Steam Decks are generally more affordable than gaming laptops. Steam Decks usually cost in the range of $300 to $700. On the other hand, gaming laptops are often more expensive, with prices ranging from $800 to $3000 and beyond, depending on the specs and features of the device.
Steam Decks are designed to be small and portable, so they have to make compromises on the hardware used. On the other hand, gaming laptops are designed to be powerful and able to handle demanding games. They can also handle more demanding games and support VR experience.