Pull up a pew and kick back as former Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan hosts the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards. As the show returns once more to its Bridgestone Arena home in Nashville, Tennessee., read on as we explain how to watch a 2021 CMA Awards stream from anywhere, including for FREE.
Reigning Entertainer of the Year Eric Church is once again going head-to-head with Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Luke Combs for the night's highest honor, with Chris Stapleton completing the list of nominees.
It's incredible to think that neither Lambert nor Underwood have taken the crown before. Will it be fifth time lucky for the Fastest Girl in Town, or will the All-American Girl take it at her fourth attempt?
Of course, there's plenty more to look forward to besides, with a huge array of artists set to perform, with the biggest names including all of those mentioned above, plus Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Mickey Guyton and Carly Pearce.
Strap up for the coolest ride in town, and scroll down for all the ways to watch a CMA Awards stream tonight.
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How to watch a 2021 CMA Awards live stream from outside your country
Keep scrolling if you want to know your viewing options in the US, Canada, UK and Australia - it's absolutely FREE Down Under!
But it's worth noting that if you're abroad right now and were hoping to watch your home coverage on your laptop or mobile, it will inevitably be geo-blocked. Annoying but this is easily fixed, with a VPN you can change your IP address to a location back in your own hometown or country that will then allow you to stream the event as if you were sat back at home.
ExpressVPN - get the world's best VPN We've put all the major VPNs through their paces and we rate ExpressVPN as our top pick, thanks to its speed, ease of use and strong security features. It's also compatible with just about any streaming device out there, including Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox and PlayStation, as well as Android and Apple mobiles.
Sign up for an annual plan now and get an extra 3 months absolutely FREE. And if you change your mind within the first 30 days, let them know and they'll give you your money back without a quibble.
How to watch 2021 CMA Awards in US with and without cable
ABC once again has the rights to air the CMA Awards in the US, with coverage of the event starting at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 8pm PT on Wednesday evening.
If you get the channel through your TV package, you can also live stream the CMA Awards via the ABC website, though you'll need to log in with your cable provider details.
If you don't have ABC on cable, don't worry. The excellent and comprehensive over-the-top streaming service FuboTV carries ABC as part of its line-up of more than 100 channels, and is priced from $64.99 a month.
It's really easy to sign up for, and can be cancelled no questions asked.
But best of all, it offers a FREE 7-day FuboTV trial, so you can see if it's right for you before parting with your money.
Not in the US right now? No worries - just use a VPN as described above.
How to live stream CMA Awards FREE in Australia
Country Music fans Down Under can watch the 2021 CMA Awards without paying a penny thanks to Channel 9 and, more specifically, 9Gem. Coverage starts at 12pm AEDT on Thursday.
That means you can also fire up a FREE CMA Awards stream on the 9Now streaming service, which is compatible with laptops, tablets, mobiles and an array of streaming services such as Apple TV, Chromecast, Fetch, PlayStation, Amazon Fire and smart TVs.
If you're currently out of Australia but want to catch that free coverage, you'll need to get yourself a VPN as per the instructions below.
How to stream the CMA Awards live in Canada
In Canada, CTV 2 is the place to tune in to the CMA Awards, with coverage beginning at 8pm ET / 7pm CT on Wednesday evening.
The event can also be streamed through the CTV website and app, but you’ll need to enter your cable login details first.
If you’re away from Canada, don’t let geo-blocks prevent you from tuning in. Use a good VPN in order to stream TV live and on-demand from anywhere in the world.
How to watch 2021 CMA Awards FREE in the UK
The great news for country music fans based in the UK is that you can watch the 2021 CMA Awards free - the bad news is that you're going to have to be patient.
The event is being shown on BBC 4 at 10pm GMT on Friday, November 19 - more a week after the event.
But because it's being shown on the Beeb, you can also stream the CMA Awards on BBC iPlayer.
The platform is 100% free to use with a valid TV licence and can be viewed on a number of devices. So whether you want to watch in real time or on catch-up, you can access BBC iPlayer on any of the following: desktop on Windows and Mac machines, on smartphone apps for Android and iOS, as well as media streaming devices like Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, Roku and more. You can also get BBC iPlayer on PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
Abroad right now? Make use of a VPN like ExpressVPN to bypass geo-restrictions and stream BBC iPlayer as if you were right at home.
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The best gaming TVs can seem like they're a dime a dozen, with tons of great models available at solid prices. No matter whether you're after the best 4K TV for PS5, the best 4K TV for Xbox Series X/S, or a top-notch 1080p display for your Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED, we've got something in this guide to suit you.
Even if you're not a huge gamer, you might want to check out the models we've highlighted below. Wondering why? As is the case with the best gaming PCs, the best gaming TVs you can buy usually cover all fronts when it comes to the end user experience. They're great for gaming, sure, but remember in most cases you're getting features like 4K and HDR (high dynamic range), which serve to present a higher quality picture and a wider color gamut respectively.
How to buy a PS5 or Xbox
(Image credit: Sony/Microsoft)
Don't have a next-gen console? Find out where to get a gaming machine for your new gaming TV below:
So what should you look for when picking out a new gaming TV?
We’re now well in the midst of a new wave of TV technologies. HDMI 2.1 is the gold standard for accurate display of 4K/120Hz gameplay, as well as reliable variable refresh rate performance and input lag-reduction. As such, there’s never been a better time to look at buying one of the best gaming TVs.
