Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck: How Nintendo’s next console measures up

The Nintendo Switch 2 hardware is no longer a secret. This means you can finally see how it stacks against your Steam deck. Nintendo dropped the full list of specifications after Switch 2 Direct. This has some amazing features that will become a direct competitor towards Valve’s handheld.

Nintendo has confirmed many games that come to Switch 2, including ports Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077and Divided fiction. Steam Deck can already play these games. It gives you a pretty good idea of ​​what Switch 2 will look like when it’s released in June.

Here’s how the Switch 2 hardware specifications are compared to a steam deck:

Nintendo has slightly extended the overall size of the Switch 2 to accommodate a larger screen. Currently it is about 4 inches tall and 9.4 inches long (with joy). This means it’s a little smaller than a steam deck that’s about 4.6 inches tall and 11.7 inches wide.

The new screen on Switch 2 is actually larger than both versions of the Steam Deck screen. The new LCD screen for the Switch 2 is 7.9 inches, with the Steam Deck LCD 7 inches and the Steam Deck OLED 7.4 inches. Valve has an advantage when it comes to screen technology using Steam Deck OLED. This gives HDR advantages, but Nintendo is making sure to keep the Switch 2 design prioritized.

Switch 2 has a screen resolution of 1080p, and is an upgrade from the 720p switch screen. It is also an upgrade to Steam Deck’s resolution of 1280×800. However, with such small screen sizes on both handhelds, the difference is fairly minimal. However, you may notice that the game is running smoothly as the Switch 2 screen can reach up to 120 Hz. The steam deck LCD only reached 60 Hz, and the steam deck reached 90 Hz.

Docking allows the Switch 2 to output up to 4K on the TV at 60 frames per second. Steam decks can also do 4K, but you can double the FPS to 120. And, although quite unrealistic, you can actually output 8k at 60 fps.

However, the image quality of the Switch 2 LCD screen cannot match the clarity of the Steam Deck OLED screen. Expect to have the Switch 2 image appearing in black, which looks grey and duller than what appears on Valve’s devices.

Nintendo has fully revealed the Switch 2 specifications, but its Nvidia graphics and processing chips are still in secret. According to a leak from someone who got the Switch 2 motherboard, the system runs on a custom NVIDIA Tegra T239 processor. Analysts predict that they will reach similar power levels on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. If that’s true, Switch 2 will be slightly faster than the Zen 2 processor on Steam Deck Oled, but the difference is minimal when you consider the rumored 12 GB of memory compared to the steam deck’s 16 GB of memory.

When it comes to storage, the Switch 2 is a bit better than the steam deck. The Switch 2 has 256 GB of Universal Flash Storage (UFS) storage and no other hardware versions. This is half the 512GB capacity of the Steam Deck LCD and the base steam deck OLED. It’s not a fair fight in terms of price, but the Switch 2 cannot compete with more expensive steam deck OLEDs with 1 TB.

You can expand your Switch 2 storage up to 2 TB using a MicroSD Express card. This is important. This means that MicroSD Express cards are much faster (and more expensive) than MicroSDXC and MicroSDHC cards supported by Steam decks. As far as potential transfer speeds go, Nintendo wins.

The Switch 2 battery life lasts between 2-6.5 hours depending on the game you play. Steam Deck LCD is rated for about 6-12 hours, while Steam Deck OLED can last 2-8 hours. Battery life is very difficult to compare as it can vary widely, but on average, steam decks can reach for the charging cable a little more often.

Nintendo surprised us with not one but two USB-C ports on the Switch 2. And, like the previous model, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack (Apple!). The Steam deck comes with only one USB-C port along with the headphone jack, and unlike the Switch 2, there is no flashy kickstand.

Nintendo has a rather steep price on the Switch 2, but in reality it’s not too far from the steam deck. Switch 2 costs $449.99 for consoles only, and $499.99 for consoles and digital copy Mario Kart World. Going for the LCD version for $399 will make the steam deck a bit cheaper. This is the closest version to Nintendo consoles.

As soon as you step up to Steam Deck OLED, Nintendo consoles will be two inexpensive. Steam Deck OLED starts at $549 and increases by up to $649 for the 1TB version. However, this is also not a fair comparison, as it is where the specs on Steam Deck begin to fork from Switch 2.