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Yes. You can play Steam games on a TV or another computer by streaming them from a gaming PC with Steam Remote Play. A Steam Deck can also run compatible games directly as a handheld, or connect to a TV as an external display. The key difference is where the game runs: Remote Play uses a host PC; local Steam Deck play does not.
Play on a TV with Steam Link
Steam Link lets a supported TV or connected device receive a game stream from a computer running Steam. The gaming PC runs the game and sends video and audio to the receiving device; your remote input and multiplayer voice go back to the PC. As Valve explains on its Steam Remote Play page, “When you play a game using Remote Play, video and audio are sent from your gaming PC to another device. Remote input and multiplayer voice are sent back to the gaming PC, all within milliseconds.”
Valve lists Apple TV, Android devices and TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Raspberry Pi, Windows, Linux, macOS, and Meta Quest headsets as platform categories for Steam Link. Support depends on the specific device, so check your television’s app store or use a compatible connected device rather than assuming every smart TV has the app.
What you need
- A gaming PC with Steam running and the game you want to play.
- A receiving device that supports the Steam Link app.
- An input method for controlling the game; Remote Play sends input back to the host PC.
Play handheld: locally on Steam Deck or by streaming
A Steam Deck is a portable PC gaming device. It can run compatible Steam games locally, so a separate gaming PC does not need to render the game. In your Steam Library, check each game’s compatibility rating to see the expected experience on Deck; compatibility and performance are not identical for every title or configuration.
#1 Best Overall
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
You can also stream games to a phone or tablet using Steam Link, with a Steam-running computer acting as the host. That turns the phone or tablet into a receiving screen and input endpoint; it is not the same as running a game locally on a Steam Deck.
Stream from one PC to another
To play on a laptop or other PC using Remote Play, sign in to Steam on both computers. On the receiving computer, open your Steam Library and start streaming the game. The gaming PC remains the host and runs the game; the second computer receives the stream and returns your input.
Rank #2
- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
Connect a Steam Deck to a TV
If you want the Deck itself to run a game and show it on a TV, connect it to an external display. Valve’s Steam Deck Docking Station supports external displays, wired networking, USB peripherals, and power. The Deck also supports DisplayPort output over USB-C, so a dock is an optional way to connect peripherals and a display, not a requirement for every USB-C display setup.
Valve lists DisplayPort over USB-C output specifications of up to 8K at 60 Hz or 4K at 120 Hz, with USB 3 Gen 2. Those are device output specifications, not a guarantee that every game, display, adapter, or complete setup will deliver those modes. A dock does not provide Steam Link streaming: it connects the Deck to a display, while Steam Link streams from a PC to a receiving device.
Rank #3
- 【Upgraded】We sells product with professionally upgraded to 2TB SSD. Original Seal is opened for upgrade ONLY.
- 【Stunning 7.4" HDR OLED & 90Hz Motion】 Experience striking contrast and brilliant clarity with the all-new 7.4-inch HDR OLED display. Designed from the ground up for gaming, it features a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth motion and pure blacks. This handheld is capable of delivering an immersive visual experience, ensuring your Steam library looks better than ever with vibrant colors and amazing motion rendition.
- 【30-50% More Battery & Efficient Performance】 Play your favorites longer with up to 50% more battery life. By fitting a larger battery and a power-efficient OLED panel, this device provides extended gameplay sessions. It’s the perfect travel companion for long flights or commutes. The updated AMD APU ensures high-speed performance for AAA titles while maintaining incredible energy efficiency.
- 【3X Faster Downloads with Wi-Fi 6E】 Never wait for a game again. Equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, this Steam Deck OLED offers increased bandwidth and lower latency, delivering downloads up to 3 times faster than previous models. This ensures stable online play and rapid updates, making it the most reliable wireless gaming handheld for modern high-speed home networks.
- 【Responsive Touch & Enhanced Connectivity】 Enjoy a vastly improved touchscreen with higher fidelity and faster haptics. We’ve added a dedicated Bluetooth antenna to improve connections for multiple controllers. Whether using the built-in trackpads or the included external controller, this allows for precision play in everything from FPS to complex strategy games.
Choose the setup that fits
| Setup | Where the game runs | What the other device does | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Link to a TV | Gaming PC | Receives the stream and sends input back | Whether Steam Link is available for the TV or a connected device |
| Steam Deck handheld | Steam Deck | The Deck is both computer and screen | The game’s Steam Deck compatibility rating |
| Steam Link to a phone or tablet | Gaming PC | Receives the stream and sends input back | Steam Link support on the receiving device |
| Steam Remote Play to another PC | Gaming PC | Receives the stream and sends input back | Steam installed and signed in on both computers |
| Steam Deck connected to a TV | Steam Deck | Acts as an external display | A compatible display connection, such as the Deck’s USB-C video output or Docking Station |
What to expect from streaming
Valve describes Remote Play as using low-latency encoding, but its general overview does not specify a universal bandwidth threshold or guarantee a particular latency, resolution, or streaming quality. Actual results depend on the setup, so do not treat a single internet-speed figure as a guarantee of smooth play.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
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