There's no reason to miss out if you’re sticking to older consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One, or the 1080p-maxed Nintendo Switch. The best gaming TVs featured here still offer crystal clear image quality and low input lag, which can certainly make more colorful titles like Super Mario Odyssey or Fortnite really pop.
The Sony X90J 4K TV sees the company behind the PS5 finally get its TVs in line. While last year's Sony TV range was marred by inconsistent support for HDMI 2.1, this year's range gets the input standard right, with two HDMI 2.1 ports for connecting next-gen games consoles.
The X90J has a 120Hz panel with 4K resolution and two full-spec HDMI 2.1 ports for your PS5, with VRR (variable refresh rate) and ALLM (auto low latency mode, for sub-10ms lag) to really up your gaming experience. Just be sure to head into the picture settings and switch on 'Enhanced format' for your selected HDMI port, otherwise you won't get the benefit of its 2.1 specification. There's no VRR, though as the PS5 still doesn't support it, that shouldn't be an issue here either.
It has excellent image quality, thanks in part to a new Cognitive XR processor rolled out to Sony's top 2021 sets, making for excellent upscaling and contrast control. The X90J also sports the new Google TV smart platform, for easy setup and broad app support as well as the perks of Google Cast from Android devices.
There are still a few lingering issues, including some middling off-axis viewing and struggles with direct daylight – and the X90J will no doubt be beaten by the capabilities of its step-up X95J model for a small uptick in cost. Still, the Sony X90J succeeds in delivering stellar performance for a reasonable price.
If you want the best gaming TV with a knockout OLED screen, then the LG C1 is your best bet.
With a 4K OLED display, you can expect truly breathtaking black levels and an 'infinite' contrast ratio (the range between the darkest and brightest parts of the screen) to a level the gaming TV above can only dream of.
You're getting four dedicated HDMI 2.1 ports (ideal for plugging in multiple consoles) and even comes with a new Game Optimiser menu that gives you the option to quickly adjust brightness, contrast and VRR (variable refresh rate) on the fly. You can expect 4K/120fps support for any compatible games, too, as well as sub-1ms input lag.
With Dolby Vision HDR and Atmos support, too, you'll be able to make the most of out your Xbox Series X – given the PS5 doesn't currently support these technologies.
All in all, the LG C1 is a massively specified television, and LG's work to attract gamer's is very clear, especially with the addition of Nvidia FreeSync support last year for those hooking up a gaming PC to their television. You can always opt for last year's LG CX too, which has largely the same specifications for a little less cost.
If you have concerns around image retention, when static sections of a picture (say, a HUD) are looped so often that they permanently mark the panel, we wouldn't worry. This isn't a sizeable risk, especially since OLED TV makers have developed 'screen shift' technologies to regularly adjust the placement of onscreen pictures to help prevent this (via LG).
Sure, there are more expensive new Samsung TVs out there, but none make the case for gaming quite like the Samsung Q80T. As much as we'd like to recommend higher-end models like the Q95T or (moving into 8K territory) the Q950TS, it's the Q80T that really nails that price-performance ratio. (It's no coincidence you'll find it in our guide to the best 65-inch TVs too.)
Launched in 2020, it was the cheapest Samsung QLED with a full-array backlight, meaning you don't have to skimp with an edge-lit display (like last year's Q60R). Despite the name, it's also the successor to last year's Q70R, which previously topped this guide – but beating the Q70R's 14ms input lag with an exceptionally low 8.7ms. That means you'll get as little delay as possible between button mashing your controller and seeing the action onscreen.
That figure is reached by turning off Game Motion Plus (which reduces screen judder), but even without it you'll get a respectable 19.7ms.
There's only one HDMI 2.1 port, so this is the best gaming TV for you only if you stick to the PS5 or the Xbox Series X and not both – or don't mind plugging and unplugging every time to want to switch devices. But as a slightly older model compared to the top screens above, this might be the best bet for a gamer still using an Xbox One or PS4, who wants good gaming performance without a truly next-gen price tag.
The OTS sound system also means you're getting some serious audio credentials – whether you're listening to the cry of enemies or the ambient sounds of walking simulators.
You won't get Dolby Vision here, either, so if you are looking for a PS5 TV, this should still be a decent choice in the long run.
The best budget 4K TV for gamers with shallow pockets
Available sizes: 55, 65, 75-inch | Input lag: 17.7ms | Refresh rate: 60Hz | VRR: No | HDMI 2.1: No
Bright, colorful HDR
Supports Dolby Vision
Loss of darker details
Limited motion settings
If you have deep pockets and a checkbook filled with blank checks, we’d tell you to reach deep and shell out for only the best 4K TVs on the market – or the pricier models listed above. But that’s not always realistic: for the vast, vast majority of us, our budget to spend on a 4K UHD TV is limited to somewhere under $1,000 – and often it's even less than that.
To that end, it’s absolutely fair to say that the TCL 6-Series is the best TV you can possibly get in this price range. Its performance per dollar is unmatched and its picture quality – despite a few minor flaws – will truly impress you for what you're paying.
Said simply, if there’s a better value 4K TV on the market, we’ve yet to see it. If you're not based in the US, though, read on for other affordable gaming TVs worth considering.
The Samsung QN95A is the company’s new flagship Neo QLED 4K TV for 2021, and the first to embrace a Mini LED backlight. It's a bit pricier than most models in this list – but if you have the cash, it could serve you well as a well-specified HDMI 2.1 TV.
