDeck turns your Android into a portable console capable of running Steam and Steam titles with a SteamOS-like interface. The app, similar to other Steam-like options on Android, allows you to download games from your Steam library to your system. It also lets you download Linux apps and Steam Deck plugins.

Samsung devices compatible with DroidDeck include the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S23 Ultra and S23+, and S22 Ultra. Other devices under the Poco, OnePlus, Xiaomi, RedMagic, Asus, Sony, Motorola, and Nothing Phone banners may support the app. So, if you own one of these devices and want to enjoy PC gaming from the palm of your hand, DroidDeck makes a great substitute for Steam Deck.

The DroidDeck app’s capabilities have made some players wonder even more if it’s worth buying a Steam Deck in 2026. Some Reddit users have expressed enthusiasm for the app, despite its early issues. There is hope that it will one day live up to and live up to the promise of its principle. “The project is really impressive at this early stage,” one Reddit user wrote. “Even the fact that it has the same issues as a completely separate operating system shows how well the Steam Linux environment is replicated by being installed on Android.”

Others, however, have warned that the convenience of accessing Steam from your Android in this capacity comes at the price of performance. You shouldn’t expect to start games from their library without experiencing some form of lag. “I only tested ‘Hades 2’ and ‘Silksong,'” one Reddit user reported. “Performance seems to be about 5-10% worse and there is a little more input lag, but I don’t know by how much. It works just like Steam.”

Another on Reddit, however, acknowledged that the app’s 0.3.1 update has already started to improve its power. So, after ironing out some issues, DroidDeck could very well compete with the console it emulates on a level playing field, and perhaps make people wonder why they bought their Steam Deck for almost $1,000.