Which Handheld Is Better for You?

Despite Valve and Nintendo’s differences, the Switch 2 and the Steam Deck are surprisingly comparable portable gaming machines. Like it or not, the PC and console juggernauts are now going head-to-head for your money.

The Switch 2 represents a big step forward for Nintendo’s hybrid concept, while the Steam Deck—though showing its age—is still a formidable force in the handheld market. So which should you choose?

Both the Deck and the Switch 2 Are Similarly Powerful

It’s hard to say without knowing exactly what the specs of the Switch 2 are, but it seems like the Switch 2 might just pip the Steam Deck in terms of hardware (with one big asterisk). One thing is for sure, neither of these machines comes anywhere close to the power seen in rival machines like the ROG Ally X which cost twice the price.

Nintendo is rumored to be using an NVIDIA Tegra T239 chip with 12GB of RAM. One quote from Civilization executive producer Dennis Shirk noted that the team is “extremely happy” with the power on offer from Nintendo’s new console. NVIDIA reports a “ten times” power boost over the original Switch, but you might want to take that statement with a pinch of salt.

The Switch 2 has been confirmed to have DLSS, NVIDIA’s hardware-based upscaling technology. This will allow the console to render at lower resolutions to boost performance while outputting a higher-quality image. It may even incorporate frame-generation techniques. But, as was the case with NVIDIA’s recent disappointing 50-Series GPU launch, upscaling and raw performance are two very different metrics.

The fact that the Switch 2 incorporates this technology is something to be celebrated, but the proof will be in the pudding.

By comparison, the Steam Deck uses AMD’s Zen2 architecture. This is the same technology that powers the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, though power constraints mean that the deck has fewer cores and lower clock speeds. It’s also starting to show its age, with the original Steam Deck released in 2022. The hardware hasn’t changed a lot since then, though the Steam Deck OLED’s revision brought with it some subtle improvements.

The Steam Deck is roughly on par with the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One generation, as is the Switch 2. While its aging hardware might be pipped by Nintendo, particularly considering the inclusion of DLSS, the Steam Deck’s 16GB of RAM puts it slightly ahead in terms of memory.

All this is to say, expect similar performance from both. The main difference to note is that the Steam Deck is a PC, so you can tweak and twiddle the settings to get things looking or running however you like. With a Switch 2, someone else will be taking care of that for you and you might just have to make do with a performance or quality mode toggle.

Both Have HDR, But Only the Deck Has OLED

The Switch 2 has a higher-resolution, full HD display of 1920×1080. It runs at 120Hz, is capable of HDR output, and even includes support for variable refresh rates (VRR). The Switch 2 uses LCD technology, which relies on backlighting rather than self-emissive OLED technology. Ultimately, the Switch 2 panel should still be a big upgrade over even the Switch OLED model.

Steam Deck OLED

Elevate your gaming experience with the Steam Deck OLED. Immerse yourself in stunning visuals on the vibrant OLED display, while enjoying powerful performance and portability.

Depending on what you spend, you can have a regular LCD Steam Deck (with no HDR support) and a 60Hz panel, or you can opt for a pricier OLED panel that runs at up to 90Hz and includes HDR support. The latter is a far more impressive display, though both are limited to 1200×800 in resolution (so they won’t look quite as good as the Switch 2 in terms of fidelity).

The Steam Deck Is Better for Bigger Hands

In terms of ergonomics, the Switch 2 takes most of its cues from the original Switch. Though the unit itself is larger on account of the bigger 7.9-inch display, the thickness remains unchanged. That means that the new Joy-Cons are slightly larger too, which should be something of an upgrade if you have larger hands.

The Steam Deck, by comparison, makes the original Switch look tiny. It’s a far thicker handheld, and this is great in terms of where your hands grip the unit. It feels far more like a standard game controller, compared to the Switch which feels more like holding a tablet.

If you had issues with the original Switch, odds are that you’ll have similar problems with the follow-up. This can be somewhat negated by docking the Switch and picking up a comfortable Pro Controller, choosing to only play more casual experiences in handheld mode.

The Steam Deck Is a PC

Considering the Steam Deck is just a PC in a handheld shell, it enjoys many of the benefits that the platform brings. The Steam Deck runs SteamOS out of the box, which means it has access to the entire Steam marketplace. This means it enjoys a number of benefits that the Switch 2 cannot match.

Steam itself is seen as a fairly laissez-faire marketplace, with more games than any other digital store and listings that date back to the early 2000s. It also has the early access program, which allows you to pick up games that are still in development for cheap and play them before they’re ready. Steam Workshop support also makes it easy to add mods to your games.

You can find all sorts of weird stuff on Steam, though Valve will occasionally step in and remove something that breaks the rules (rare though it is). Perhaps most impressive is Valve’s refund policy, which allows you to get your money back (no questions asked) as long as you’ve played less than two hours of a title.