There’s a host of cutting-edge gaming features that’ll please next-gen console owners, all part of the new Slim One Connect box that ships with the QN95A.
The box houses four HDMI inputs, one of which (HDMI 3) supports eARC. All of the HDMI inputs are capable of handling up to 40Gbps, which means they can accept 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM. While not full HDMI 2.1 connections, they offer sufficient bandwidth, making this TV a great choice for next-gen gamers who want to take full advantage of their new console.
The results speak for themselves, with superb SDR and HDR images that benefit from deep blacks and brighter highlights, all of which are delivered without blooming or loss of shadow detail (thanks to the Mini LED backlight). The inclusion of quantum dot technology delivers saturated and nuanced colours, too.
The OTS+ audio system packed into this 120Hz means you're getting some impactful 4.2.2 channel sound from your games too.
A TV's resolution is important and will significantly impact the image quality of whatever game you're playing. To get the most out of your PS5 or Xbox Series X, for example, a 4K TV will squeeze the best possible image from games on those consoles.
Nintendo Switch gamers have a bit more wiggle room. While many 4K TVs will upscale that console's 1080p image effectively, 4K certainly isn't necessary in this case. In fact, you'll likely save money by opting for a 1080p screen for gaming on the Switch.
Resolution isn't everything, though. Just as important to a smooth gaming experience is the amount of input lag. Input lag is the amount of time between a button press on your controller to the action playing out on screen.
By and large, the best gaming TVs will range between 1-20 milliseconds of input lag, which might seem infinitesimal, but even the slightest delay in input can make all the different in a heated multiplayer match, for example.
Most gaming TVs will feature a dedicated Game mode, which will often automatically enable when booting up a game. Game modes will optimize the display to reduce input lag even further, and can be integral to improving your gaming experience on a TV.
Is a TV good for PC gaming?
We've established that gaming TVs are fantastic companions for your games consoles, but what if you play on PC? There's certainly an appeal in playing graphically intensive PC games on a big screen, but how does that play out in practice?
While a gaming TV can certainly substitute for a PC gaming monitor, you'll need to make sure your PC can handle the resolution. 4K screens are naturally more taxing on your PC's resources due to them offering much higher image quality.
If your PC is up to scratch, you'll get a smooth experience at 4K on a bigger screen. If not, you may have to switch your game to a lower resolution like 1440p or 1080p, in which case your gaming TV might not be able to handle the upscaling needed very well. This will result in a blurrier than intended image thanks to the size of the TV compared to a monitor.
It's a double-edged sword, then, and almost entirely dependant on how powerful your PC is. If you've got the high-end parts to make it happen, then PC gaming on a TV can produce wonderful results. If it's not quite there, then you're better off playing on a smaller monitor able to output a sharper, cleaner image.
How much is a gaming TV?
TVs suited for gaming vary wildly in price, depending on a wide number of factors. 4K gaming TVs are incredibly common these days, and can be bought for as little as $300 / £300 / AU$450. Of course, you're getting very basic features with a TV at this price, with a size of around 43-inches and potentially lacking niceties like HDR (high dynamic range) which packs a much greater gamut of colors.
There are plenty of cheap 4K gaming TVs available, then, but those of you looking for the best experience possible might want to seek out a 4K gaming beast like the LG C1, which offers gorgeous HDR and some of the lowest input lag we've ever seen. Of course, LG's flagships don't come cheap, and you can expect to pay around $1,499 / £1,699 (around AU$2,999). And that's just for the smallest available model in each region.
Do I need an 8K gaming TV?
The short answer? No.
While 8K games are absolutely on the horizon, and the PS5 / Xbox Series X console come with this capability baked-in, there's no immediate need to get an 8K TV for gaming. Gaming devs are still getting to grips with 4K performance, and in general other picture specifications like a high frame rate (60fps, 120fps) are going to be more important in the coming years.
In 2025, maybe it'll be a different answer, but for now we think the 4K gaming TVs listed above will do you just fine.
Why should I upgrade?
Deathloop (PS5, 2021)(Image credit: Arkane)
You may be wondering why you need a gaming-specific television. After all, won't a regular TV do the job just fine?
Sure, any old HD or 4K TV will be able to display the picture information sent through from a games console, as long as it has an HDMI 2.0 port. But there are a host of reasons worth getting a TV with dedicated gaming specification, to really elevate your play in how it looks, sounds, and feels.
4K resolution
If you're looking for one of the best TVs for gaming, the most basic requirement is 4K. The Xbox One S outputs all of its games in 4K, which is achieved via surprisingly good built-in upscaling, though the Xbox One X is required for native, game engine-integrated 4K support. The PS4 Pro also outputs games in 4K, using a mix of upscaling and in-game enhancement – while the Nintendo Switch only outputs at HD to a TV, though there's chatter around a possible 4K refresh coming in 2021.
Frame rate handling
Now that the Xbox One X is almost here and promising native 4K resolution games running at 60 frames a second, make sure that whatever TV you buy has the latest specification HDMI sockets. If it doesn’t have at least one HDMI socket built to the v2.0a specification, it won’t be able to receive 4K resolution at anything higher than 30 frames a second.
Fortunately far more of this year’s 4K TVs do feature HDMI 2.0a sockets than in previous years, but it’s still something that’s worth double checking - especially if you’re buying a particularly cheap TV.
The new HDMI 2.1 standard will no doubt become the benchmark for high-end gaming in time, but we're yet to see it really rolled out across commercially-available sets.
