The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct finally revealed exactly what the Nintendo Switch 2 can do and what it costs. But alongside the hype came the burden of realization: Consoles are getting expensive.
Nintendo Switch 2’s price has breached into the realm of what I’d expect from handheld gaming PCs, which cost anywhere from $400 to $900. But it’s not just the hardware that’s more expensive – the games are getting more expensive too, making the affordability of the original Switch a distant dream.
Compared to the Steam Deck, which was once far more expensive than the Switch, Valve’s handheld gaming PC and the Nintendo Switch 2 are in a similar lane. So if you’re looking to get into the handheld gaming scene, which is better? Nintendo Switch 2 or Steam Deck?
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Steam Deck: Price
Price has been a hot topic for the Nintendo Switch 2. The company plans to launch the console at $449.99, which is 50% more expensive than the original $299.99 Switch. That in of itself is a drastic price leap, but there’s the added possibility of it getting even higher with the threat of tariffs on the horizon.
Pre-orders for Switch 2 were delayed from their original April 9 date in the U.S., with Nintendo telling us that it was in order to “assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.” The 90-day tariff pause put a temporary stop to that, with pre-orders now going live on April 24, but there’s no saying what happens when tariffs return in July. It’s hard to make definitive statements on value as a result, but let’s move forward with the prices we know.
The Steam Deck starts at $399.99 for its 256GB LCD model, barely undercutting the Switch 2. The 512GB and 1TB OLED models are $549.99 and $649.99 respectively, so it quickly gets more expensive. The price of hardware isn’t all you should consider, though. Software costs ramp up quickly, and Nintendo has taken a leap with Switch 2 by raising the ceiling in AAA game pricing. Mario Kart World, at $79.99, is the prime example, setting a new precedent for the future.
There’s no telling what Steam game prices will look like in the coming years, but as it stands now, the Deck pulls ahead of the Switch 2 with a lower starting cost and more affordable games library.
Winner: Steam Deck
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Steam Deck: Specs and Performance
According to a Nvidia blog post, Switch 2 features “10x the graphics” of its predecessor, with ray tracing compatibility, variable refresh rate via Nvidia G-Sync, and “AI-driven enhancements.”
Neither Nintendo or Nvidia have revealed the specs of the GPU, but it’s incredibly likely that it’s based on the Nvidia Tegra T39 SoC (system on a chip). This GPU is supposedly built on Ampere, the same graphics architecture behind the RTX 3080. Though, with 1,536 CUDA cores, it’s nowhere near as powerful as other Nvidia GPUs in its series. Even the RTX 3050 Mobile, which is the weakest in its line, has 2,048 CUDA cores and likely runs with a much higher power budget.
The Nvidia GPU is powering a 7.9-inch 1,920 x 1,080, 120Hz LCD touchscreen with VRR (Variable Refresh Rate). While the panel is a massive upgrade in size and resolution, it would’ve been nice if OLED came sooner than later. It has 256GB of UFS (Universal Flash Storage), with a microSD Express slot for up to an additional 2TB.
The Steam Deck is built on much older tech, though. It features an AMD Radeon APU with 8 RDNA 2 CUs, and a Zen 2 CPU with 4 cores and 8 threads. Because these two GPUs are built on different architectures by different companies, it’s incredibly hard to draw comparisons between the two. But because the Nintendo Switch 2 features hardware that the Steam Deck simply doesn’t – namely Tensor Cores to power DLSS – the Switch 2 is theoretically more powerful.
“Theoretical” is the key word here. These are different machines in operating system, power output, and display resolution. And with some form of DLSS coming to the Switch 2, I won’t know how it truly performs until it’s in my hands. For now though, Switch 2 seems likely to pull ahead.
Winner: Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Steam Deck: Software and Features
Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2 are intended for different audiences, so directly comparing features can be confusing. If you’re primarily a PC gamer with a large Steam library, or have a penchant for emulation, the Steam Deck is a fantastic option. Switch 2 is best for fans of Nintendo exclusives, or those willing to leap into a new console ecosystem. Thankfully, if you did own the original Switch, your game library is backward compatible, both digitally and physically.
Nintendo Switch 2’s most exciting new feature is that its Joy-Cons function as mice. As seen in Drag x Drive, players glide the bottom of their Joy-Cons against a surface to move forwards, backwards, and even turn. Mouse functionality extends beyond just games that require it, with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond featuring mouse functionality while aiming, as if playing on PC.
Steam Deck does something similar with its two trackpads, but they don’t emulate the mouse experience quite as well – if you know anything about first-person shooters, trying to play them on a trackpad is a nightmare.
While not new to the Switch 2, its detachable Joy-Cons, docking station, and backstand offers handheld, tabletop, and docked modes. It’s easy to take that versatility for granted, but the Steam Deck isn’t capable of this. An official Steam Deck Docking Station does exist, but it’s sold separately, and the console does not have a backstand or detachable controllers. It’s primarily a handheld device.
I can’t talk about Switch 2’s features without bringing up GameChat, Nintendo’s solution to online communication with its own dedicated “C” button. Not only can you video chat with friends while playing games, but the console has a built-in microphone. Players can even stream their gameplay to one another. Certain games have built-in functionality for a Nintendo Switch 2 Camera peripheral, where games like Super Mario Party Jamboree can place an image of your face next to your character. However, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to use GameChat after March 31, 2026.
Comparatively, Steam Deck is feature-lite. It’s a dedicated handheld machine primarily focused on playing games available on Steam. However, it gains the additional benefit of an enormous software library. Whereas Switch 2 titles will need direct ports, Steam Deck owners will have access to a wider range of games.
Switch is the champion of form-factor versatility, and the new features coming to the Switch 2 solidify that. Steam Deck pulls ahead with software diversity, but the inventiveness of the Switch 2 is impressive.
Winner: Nintendo Switch 2
The Winner Is… the Nintendo Switch 2
Is it premature to award the crown to a console that isn’t out yet? Maybe, but the Switch 2 is shaping up to be a phenomenal machine surpassing the Steam Deck in versatility of features and graphics performance. In Steam Deck’s defense, there’s no telling what a successor could be capable of, especially with the AMD Z2 Extreme APU yearning desperately for implementation.
There is one element that the current Steam Deck is ahead in: Value. Switch 2 is expensive, and its software, even moreso. If you’re concerned about game prices in the future, Steam Deck is likely your best bet.
Otherwise, Switch 2 has awesome new features like Joy-Cons that can act as mice and a powerful Nvidia SoC with DLSS support. On top of everything that already made Switch fantastic, it’s shaping up to be the stronger choice.
|
| Tweet