EN DE CN BR ES RU
Image
Icon

Steam Deck vs. Nintendo Switch | The Pros and Cons of Each

Valve’s Steam Deck won’t be released any time soon, but a lot of folks are already wondering whether it’ll... | 20. August 2021

Valve’s Steam Deck won’t be released any time soon, but a lot of folks are already wondering whether it’ll be a good enough “alternative” to the Nintendo Switch. And, frankly, it’s a good question — one that has to be posed given their many similarities.

Even though these two devices target two noticeably different demographics, it’s hard not to acknowledge the many ways in which they overlap.

Moreover, the difference in price is also relatively negligible — the base model of Valve’s Steam Deck will sell for a measly $399 (assuming its price doesn’t skyrocket because of those pesky scalpers). The OLED Nintendo Switch, on the other hand, will retail for $350 upon release (early October). Seeing how the Switch will almost surely be sold at a higher MSRP due to the ongoing semiconductor shortages, we can rightfully say that both consoles will set you back for about the same amount.

The big difference, however, is that one of them is a gaming console through and through, whereas the other is basically a computer crammed inside an enclosure fit for gaming.

This means that for around $400 you’ll be able to buy two relatively similar albeit wholly different devices. They’re both designed for gamers but have nonetheless been engineered and devised for different kinds of consumers. The Switch is targeted towards everyone regardless of age or tech savviness, but that’s also perhaps its biggest weaknesses. The Steam Deck, on the other hand, can be used by nearly everyone but probably shouldn’t. To truly maximise and harness its potential, you’ll need to know a thing or two about PC hardware, its broad potential and also its limits.

The Switch is simple by design — you start your game and play to your hearts’ content! You can do the same with a Steam Deck, but you can’t just install Cyberpunk 2077 and think it’ll run without a hitch; you’ll have to roll up your sleeves and fine-tune your settings more often than not.

To some, this is a hassle; to others, it is an invaluable part of the journey that always results in a more enjoyable gaming experience.

You won’t need a degree in neuroscience to navigate and harness the potential of the Steam Deck, but it’s not exactly “plug-and-play” no matter what Valve might say. Fortunately, this “hurdle” of sorts is potentially its biggest strength — you’ll be able to get a lot more for your money’s worth. It might require a bit of tinkering, but it’ll be well worth it!

Disclaimer: the Steam Deck still hasn’t been released, so this isn’t a literal, direct comparison. Still, a general, theoretical one is still more than sufficient at this point in time. Moreover, even though we’ve never held one in our hands, we know the kind of hardware it’ll pack inside its enclosure and towards which demographic it has been designed. So in that sense, there’s no element of surprise — we know what we’re in for. 

Steam Deck vs Nintendo Switch

Portability

The Steam Deck is not only noticeably bigger than the Nintendo Switch but it’s also heavier, too — Valve has really stretched the definition of a “portable gaming console” here, and while you can take it with you on your journeys and commutes, it’ll definitely weigh you down (to say the least). 

At nearly 700 grams, it’ll weigh almost twice as much as the Nintendo Switch. That, coupled with the fact that it’s also noticeably wider, will result in a device that is relatively unwieldy. 

If you value portability above all else — and are perfectly content with what the Nintendo Switch offers game-wise — then Valve’s upcoming product probably isn’t for you. It’s a niche device, geared towards a very specific type of user, and as such isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. The Switch, on the other hand, is a “one size fits all” kind of device — both kids and adults alike can revel in its simplicity and ease-of-use (not to mention Nintendo’s ever-growing list of first-party gems).

Games — What Matters Most

If you’re partial to Nintendo’s intellectual properties (or IPs, for short) — the ones that cannot be found on any other platform — then the Switch is obviously the only option worth considering. If, however, you prefer third-party titles, then Nintendo’s quirky hybrid console simply won’t suffice.

Now sure, the Switch has gotten quite a lot of support from third-party developers, but its library is still nowhere near as varied or impressive as those found on other platforms. Moreover, even though there’s an impressive list of ports and remasters, a good chunk of them range from dreadful to barely acceptable. We’re talking gimped graphics, unstable frame rates (at times well below the 30 FPS mark), and (depending on the title) sub-900p resolution. 

Nothing worth writing home about, in short.

The Steam Deck, on the other hand, is basically a Windows PC. Whatever you can run on your desktop PC, you’ll be able to run on the Steam Deck as well — albeit at lower settings and (depending on the title) lower frame rates. 

This is undoubtedly one of its biggest strengths and benefits — it’ll contort and adapt to your use-case and workflow. Heck, you’ll even be able to sideload a bunch of emulators and game to your heart’s content (should you be so inclined, of course)! What you’d lose out in portability you’d more than make up for in sheer versatility.

Versatility

The Nintendo Switch is only good for gaming — nothing more, nothing less. And this isn’t necessarily a negative, either. It’s a gaming console, after all, and that’s its sole purpose. Valve’s Steam Deck, however, is a lot more versatile in nature. It’s not going to replace your regular PC (although it very well could thanks to its powerful internals), but it’ll easily chew through any task you might throw its way: gaming, design, photo and video editing (within reason), web browsing, etc.

You’ll have to first sideload Windows onto it, but after that’s done, it’ll quite literally function as a full-fledged PC — one that’ll feel fast and responsive because of its potent APU (four cores and eight threads) and 16GB of blazingly fast LPDDR5 RAM running in dual-channel. 

The Switch will never transcend its original and only purpose — that of being a portable gaming console. Valve’s Steam Deck, however, is more of a jack-of-all trades kind of device.

Battery Life

The Steam Deck’s battery supposedly has enough juice for up to 8 hours of light use. That number is slashed to a much less impressive 3-4 hours if you happen to be playing something graphically intensive, and plummets all the way down to 2 hours if you’re running Cyberpunk 2077 at full throttle.

This is all important to note as it’ll heavily affect your ability to game on-the-go. 

Let’s Talk Long-Term

The Nintendo Switch is currently at the halfway point of its life cycle. It’s not exactly obsolete, but it won’t get any better, and is already overshadowed by the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X. Heck, “overshadowed” feel like an understatement. 

Moreover, Nintendo is rumoured to be working on a much more powerful Switch Pro, one that’ll have DLSS support and will easily blow the original out of the water. It won’t come out for at least another year (if not a year and a half), but it’s worth noting regardless.

The Steam Deck, on the other hand, won’t become obsolete any time soon — it’s basically a gaming PC with an integrated graphics card. If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, then it’s hard to argue against it. It might not be as light or portable, but it offsets such shortcomings with pure horsepower and versatility. 

So you’ll really have to ask yourself: is the Switch’s game library vast enough to keep you entertained for years to come? If the answer’s “yes” then it’s by all means a worthwhile purchase. If, however, you’d like something a bit more flexible, a device that you’ll be able to tailor to your preference and liking, then the Steam Deck definitely feels like the way to go.