Halo Infinite (Xbox Series X, 2021)(Image credit: 343 Industries)
High dynamic range (and high peak brightness)
Sitting right alongside 4K in today’s video world is high dynamic range (HDR) technology. This delivers pictures with a much wider light range than the standard dynamic range pictures we’ve been living with for decades in a bid to get the pictures we’re seeing on our screens looking closer to the way our eyes see the real world.
This is something the Xbox Series X has an advantage in, with an Auto HDR feature that applies some HDR magic even to SDR games that haven't been purposefully remastered for high dynamic range. The PS5, as well as last-gen consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One, though, do display in HDR in games that support the format.
The Xbox Series X also supports Dolby Vision – a dynamic HDR format with more precisely calibrated contrast – though currently only for streaming apps. You won't find it supported on the built-in 4K Blu-ray player, or actually in any Xbox Series X games – though that latter point is expected to be amended before 2021 is out.
Most people would say that HDR delivers more impact than 4K, especially on small TVs. The only problem is that HDR puts a lot of pressure on a TV, since it demands both much more brightness than SDR, and better contrast so that the extra brightness and deeper blacks can potentially share the screen simultaneously.
Many movies and games target 1,000 nits or so for their brightest elements, so if you have a TV less bright than that it won’t unlock HDR’s full potential. That's especially true in a video game environment, where graphics can be more stark in contrast terms than ‘real life’ tends to be.
Bit depth
When considering HDR, you might want to think about your gaming TV’s bit depth. too. The best HDR experience requires a 10-bit screen able to support 1024 values of each RGB colour – otherwise you'll get an inferior colour performance, including, possibly, colour striping where you should see subtle blends. Most premium HDR TVs these days are 10-bit, but it’s far from a given at the affordable end of the TV market.
Xbox and PlayStation consoles automatically assess the bit-depth of your TV and select the optimum HDR video output accordingly. Xbox models even provide a description of your TV’s capabilities under 4K TV Details in its Advanced Video Settings menu.
To be clear, it’s entirely possible for an 8-bit TV to deliver a good HDR colour performance if they have a strong video processing engine – but 10-bit panels certainly have an immediate advantage.
One other point to add here is that some TVs – including high-end Samsung models – actually support 12-bit colour management/processing, even though their panels are only natively 10-bit. Xbox consoles however do provide Colour Depth boxes in their Video Fidelity settings that let you select the maximum bit performance for your particular TV.
Xbox Series X with Xbox Wireless Controller(Image credit: Micosoft)
Color purity
Another advanced setting but important thing to consider for the ultimate gaming visuals is chroma subsampling.
This video compression term refers to a TV’s colour purity, and is usually written in such terms as 4:4:4 and 4:2:0. These numbers reveal how many pixels colour is sampled from in the top and bottom rows for every two rows of four pixels. So with 4:2:0, for instance, colour is being sampled from two pixels in the top row and no pixels in the bottom row.
From this it follows that the bigger the numbers are, the purer the colour performance will be, as there’s less ‘guesstimating’ of what colours should look like. The problem is, full 4:4:4 colour support requires a lot of extra image data, and so cannot be handled by the HDMI connections or processing of all TVs.
In truth, the differences in picture quality between 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 and even 4:2:0 aren’t usually enormous. They can be more pronounced with gaming graphics than video, though, so it’s worth trying to check what a TV you’re thinking of buying can support – even though it’s not information regularly carried in TV spec lists. The latest consoles are pretty good at detecting the optimum chroma subsampling a TV can support, automatically adjusting their outputs according.
It’s something that can cause annoying ‘handshaking’ issues with some TVs, though, and home consoles now tend to provide subsampling ‘limiter’ options in their video output menus (‘Enable 4:2:2’ on the Xbox One S, and 2160 YUV4:2:0 on the PS4 Pro).
Surround sound
Sound design has always played an integral part in a great gaming experience. It’s getting taken to another level these days, though, with the arrival of surround sound gaming. In fact, the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X even support Dolby Atmos: Dolby’s most advanced sound system yet, which introduces a height channel and ‘object based’ precision to the soundstage.
Things to pay attention to are whether speakers are facing forwards (as this will almost always give you a more direct, clean sound); rated power output; whether there’s a dedicated bass speaker (often found on a TV’s rear); built-in soundbars; and the number of individual speakers used.
Sony is making much of the '3D Audio' capability of the PS5, too, so expect good TV speakers to become even more crucial when the next-gen console launches. (There's no Dolby Atmos support on the PS5, though.)
After a compact, mid-price set? Check out these 40-inch TVs
Managing employee devices can be difficult for small businesses which is why Apple has announced a new service that brings mobile device management, support and cloud storage together in a complete package for SMBs.
Now available in beta, Apple Business Essentials offers device management, 24/7 Apple Support and iCloud storage in flexible subscription plans for small businesses with up to 500 employees. There is also a new Apple Business Essentials app that enables employees to install apps for work and request support.
Apple Business Essentials is designed to help save time for small businesses as they grow by supporting them through the total device management life cycle from device setup to employee onboarding and device upgrades while also providing strong security, prioritized support and secure data storage and cloud backup.
VP of enterprise and education marketing at Apple, Susan Prescott provided further insight on the company's new SMB-focused service in a press release, saying:
“Small businesses are at the core of our economy, and we’re proud that Apple products play a role in helping these companies grow. Apple Business Essentials is designed to help streamline every step of employee device management within a small business — from setup, onboarding, and upgrading, to accessing fast service and prioritized support, all while keeping data backed up and secure, so companies can focus on running their business.”
