The Nintendo Switch 2 is poised to shake up the handheld gaming world, but are its specs more powerful than the better-established Steam Deck?
In the years leading up to the Nintendo Switch 2’s official reveal, analysts and leakers kept busy digging up info about the Switch 2. They had plenty of help, given the sheer number of leaks from gaming publishers and hardware manufacturers. While it was tough to pinpoint the exact specifications of Switch’s successor, the official release of the console gave fans some long-awaited answers.
While there are a load of handheld gaming PCs on the market, the standard bearer is the Steam Deck. Given Nintendo historically opting out of making technically powerful hardware, is the Switch 2 powerful enough to hang with the Steam Deck?
Switch 2 vs Steam Deck head-to-head specs comparison
The Nintendo Switch 2’s hardware is generally weaker than the Steam Deck, but the Switch 2 can still outperform Valve’s handheld in some categories.
The Switch 2 is more of an upgrade than a brand-new console. Relative to the original Switch, the Switch 2 is larger in size, has magnetic controller connections, an Nvidia Tegra T239 GPU, and a focus on cost-effective components like LCD screens. These cutbacks aren’t really reflected in the final pricing, but it still offers a fair bit of power for its price point.
Here is the head-to-head specs comparison between the Switch 2 and Steam Deck:
| Specs | Switch 2 Docked | Switch 2 Handheld | Steam Deck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage | 256 GB | 256 GB | 64 GB – 1TB |
| Processor | Custom Nvidia Tegra T239 @ 998MHz – 1.7GHz | Custom Nvidia Tegra T239 @ 1020MHz – 1.7GHz | AMD Zen 2 @ 2.4 – 3.5 GHz |
| Memory | 12 GB | 12 GB | 16 GB |
| GPU | 1,536 Ampere-based CUDA cores @ 1,007 MHz | 1,536 Ampere-based CUDA cores @ 561 MHz | AMD RDNA 2 w/ 8x CUs, variable frequency @ 1.0 – 1.6 GHz |
| TFLOPS | 3.09 TFLOPS | 1.72 TFLOPS | 1.6 TFLOPS |
Similar to the Switch, the Switch 2’s hardware is generally comparable to the previous-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft. The Nintendo Switch 2’s specs are generally lower than the Steam Deck, but this is remedied in some ways through its custom hardware and features.
The Switch 2 can outperform the base PlayStation 4 while in handheld mode, but receives significant graphical performance improvements through DLSS upscaling. When connected to a TV, the Switch’s specs are roughly comparable to a PlayStation 4 Pro. However, comparing it directly to more advanced consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S is an apples-to-oranges comparison due to the Switch’s unique Nvidia-based architecture. That said, neither the Switch 2 nor the Steam Deck has the pure specs to compare to the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X consoles.
The X-factor in all of this is the individual games. PC games typically offer players the ability to customize the performance of games to their hardware. That’s generally not the case with console games, which often see developers tailor a game specifically to the console’s specs.
As for multi-platform releases, the Switch 2 compares favorably to some and unfavorably to others. Whether the Switch 2 is better or worse than the Steam Deck varies from game to game in most cases. Games like Apex Legends and Mortal Kombat 1 were notoriously terrible on the original Nintendo Switch and the Switch 2’s comparatively limited hardware will likely result in similar outcomes in the future. Meanwhile, the Steam Deck can boot games like Starfield and Dragon’s Dogma 2, but struggles with them in a way where they are nearly unplayable.
Should you get a Switch 2 or Steam Deck?
The Switch 2 is the better option right now for anyone looking to play modern AAA games.
The Switch 2 and Steam Deck are close to evenly matched in terms of specs, with no clear winner. However, Switch 2 has a unique edge in being a dedicated console.
Even though the Steam Deck has better hardware in some categories, few PC games are optimized for it. On the flipside, major releases are adjusted to run efficiently on the Switch 2.
Though a game like Marvel Rivals can run on Steam Deck, it isn’t meticulously crafted to run on the hardware and instead lets users adjust the settings to whatever PC they might have. Meanwhile, the Marvel Rivals developers would likely adjust the game to specifically run well on the Switch 2 if they opted to port it.
Meanwhile, fewer and fewer AAA releases will be playable on the Steam Deck going forward. Games like Starfield and Dragon’s Dogma 2 launched and were functionally unplayable on Steam Deck. Though a game like Starfield may not ever arrive on Switch 2, the sheer number of high-quality Nintendo-made games makes up for it.
Is Switch 2 better than the Steam Deck?
The Nintendo Switch 2’s specs are similar to the Steam Deck, but its extra features and form factor arguably make it better overall.
The Steam Deck is powerful in its own right and isn’t lacking for features. It also has a good amount of modularity for users. Its storage options range from a 64 GB to 1 TB NVMe SSD. It also offers an LCD screen or a high-resolution OLED display with HDR and up to 90Hz refresh rate cleanly surpasses the Switch 2’s LCD screen. Steam Deck’s 50Whr battery with a 45W power supply offers exceptional battery life and charging capabilities.
Alongside this are the general advantages of PC gaming. Full customization of games’ settings can offer improved performance and battery life. Mods also allow games like Stardew Valley and Skyrim to offer completely fresh experiences, even after thousands of hours. Steam offers way more games than any one console, and it offers some significant discounts that often aren’t available on consoles.
The big areas where the Switch 2 shines over the Steam Deck are its size, ease of use, and an actual dock mode.
The Steam Deck is brutal to play with as a handheld device. Its size and weight make gaming a workout for the forearms. The Switch 2 isn’t as sleek as the Switch Lite or even the regular Switch, but it’s much more comfortable to play than the Steam Deck. Playing it on a television can be a headache, as many USB-C hubs have issues with the Steam Deck and its Bluetooth settings frequently forget controllers and headsets.
While both the Switch 2 and Steam Deck can be played on a TV, the latter has no dock mode. The Switch 2 offers a definitively superior experience when docked, adjusting its resolution and letting gamers pop out the new and improved Joy-Cons. While there’s a lot to love about portable PCs, the Switch 2 is an experience unto itself.
