Which system is best — the Steam Deck or the Nintendo Switch? Here, we dive into the specs, prices, games, and features of each machine so you can decide.
Recently, the handheld gaming market has been absolutely dominated by the Nintendo Switch, a system that has surpassed 100 million units sold. It’s a popular device for a reason, but now, a new competitor has joined the fray, the Valve Steam Deck, a handheld gaming device that plays Steam games. Both machines have a lot in common, but if you’re on the fence, you’ll want to be familiar with each device so you can make an informed buying decision. That’s where we come in. Here, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of each machine, including their specs, features, games, prices, and more. So, which system is better — the Nintendo Switch or the Steam Deck? Let’s find out. On the surface, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck might seem like similar machines, but the two are vastly different from one another. Sure, they both allow you to play games on the go, but each one is targeted at different audiences. The Steam Deck is certainly a premium machine, focused on a wide variety of PC games, from family experiences to action games and massive RPGs. Because of this, the system itself is quite large, weighing more than twice as much as the standard Switch with the Joy-Con attached. Speaking of Joy-Con, these small controllers can combine into one, feeling much more like a traditional gamepad. Or, you can split them up to use individually, meaning each Switch comes with two usable controllers right out of the box. The Steam Deck doesn’t have anything like this and is primarily intended for solo play. The Switch is — as its name suggests — a versatile machine that allows you to “switch” across multiple play styles. This means you can detach the Joy-Con to play in tabletop mode, dock the system to the TV to play on the big screen, or play it in handheld mode. The Steam Deck, by default, is only usable in handheld mode, but a dock will be available sometime in spring 2022, mirroring the Switch’s best feature. Along with that, the Steam Deck has a few more bells and whistles when compared to the Switch. For starters, the Steam Deck features a trackpad on either side of the screen, just below each thumbstick. These are designed to support games that feature touch controls despite featuring a touchscreen as well. On the back of the machine is a set of four buttons, which can be mapped and customized to your liking. The Nintendo Switch is slimmer and easier to carry around. It utilizes digital downloads or proprietary game cartridges, along with microSD support to enhance its memory. The Steam Deck also supports microSD cards, but since it only allows for digital downloads, memory is much more important. When you utilize a cartridge on Switch, it doesn’t take up system memory (aside from any optional updates that need to be installed). When it comes to performance, the Steam Deck comes out on top, supporting 1280p x 800p resolution, while the Switch caps out at 720p in handheld mode (and 1080p when docked). Ultimately, this might not make much of a difference depending on the games you play, but it’s worth noting that third-party experiences will likely look and run better on Steam Deck.