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple Business Essentials
Apple Business Essentials simplifies employee onboarding by allowing a small business to easily configure, deploy and manage Apple products from anywhere.
For instance, Collections enable IT admins to configure settings and apps for individual users, groups or devices. When an employee signs in to their corporate or personal device using their work credentials, Collections automatically pushes settings such as VPN configurations and Wi-Fi passwords.
Strong security is another selling point of Apple Business Essentials as IT managers can enforce critical security settings such as FileVault for full-disk encryption on Mac and Activation Lock to protect devices that may be lost or stolen. The service also provides a dedicated iCloud account for work and business data is automatically stored and backed up which makes it easy to move between devices or upgrade to a new one.
SMBs that sign up for Apple Business Essentials also have the option to add fast and reliable service for employee devices with prioritized Apple Support. By adding AppleCare+ for Business Essentials to their plan, SMBs get 24/7 access to phone support, training for both IT admins and employees and up to two device repairs per plan each year. Employees can initiate repairs using the Apple Business Essentials app and an Apple-trained technician will come to their workplace in as little as four hours to get their devices up and running.
When Apple Business Essentials launches, there will be three plans to cover every employee and device in their organization. We'll likely hear more on the service from Apple once it exits beta and becomes fully available in the spring of 2022. Until then, interested businesses can sign up here to join the beta.
In a surprising move from Asus, it seems that its latest Intel Alder Lake B660 gaming motherboard may not have PCIe 5.0 support like a Z690 motherboard would.
The upcoming Prime B660 Plus D4 motherboard might only be supporting up to PCIe Gen4, according to an image from Videocardz of a Z690 motherboard shipped in the wrong box. The decision is also a confusing one, as Gen5 lanes aren’t attached to the chipset but to the CPU itself. Though motherboard manufacturers still have to include the hardware for the faster interface.
(Image credit: Videocardz)
Naturally, this is an unconfirmed image, so take the news with a grain of salt until Asus officially reveals the full details. We should start hearing official word on B660 motherboards in the next few weeks, as the budget motherboards typically follow a couple weeks after the mainstream Z-series chipset.
Analysis: A smart move from Asus
The lack of support may seem like a rather bizarre turn of events but, when you consider the actual market for the B660, the move from Asus makes far more sense as a cost-cutting effort if the rumor mill is accurate.
The lack of PCIe Gen5 support does mean that the B660 chipset would be less futureproof. However, this motherboard would be aimed at the mid-range segment, which is a market that isn’t exactly racing to adapt to Gen5 GPUs and SSDs. This means that the motherboard is ideal for those looking to build a gaming PC on a budget, especially with Black Friday coming up.
There’s also the fact that Intel’s Alder Lake gaming CPUs have been recently struggling with playing certain PC games, such as Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Madden 22, and Total War: Three Kingdoms, due to DRM issues. Not to mention the ongoing global chip shortage which makes netting pretty much anything high-end incredibly difficult.
Editor’s note: Budget boards are good, actually
While it might seem like the lack of PCIe on B660 motherboards would be a bad thing, it really isn’t. There still aren’t any PCIe 5.0 SSDs on the market yet, and we’re still on the first generation of graphics cards that are using PCIe 4.0. So, when you’re setting out to build a new PC with one of these motherboards, you really wouldn’t be missing out on anything right now.
We’d even go further and have DDR4 on budget motherboards. We know that Alder Lake supports both the older memory standard along with the new DDR5 standard. The shiny new components are definitely exciting for the type of enthusiast that wants the fastest hardware on the market, but the price is definitely way higher than existing hardware.
MSI has already come out and said that DDR5 memory is going to be pretty expensive for a while, so we hope that budget-oriented chipsets like B660 and the new H-series will keep that in mind before tacking on the new specs just for a more appealing box.
The Steam Deck is about the most exciting thing in PC gaming going right now, with PC gamers the world over eagerly anticipating taking their entire Steam library on the go in a convenient handheld form factor.
Valve, the development studio responsible for the legendary Half-Life franchise, were first rumored to be developing a handheld gaming console back in April 2021, with Ars Technica breaking the news of the "SteamPal", the codename for Valve's "Switch-like portable PC".
We all awaited the official announcement, which eventually came in July 2021. More than just a Switch clone, the Steam Deck is a truly portable PC.
While it comes loaded with its own SteamOS operating system, you can put whatever OS you want on it, from Linux Ubuntu, Windows 11, and more. You can even dual boot, making it one of the more interesting portable computing devices to be announced in recent memory.
Like the Nintendo Switch, the Steam Deck is also dockable with output to a TV or monitor via a USB Type-C connection (assuming the display supports USB Type-C video input). Valve is planning on releasing its own dock at some point, put for now any USB Type-C-compatible dock will work.
And, because the Steam Deck is effectively a portable PC, you can also use all the standard PC peripherals as well, so controllers, keyboards, mice, flight sticks, etc. You can even use Bluetooth headphones, something that is still not supported by other major video game consoles.
So what else do we know about Valve's Steam Deck console? Read on to learn all about this potentially game-changing handheld.
