There are three different variants of the Steam Deck, each with varying storage capacities, costs, and extras. If just for the considerably quicker (and larger) NVMe storage, the middle choice for $529 will be the most advantageous for the majority of users. For those on a restricted budget, the $399 starting model should still provide a fantastic casual experience.
Exact performance estimates for the storage on the Steam Deck are still unknown, but we do know that the base model will use eMMC PCIe Gen 2 storage while the other two versions will use an NVMe PCIe Gen 3 solid-state drive (SSD). For a deeper look, you may read my article comparing eMMC vs. SSD storage, but for now, here’s what you need to know about the Steam Deck.
Embedded MultiMediaCard, or eMMC storage, is frequently utilized in less expensive electronics to keep costs down. Although it is slower than NVMe SSD storage, eMMC storage often uses less power. That is particularly crucial for a handheld device. eMMC and NVMe operate very differently from one another in terms of speed. You should choose an NVMe SSD option if you want your games to load quickly. To discover how the performance between eMMC and NVMe storage compares, check out our evaluation of the Surface Go.
It appears that, at least without extensive disassembly, you won’t be able to access the Steam Deck to replace the NVMe storage. We already know it’s not possible with eMMC. The name’s “embedded” component is rather literal. A UHS-I microSD card reader for expandable storage is included with the Steam Deck, enabling you to add extra (but slower) capacity.
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