Steam Link is Valve’s official technology for streaming PC games from your Steam computer to another device over your home network. Choosing the right Steam Link device determines whether you experience a fluid, near-native gaming experience or a laggy, frustrating workaround.
What Is Steam Link and How Does It Work?
Steam Link streams video, audio, and input data between a host PC running Steam and a receiving device. The host PC processes all game logic and rendering. The receiving device shows the video stream and sends your controller or keyboard inputs back to the PC.
This means the receiving device’s GPU and CPU do not matter much. What matters for Steam Link quality:
- Network quality: 5GHz WiFi or wired Ethernet is strongly recommended. 2.4GHz WiFi works but introduces more latency and interference
- Host PC performance: The PC running the game needs sufficient hardware to render it smoothly
- Network latency: Lower latency between devices means more responsive controls
Do Steam Link Devices Still Work?
Yes. Valve continues to support Steam Link actively. The dedicated hardware Steam Link device was discontinued as a product years ago, but the software Steam Link app is maintained and regularly updated for multiple platforms.
Which Devices Have a Steam Link App?
Steam Link as a software application is available on:
- Android phones and tablets: Free on Google Play
- iOS (iPhone and iPad): Free on the App Store
- Samsung Smart TVs: Built-in Steam Link app on select Samsung TV models
- Raspberry Pi: Third-party Steam Link builds for Raspberry Pi hardware
- macOS: Steam Link app available from the Mac App Store
- Apple TV: Available through the App Store on Apple TV 4K
What Device Is Best for a Steam Link Experience?
The “best” Steam Link device depends on your primary use case:
Best for Couch Gaming: Apple TV 4K
The Apple TV 4K running the Steam Link app through your television is the most polished living room Steam Link experience:
- Clean interface that integrates with your TV remote
- Supports up to 4K 120fps streaming (hardware dependent)
- Apple TV’s processing power handles video decoding smoothly
- Pairs with Bluetooth controllers (PlayStation, Xbox, or Apple’s own MFi controllers)
- Ethernet port on the Apple TV provides the wired connection stability that 5GHz WiFi cannot fully replicate
Best for Portable Gaming: iPad
An iPad using Steam Link provides the largest mobile screen for gaming:
- Screen size significantly larger than a phone for comfortable extended gaming
- Pairs with a Bluetooth controller for proper gaming input
- Steam Link on iOS is well-maintained with consistent performance
Best for Budget: Android Phone
An Android phone you already own costs nothing additional to use as a Steam Link receiver. The Steam Link app on Android is feature-complete and performs well on any mid-range device from the last three years.
Is There a Better Steam Link? Moonlight Streaming
Moonlight is a third-party alternative to Steam Link that outperforms the official app in several areas:
- Higher frame rate ceiling: Moonlight supports up to 4K 120fps streaming while Steam Link has limitations at the highest quality settings
- Better latency at high resolutions: Independent testers consistently report lower latency in Moonlight at comparable streaming quality
- Open-source: Community-maintained and updated regularly
Moonlight requires Sunshine (a server application) on the host PC. The setup takes slightly longer than Steam Link but delivers better performance for players who want the highest quality streaming possible.
Pro Tips: Steam Link Setup
- Use a wired Ethernet connection on the host PC whenever possible: Even with a strong 5GHz WiFi signal, wired Ethernet on the PC eliminates one potential source of latency and packet loss from the streaming chain.
- Set your host PC to never sleep while Steam Link sessions are active: A sleeping PC cannot stream. Configure power settings to prevent sleep during active streaming.
- Test streaming with a lightweight game before committing to long sessions: Some games work better than others with Steam Link due to controller mapping complexity and input lag sensitivity.
Play Games via Steam Link with ExitLag
For Steam Link sessions over the internet (not just local network), connection optimization becomes critical. ExitLag routes your connection to game servers through the lowest-latency available path.
Download ExitLag and try it free.
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