Steam Deck: Cut to the chase
What is it? A powerful, portable PC from Valve
How much will it cost? $399 / £349 for the 64GB version, $529 / £459 for the 256GB version, and $649 / £569 for the 512GB version
When will it be released? February 2022 in the US, Canada, EU and UK. It will release in other regions later in 2022.
Steam Deck release date and price
(Image credit: Valve)
The Steam Deck was originally set to release in December 2021, but it has since been delayed due to the ongoing supply chain issues, the first units are expected to ship out starting in February 2022.
The cost hasn't changed though, and it is still set to retail for $399 / £349 for the base model that comes with 64GB of eMMC internal storage and a carrying case.
The mid-range option costs $529 / £459 and includes a 256GB NVMe SSD inside for faster storage, a carrying case and an exclusive Steam Community profile bundle.
Finally, the highest tier option costs $649 / £569 and includes 512GB of NVMe SSD internal storage, premium anti-glare etched glass, an exclusive carrying case, exclusive Steam Community profile bundle, and an exclusive virtual keyboard theme.
All three consoles storage can be expanded thanks to a microSD card slot, which supports SD, SDXC and SDHC formats.
Pre-order now
Steam Deck pre-orders opened on July 16, at 10am PDT / 6pm BST / 7pm CEST. You had to put down a $5 / £4 deposit to reserve your console, and orders were placed from the Steam Store. Unfortunately, many users were unable to reserve a console in time for December 2021 as Steam was flooded with people trying to place their order. It means that a lot of pre-orders will arrive during Q1 or Q2 of 2022, much to the irritation of many.
We expected the Steam Deck to be sold at a higher price tag than the Nintendo Switch, which retails for $299 / £279.99 / AU$469, but it's even more expensive than the new Nintendo Switch OLED, which retails for $349 / £309.
Valve's Gabe Newell said the company found hitting Steam Deck price "painful" but "critical" in an interview with IGN. Newell told IGN about the need to be "very aggressive" in terms of pricing, and said that the top priority was to make sure that PC players are able to pick up the Steam Deck and feel like it works perfectly.
"I want to pick this up and say, oh, it all works. It's all fast. It's all... and then price point was secondary and painful. But that was pretty clearly a critical aspect to it," Newell said. "But the first thing was the performance and the experience, [that] was the biggest and most fundamental constraint that was driving this."
Steam Deck design and features
(Image credit: Valve)
The Steam Deck may look rather ungainly, but Valve says it's been designed for comfortable, extended play sessions, and it has full-fidelity control so you can play your favorite games without any compromises.
The Steam Deck features "best-in-class" thumbsticks with capacitive touch sensors built-in, which Valve says will provide "a level of precision and comfort not found on other portable gaming devices". Unlike the Switch, the controllers can not be removed from the display like the Joy-Con. It means the Steam Deck is more akin to the Nintendo Switch Lite in this regard.
You'll notice that the Steam Deck also includes two trackpads, which means users will have mouse-like control in games that don't play nice with a gamepad. Valve says these pads are similar to those found on its now discontinued Steam Controller, so expect some haptic feedback and general improvements over the trackpads of old.
Along with the usual triggers on the back of the device, which are pleasing analog unlike the Nintendo Switch's digital triggers, the Steam Deck also includes Grip buttons, which will provide extra input options right at your fingertips. If you've ever used a "Pro" controller, you'll understand how useful these extra buttons can be. And, if you end up preferring the feel of the Steam Deck’s controls, you can actually use it as a controller with your PC.
Valve's portable device features a 7-inch LCD touchscreen, and even includes gyro controls, so you can fine-tune your aim by physically positioning the device and achieve more precision than using a thumbstick or trackpad alone.
The Steam Deck also lets you suspend and resume games by pressing the power button to put the device into sleep mode, just like the Nintendo Switch. You can only suspend one game at a time, however, so don't expect something like Xbox Series X's Quick Resume feature that lets you suspend multiple games at a time.
In terms of other features, the Steam Deck has expandable storage thanks to a microSD card slot, includes two stereo speakers, onboard dual microphones, and the battery life is predicted to last between two to eight hours, depending on the games you are playing.
As the Steam Deck is basically a PC with a gamepad attached, you can choose to install PC software, browse the web, watch streaming video and even complete productivity tasks. If you want to have another OS along with SteamOS, it allows you to dual-boot operating systems. You can even install games from other stores, if you like.
Of course, the Steam Deck comes with all the Steam features you'd expect. It supports Steam Chat, Remote Play, notifications, the entire Steam Store experience, Cloud Saves and access to the Steam Community. It runs a new Steam operating system that is optimized for a handheld gaming experience, too, so it should feel intuitive to use. And, while it is compatible with PC VR headsets, it’s not optimized for them, meaning that this feature is probably left alone until a future iteration of the portable.
Steam Deck specs
(Image credit: Valve)
What's inside the Steam Deck? Valve's portable PC promises to run the latest AAA games, and run them really well. Here's a full breakdown of the Steam Deck's internal specs:
Size: 298mm x 177mm x 49mm (W x H x D)
Weight: Approx 669 grams
CPU: AMD Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32)
Display resolution: 1280 x 800px (16:10 aspect ratio)
Display size: 7-inch diagonal
Brightness: 400 nits typical
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Touch enable: Yes
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Dual-band Wi-Fi radio, 2.4GHz and 5GHz
Audio: Stereo speakers, dual microphone array, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack
Power: 45W USB Type-C
Battery life: 2 to 8 hours of gameplay
Operating system: SteamOS 3.0
As the Steam Deck is powered by a custom APU using AMD Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures, it means that while the Steam Deck should be able to comfortably play most games, you'll probably be limited to medium settings at its native 1280x800 resolution in the most demanding of titles.
