Any Affordable Laptop to Stream Steam Games to iPad?

DynamoWookie on 31/07/2022 - 20:04
Last edited 31/07/2022 - 20:08

Hi savvy Ozbargain hunters,

I would greatly appreciate if y’all tech-savvy folks could give me any advice on buying a decent, yet affordable gaming laptop for streaming Steam and Xcloud games to an iPad.

Just a little background of my gaming habit. I enjoy gaming and have been playing games on my iPhones and iPad for an hour or so most evenings. Sadly, the majority of games on the Apple store are pure trash! There may be a handful of good games here and there, still, they aren’t that good compared to the extensive library of games available on Xcloud gamepass and Steam.

So, i’m thinking of getting a laptop so that I could play Steam and Xcloud games (while i’m in bed) via streaming to my iPad. Is this a viable approach? I don’t have a TV at home. I do plan to buy a MFi controller for Steam gaming when I do get the laptop.

Can anyone recommend a good and reasonably priced gaming laptop for playing Steam and Xcloud games? I’m not much of a multiplayer person so I don’t mind a bit of lag here and there, I’ll probably stick to single player games. I don’t care about having good graphics or high frame-rate all that much and i’m happy to play games on lower graphical and frame-rate settings, just as long that it doesn’t affect the gameplay too much. I tend to like games like Hollow Knight, CupHead,
Ori the blind forest and Divinity: Original Sin 2.

Lately, I’m tempted to buy a Nintendo Switch or a Switch Lite but I heard that the Switch tend to have joycon drift issue. Also, Nintendo games tend to be quite pricey - most Nintendo games cost $60 even if they’re old - released a few years ago. Therefore, I think Steam and Xcloud gaming may be the most affordable gaming solution for my need. I want to get a Steam Deck but I don’t think we’ll be seeing it coming out in Australia anytime soon. I do however think that a Steam Deck is the best choice since it costs less than a gaming laptop and i don’t need to buy any other gaming accessory like a MFi controller or need an external display like an iPad for streaming.

Any ideas on how to go about it? Wait for the Steam Deck to hit the Australian market or get a gaming laptop + MFi controller + iPad?
I don’t know much about the later setup since I have only done a bit of research on Steam Link for iOS and read a few posts of it being mentioned on Reddit.

Thanks for your time and I’m looking forward to reading your recommendation.

Edit** just to add, I won’t be using the laptop for any internet browsing or do work. It’ll be just for streaming games to my iPad. I use my phones to pay bills + do online shopping.

Edit** Should I just get a Macbook Air M2 instead? Can it play Steam games though? Does Mac have access to the full library of Steam games? I’m new to steam, I haven’t signed up for a steam or Xcloud account yet.

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • Hybroid on 31/07/2022 - 20:12
    +2

    Xbox Cloud Gaming does not require a laptop to stream it. You can play it directly on iPad. Some games have touchscreen controls while others need a controller. Just go to https://www.xbox.com/play in Safari.

    Steam Deck might come to Aus by end of the year. Only relatively safe way currently is to order one to friends/family in UK, US etc and get it shipped over or when they visit etc. You could also use third party mail forwarding services or pay marked up prices on auction sites etc.

    In terms of your hardware choices though, follow the games not the platforms. What games do you actually want to play? That'll define which platform/device you'll want to get.

  • scrimshaw on 31/07/2022 - 20:26
    +1

    If you want to play Steam Games on the go (handheld form factor), currently the best option might be an Aya Neo Pro. It is somewhat pricey at $1249 though and it won't hold a candle to a gaming laptop running a discrete GPU. It might also be made obsolete if the Steam Deck makes its way to australia

    Both the Xbox and Playstation can also stream games to any mobile device

    At $400-ish for the Xbox Series S and probably less than $100 for a years worth of Game Pass if you know where to look, the Xbox is probably the cheapest way to get into console gaming.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 31/07/2022 - 21:20
      +2

      The next 6-12 months is going to be wild for on the go gaming!

      I’m excited as hell for win max 2

    • DynamoWookie on 31/07/2022 - 22:11

      Xbox Series X sounds good, but does it require a TV to set up remote play/streaming to the iPad? I don’t have a TV.

      • AustriaBargain on 31/07/2022 - 22:44
        +1

        Pick up a junker HDMI TV/monitor on Gumbook Markettree,

        • DynamoWookie on 06/08/2022 - 16:04

          Thanks! I took the plunge and bought a small 24” TV from JB-Hifi instead.

    • DynamoWookie on 06/08/2022 - 16:03

      Thanks, I took your advice and got myself a Xbox Series S.

  • plmko on 31/07/2022 - 20:33

    Why do you need to stuff around so much just to play games at home? Just buy a Laptop straight out.

    • DynamoWookie on 31/07/2022 - 22:09

      I don’t like playing games on laptop seating up on a chair. Feels too much like work. I enjoy slouching/laying in my bed when playing games for an hour or so to unwind before bed.

  • Wonderstache on 31/07/2022 - 21:08
    +5

    It honestly sounds like you'd be best with a Nintendo Switch without overcomplicating the whole thing. You can get third party joy cons that don't have the stick drift which would solve your 1 issue with them. All of those games mentioned are on Switch and are below $50, aside from Divinity 2 which goes on sale for $45 on occasion.

    If you're 100% not keen on the Switch you could always try and get a ps4 or ps5 and simply use their remote play app, it works pretty smooth.

    • DynamoWookie on 31/07/2022 - 22:10

      I would need to get a TV to play PS4/PS5 games though. Could I set up remote play app on the PS4/PS5 without needing a TV?

      • Wonderstache on 31/07/2022 - 22:15

        I'm pretty sure the console should work fine without a TV as it handles the resolution on it's own for your device. I haven't tested removing it from the TV but I know that dealing with a console with dedicated games for that system will save you a bunch of headaches over an hour of gaming each night.

  • FireRunner on 01/08/2022 - 10:42
    +1

    My experience with streaming from PC to a mobile device hasn't been great.
    There's always issues like low quality image or pauses in game. It's probably my wireless solution.
    I think it could work if you're laptop is connect via ethernet to the router and the router has line of sight with the iPad. Also no other network traffic or interference while using it.

    I second the Nintendo Switch. The hassle with streaming is really not worth it in my experience. As for joy-con drift, I heard you can RMA a faulty joy-con ever after the warranty period with Nintendo.

    • DynamoWookie on 06/08/2022 - 16:06

      The games on Nintendo switch are far too costly compared to other platforms. So I went with the Xbox Series X + monthly subscription to Ultimate game pass.

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