Anbernic RG Cube vs Valve Steam Deck

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The main difference between the RG Cube and the Steam Deck is power.

The Steam Deck plays everything up to Wii U well, while the RG Cube tops out at Wii.

Other differences

Which is better

Pocketability

Which fits in a pocket better?

RG Cube

The RG Cube (153 x 86.3 x 18 mm, 256 g). The Steam Deck is 298 x 117 x 49 mm, 674 g. Neither fits a jeans pocket; think jacket pocket or bag.

PS2

Which is better for PS2 games, the RG Cube or the Steam Deck?

Steam Deck

The Steam Deck. It scores 100 out of 100 for PS2 against 76.

Price

Which costs less?

RG Cube

The RG Cube, at about $170 at launch against $399. Prices today vary by store and the used market.

GBA

Which is better for GBA games?

Steam Deck

The Steam Deck. GBA games fill 94% of the Steam Deck's screen at 5x with even pixels, against 67% of the RG Cube's screen at 3x.

Battery

Which has the bigger battery?

Tie

About the same: 5,200 and 5,200 mAh.

Side by side

RG CubeSteam Deck
Launch price$170$399
ReleasedJun 2024Feb 2022
Plays well up toWiiWii U
ShapeHorizontalHorizontal
SoftwareAndroidWindows or Linux
ChipUNISOC Tiger T820AMD Aerith
Memory8 GB16 GB
Screen3.95 inch IPS 1:17.0 inch LCD 16:10
Resolution720 x 7201280 x 800
Battery5,200 mAh5,200 mAh
Weight256 g674 g
Size153 x 86.3 x 18 mm298 x 117 x 49 mm
Analog sticksDouble, asymmetricalDouble, symmetrical
Hall effect sticksYes?
L2 and R2Yes, stackedYes, stacked
Analog triggersYesYes
Wi-FiYesYes
Video outYesYes
Headphone jackYesYes

Green marks the better value where one is clearly better. Prices are launch prices.

Emulation

  1. RG CubeSteam Deck
  2. Game Boy100100
  3. NES100100
  4. Genesis100100
  5. GBA100100
  6. SNES100100
  7. PS1100100
  8. DS100100
  9. N64100100
  10. Dreamcast100100
  11. PSP100100
  12. Saturn7085
  13. GameCube85100
  14. 3DS80100
  15. Wii85100
  16. PS276100
  17. Switch4078
  18. Wii U0100
  19. PS3040

100 means the system runs at full speed with no known issues.

Full details

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More comparisons

Why this pair: buyers weigh these two against each other. 66 comments by 57 different people compare them in community discussions, and 1 post titles name both. Specs, emulation scores and launch prices from the retrocatalog.com handheld database.