We've seen footage of the Steam Deck from playing indie classics like Stardew Valley to graphical intensity games like Star Wars: A Fallen Order and Death Stranding, the latter of which wouldn't be possible on the Switch without some serious cutbacks.
The Steam Deck is significantly more powerful than the Nintendo Switch, which means it's a bit bigger as a result. We also expect the fan to be slightly more audible than on the Switch, which is usually whisper quiet.
Valve has also been very clear that users that buy this thing will own it, which means you're free to open it up if you want. However, the company recently released a teardown video, where it revealed why that's a terrible idea: because you'll probably break something and could put yourself in physical danger.
Luckily, all three models of the Steam Deck will come with a microSD card slot, so you can expand the storage on the little console without putting it or yourself in any danger. It even says that an SD card is "plenty fast".
Should Nintendo be worried?
(Image credit: Nintendo)
The Steam Deck isn't the first portable PC we've seen enter the hardware space – the likes of Onexplayer have shown that it can be done. However, Valve's handheld promises to deliver a more refined and optimized experience than previous attempts from other manufacturers.
It's this focus that makes the Steam Deck a genuine competitor to the Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite and recently announced Nintendo Switch OLED. With a price differential of $50, consumers will now have a big decision to make when it comes to which portable console they want to buy this Christmas, as the Steam Deck has some big plus points over Nintendo's system.
First of all, having access to Steam and your existing library of games means that PC owners who pick up a Steam Deck could potentially have hundreds of games to play from day one. The Steam Deck is also far more capable in terms of hardware than the Switch, which means you can run AAA games, and achieve higher framerates and consistently hit the 720p resolution target.
The Steam Store is also a far more appealing proposition than the Nintendo Switch eShop. While Switch games have a tendency to be overpriced, Steam is notorious for its enticing discounts and deals, so even if the console itself costs more on day one, there's a good chance you'll save in the long run.
Much like the Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED, the Steam Deck can also be docked, allowing you to output the display to a TV or monitor. However, it's far more flexible than the Switch, as it's for all intents and purposes a portable PC. That means you can attach any peripheral you like, install a new OS and browse the web. You could even use the Steam Deck to complete productivity tasks.
There's some added value, then, and while you lose the ability to start a spontaneous multiplayer session like you can on the Switch, the Steam Deck seems like a device that will instantly appeal to Switch owners who have been craving a Nintendo Switch Pro.
It's worth noting that the Nintendo Switch OLED will come with a more vibrant display than the Steam Deck's 7-inch LCD screen, but until we see the Steam Deck in person, it's hard to say just how nice Valve's chosen display performs.
Does the Steam Deck support every Steam game?
(Image credit: Steam/Valve)
As it stands, Valve's Steam Deck won't be able to run every single title from the Steam Store. In fact, the Steam Deck won't be able to run Destiny, Apex Legends, PUBG or Rainbow Six Siege, which are extremely popular in the PC gaming space. And, while it won’t be able to run every Steam game out of the gate, that’s mostly a software issue that can be fixed with time.
The reason why is because the Steam Deck isn't a Windows-based system, Instead shipping with SteamOS 3.0, which is an Arch-based Linux distribution. Because the handheld Pc is Linux-based, this means that not every game is compatible, particularly ones that use anti-cheat software.
Valve developed a feature called Proton, which is designed to combat this problem, but the company is looking into "improving Proton's game compatibility and support for anti-cheat solutions by working directly with the vendors".
If Valve can ensure a way to get a solid anti-cheat up and running on Proton, it will allow many of Steam's popular multiplayer titles to run on the system. Valve has mentioned it's planning to make every major Steam game playable on Proton and so far it claims it's yet to find a game that the Steam Deck can't run (presumably outside of the anti-cheating software issue), which is still great news for prospective buyers.
It's worth noting that proton isn't an emulator for Windows-based games. A better way to describe it would be a translator that tells Linux how to run typically incompatible Windows-based programs.
Of course, while SteamOS might sound slightly restrictive based on this information, it's important to clarify that Valve has said you could literally install Windows if you wanted to. However, we wouldn't be surprised if these issues are ironed out before the handheld's release in December.
However, you should be able to run games that aren’t in the Steam library, like the new Mass Effect Legendary Edition as well as other games that are exclusively on other launchers like the Epic Games Store. The best way to find out if a game can run on Steam Deck is to check if it’s on Proton’s database and how it’s rated.
Steam Deck vs Nintendo Switch price comparison
(Image credit: Valve)
How does the Steam Deck stack up to Nintendo's trio of Switch models when it comes to price? Remember that all Steam Deck purchases come with a free case, and the high end 512GB model includes premium anti-glare etched glass. Both the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch come with expandable storage via a microSD slot.
Steam Deck vs Nintendo Switch pricing at a glance
Price
Steam Deck (64GB)
$399 / £349
Steam Deck (256GB)
$529 / £459
Steam Deck (512GB)
$649 / £569
Nintendo Switch
$299 / £279.99 / AU$449
Nintendo Switch OLED
$349 / £309 / AU$549
Nintendo Switch Lite
$199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329.95
Valve's Steam Deck looks like it will provide stern competition for Nintendo's Switch, then, and could be a viable alternative for those looking to pickup a hybrid device that can also function as a desktop gaming PC, albeit at the cost of graphical performance.