You can add non-Steam games that you’ve purchased elsewhere to Steam with a bit of effort, or install third-party app stores like the Epic Games Store and GOG. You can even install emulators and apps that make it possible to remotely stream games from a PS5, Xbox, or another PC.

All this is possible because the Steam Deck runs Linux. You can spend your whole life in Game Mode and never worry about looking at a Linux desktop or Terminal, or you can also enter Desktop mode and use the Deck like an actual PC. You could install OpenOffice, hook up a keyboard and monitor, and use it as a mobile workstation. Or you could go one step further and actually install Windows.

The Switch is very much a closed ecosystem, over which Nintendo has complete control. You get one store, the Nintendo eShop, with games subject to Nintendo’s oversight. There’s no early access program (at least, not yet), and you cannot install games from elsewhere.

The only emulators on the Switch are provided by Nintendo as part of the Nintendo Switch Online (and Expansion Pack) subscription tiers. These are decent offerings, with enhanced games and features like time-rewind, but the library is dictated by Nintendo. Perhaps most excitingly for Switch 2 owners will be the arrival of GameCube games (though you’ll need to pay for the higher tier).

It’s worth noting that the Switch was famously exploited for homebrew purposes fairly early in its lifecycle, but this is a great way to get your console banned by Nintendo.

Joy-Cons and Hybrid Gameplay

Another big point of difference comes from the control schemes. The Nintendo Switch 2 has detachable Joy-Cons, which makes it easy to jump into local co-op sessions. You can also dock your Switch 2 and hold one Joy-Con in each hand for a truly laid-back gaming experience.

Nintendo’s controllers include gyro support, so games like Switch Sports make it possible to simulate bowling and other physical activities. Games like WarioWare: Move It! are built around this sort of gameplay. The Switch 2 Joy-Cons also include mouse sensors for a new way to play.

The Switch has a dock in the box and an adapter for turning your Joy-Cons into a standard controller. The Steam Deck can be “docked” via the use of a hub and many common Bluetooth controllers, but you’ll need to buy these separately. While the docked experience is baked into the Switch, it feels more “tacked on” when it comes to the Steam Deck.

Valve’s is a rigid console aimed at solo play. It too has gyro controls, but these are mostly reserved for fine-tuning your aim in shooters. Two touchpads on either side of the Steam Deck provide alternative input methods, which are particularly good for controlling a pointer in desktop mode or RTS games like Age of Empires 2.

If something goes wrong with your Steam Deck analog sticks, triggers, or face buttons then you’ll need to open it up and perform surgery (or send it back to Valve for the service). With the Switch, surgery is always an option, but the nature of detachable controllers means it’s easier to just buy another pair.

Last generation, Nintendo started repairing Joy-Cons for free on account of the widespread stick drift issue. It’s likely that Nintendo wants to avoid similar problems this time around, though the company hasn’t mentioned Hall Effect sticks yet (which are largely immune to drift issues). The Steam Deck doesn’t use Hall Effect sticks either.

They Cost Roughly the Same

The Switch 2 will retail for $449 unless you buy the Mario Kart World bundle for $499 (which saves you $30 on the price of the game). You can pick up an LCD Steam Deck for $399, which has the same 256GB of internal storage as the Switch 2 (but lacks HDR, a high refresh rate display, and the battery life improvements of the OLED model).

Steam Deck (LCD)

The Steam Deck LCD is, hands down, the best budget handheld gaming PC you can get, thanks to its phenomenal price, top-notch build quality, excellent software support, and pretty solid gaming performance. 

Alternatively, you can spring for the Steam Deck OLED and pay $549, which doubles the storage to 512GB and includes a far nicer display. When you factor in the cost of a storage upgrade, this feels roughly on par with the Switch 2. Valve also produces a 1TB Steam Deck variant (with an etched glass display to reduce glare) for $649.

Speaking of costs, Nintendo has made the bold decision to charge $80 for Mario Kart World and Switch 2 versions of open-world Zelda titles. While brand-new PC games are still falling around the $60 to $70 mark, Steam is famous for its incredible sales. Over the lifetime of the device, depending on your tastes, you’ll probably spend far more on games if you opt for a Switch 2 (but you’ll also get access to the latest Nintendo releases).

Which Should You Pick?

Ultimately, the games you play and the experience you expect should dictate your decision.

If you want Nintendo exclusives, the Switch 2 is the only choice. The Switch 2 is also the better choice for local multiplayer, since it comes with a dock in the box and Joy-Cons that make local multiplayer a real selling point. You can use many original Switch accessories with the Switch 2, including the Switch Pro Controller and original Joy-Cons. It’s also backward compatible with original Switch games, both physical and digital.

Alternatively, if you’re a PC gamer who wants a handheld that acts as an extension of the Steam ecosystem, the Steam Deck makes a lot of sense. If you want to fiddle with emulators or install games from other platforms, the Steam Deck is what you’re looking for.