Steam Deck news and updates
(Image credit: Steam)
Steam Deck shouldn't suffer from stick drift There’s potentially good news for those who are worried that the Steam Deck might develop stick drift – something which has plagued Switch owners.
In an interview with IGN, Valve hardware engineer Yazan Aldehayyat said that the team has “done a ton of testing on reliability,” in terms of the handheld’s inputs and that they chose hardware that had well-known performance records. “We didn’t want to take a risk on that, right?” Aldehayyat said. “As I’m sure our customers don’t want us to take a risk on that either.”
It’s a relief to hear that Valve has seemingly taken steps to avoid stick drift from developing on the Steam Deck, an issue that has affected countless Nintendo Switch owners and has been dubbed “Joy-Con drift”.
The internal storage could be upgradeable
The Steam Deck's internal storage could be upgradable, according to a thread on Reddit, though Valve doesn't recommend doing so. Valve notes that the system drive is “not intended for end-user replacement”, which presumably means that the M.2 socket is buried inside the device in a way that would entail taking it all apart in a warranty-voiding manner (running the risk of breaking the Steam Deck in the process, with no recourse).
Still, the possibility could be there, which might encourage more people to pick the 64GB or 256GB models if they know they can expand in the future.
We’ll be keeping our ear to the ground for any more Steam Deck news and announcements, and will update this page accordingly should we hear more.
Oculus Quest will work with Steam Deck for VR on the go
Valve CEO Gabe Newell has confirmed that the Steam Deck will be compatible with external gaming devices and software – meaning it’ll work with systems like the Oculus Quest.
Whether the device is powerful enough to run VR games is another thing entirely, but Valve is pushing the open-aspect of the Stead Deck's design and is more than happy for users to download software from rival companies. “If there’s hardware I want to attach or software I want to install, I can just go and do it,” Newell proclaimed in an interview with IGN. We do know, however, that the Deck “is not optimized for PC VR experiences.” So, gamers will probably not be getting much use out of their VR headsets with this portable.
Steam Deck won't be limited to 30Hz
There were early concerns that you would be capped at 30fps in your favorite games, regardless of performance limitations. This has now been laid to rest after a Valve developer confirmed that the Steam Deck is targeting 30fps as a minimum, but will include manual framerate limitations for users to enhance performance should they choose to do so.
This means that we should be looking to see games run anywhere between 30fps and 60fps on the console's 800p, 60Hz display when it does launch, even current AAA titles, if Valve's testing proves accurate.
Games will run just fine off an SD card
Any fears that you need to get the most expensive model of the Steam Deck to run games at a playable quality can be put to bed. Valve developer Lawrence Yang tweeted that while games will run better on integrated storage, everything will still play just fine on a microSD.
This is great news for gamers who might be undecided as to what version of the Steam Deck they wish to buy. SD cards themselves can be a pricey investment if you're looking for something with a huge amount of storage and a speedy read/write speed, but if you already have one laying around then you could certainly save a few pennies on Valves' console.
You won't get a performance boost when docked We may have been so concerned about the Stream Deck's ability to play games at higher frame rates that we didn't stop to consider how docking the device would affect its performance.
Despite the Nintendo Switch boosting games to 1080p when the console is docked (up from its native 720p), Valve didn't see the need to include a similar feature for its own portable gaming device. This may mean that you'll see better performance on the Steam Deck when using it solely as a handheld, especially if you only have a large 4K TV, which is fairly common in modern homes. And, you won’t be able to use an external GPU for a performance boost either.
The Steam Deck's popularity is getting gamers to try Linux Linux usage is spiking upwards according to the latest stats from Steam, and it seems likely that this is down to the Steam Deck driving interest in Linux gaming.
The freshly released Steam hardware survey for July shows that Linux now represents a full percentage point of all those gaming on Valve’s platform. Now, 1% might sound like a tiny amount – and it is obviously just a drop in the overall gaming ocean – but it’s a telling milestone for Linux to reach.
The Steam Deck won’t be Valve’s only handheld games machine Valve appears to have big ambitions for future handheld gaming devices, and Nintendo, the company that’s dominated that market in the past, should be worried.
While Valve CEO Gabe Newell has already said that the Steam Deck is designed to establish “a product category that ourselves and other PC manufacturers are going to be able to participate in,” and which is “going to have long-term benefits for us,” Greg Coomer, a designer involved with the Steam Deck, has shed more light on Valve’s handheld plans.
Coomer reveals that Valve will “continue making devices in this product line.” So, it’s likely we’ll see hardware refreshes and other variations. Whether this is a Steam Deck 2, Steam Deck Pro or something else entirely isn’t obvious at the moment.
Windows 11 Support is coming to the Steam Deck The Steam Deck should be good to go with Windows 11, for those who are thinking about replacing or dual-booting the default operating system – a custom version of Steam OS (Linux) – with Microsoft’s desktop OS.
While we already know that Windows 10 will be compatible with the portable PC for those who might want to make the switch to Microsoft, Windows 11 is a distinctly thornier issue due to its system requirements including the stipulation for TPM.
Microsoft's new OS is rolling out in phases, but you don't have to wait. With Windows 11 Installation Assistant, you can get the operating system today.
The wireless carrier is getting into the PlayStation 5 game, though supply will be "very limited" and you will need to be a wireless customer to buy online.
