Nintendo Switch vs Valve Steam Deck: Which One to Choose

Package and Dimensions

Let's start with the Steam Deck. Valve didn't bother much with the packaging and contents of the console. It essentially comes in a shipping box.

Inside, you'll find a case, a charger, and the console itself.

On the other hand, Nintendo did a great job. The Switch comes in a very beautiful box.

And the console's contents are impressive.

What's even more impressive is the size of the consoles.

Recently, consoles, like phones, have been trending towards larger sizes. If in the past, both Nintendo and Sony tried to make consoles as small as possible:

Now the opposite has happened.

You can no longer fit the console in your pocket and play it on the subway.

But it's even worse when it comes to console cases. I can still somehow fit the Nintendo Switch in my laptop bag, as it's not too thick even in its case. But the Steam Deck case needs to be carried in a separate bag. The thickness of its case is astonishing.

For myself, I've decided this: if the trip is short, I'll take the Nintendo Switch. But if it's a week or longer, I might take the Steam Deck.

Hybridity

As I mentioned earlier, the Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console. It can easily be connected to a TV. There's even a special dock for this.

And considering that the Joy-Cons detach, you can easily connect the Switch to a TV, sit on the couch, and play.

The Steam Deck can also be connected to a TV or monitor, but it's a whole process. You'll likely need to buy a separate dock, which are available, for example, on AliExpress.

You'll need to figure out something with the controller, as the Steam Deck doesn't have detachable Joy-Cons. Or you can use a keyboard and mouse, but for that, you'll need additional ports, which are available on the purchased dock.

In general, the Nintendo Switch is ready to connect to a TV right out of the box. With the Steam Deck, you'll have to go through some hassle. But the fact that such a possibility exists is cool.

Technical Specifications

The Nintendo Switch is often criticized for its outdated hardware. It wasn't outdated in 2025, but it was already outdated at the time of its release in 2017. This wasn't accidental.

Even back when the GameCube was released, Nintendo realized that competing in power was pointless. The PlayStation 2 was the weakest console of its time, but it sold so well that it still holds the record for the best-selling console of all time.

The Nintendo DS, in terms of power, screen, and graphics, was a hundred times worse than the PlayStation Portable, but it sold twice as much (154 million vs. 80 million). In the seventh generation, the Nintendo Wii, with three times worse performance than the Xbox 360 and PS3, sold 15 million more units.

So Nintendo developers realized that it's not about power, but about possibilities and games. We'll talk about this a bit later, but for now, let's compare the power of the consoles.

It's also worth noting that both consoles are available with LCD and OLED screens. I strongly recommend getting the OLED screen, as the difference is huge.

As you can see, the Steam Deck is significantly more powerful than the Nintendo Switch. But as I mentioned earlier, Nintendo focuses on something entirely different. So let's move on to the games.

Philosophy and Games

Perhaps the main difference between these consoles lies in their approach to games.

The Nintendo Switch is a console in the truest sense of the word. When developers create a game, they know the specifications of this device and understand that they won't change.

On the other hand, the Steam Deck is a computer, not a console. When developers make a game, they consider that there are a million different types of computers, and they need to decide: do they want greater mass appeal or better graphics, but then many players with weaker hardware will be left out.

This leads to the main advantage of the Nintendo Switch – you launch the game and play it. You don't need to tweak anything, install drivers, or do anything else.

The situation with the Steam Deck is different. When launching a game, you need to tinker and configure the game so that it runs well and doesn't lag. Moreover, you often need to set the graphics lower than what the Steam Deck can handle to reduce power consumption.

And it turns out quite funny – this is not only the main advantage of the console but also its main disadvantage. If the game runs poorly, you have no way to slightly reduce the graphics or overclock the console.

For example, Pokemon Violet.

This game, in my opinion, is the best in the Pokemon series and simultaneously the worst in terms of performance. I literally can't do anything to make it run better. The same goes for EA Sports FC 24 – it's terribly optimized for the Nintendo Switch.

But in any case, you can play these games on the Nintendo Switch. With the Steam Deck, it's a complete gamble. A game might run fine on the Deck but not be suitable for console controls. Or, conversely, Path of Exile 2 is well-optimized for console controls, but the Steam Deck struggles with it. I literally lowered the resolution to 800x500 to play this game. And only then did I get somewhat stable 60 fps.

Both approaches have their pros and cons, so if you like to tinker and customize everything to your liking, the Steam Deck is your option.

It's also worth mentioning the games themselves. Nintendo has quite specific games, and if you're not a fan, you might be somewhat disappointed. There aren't many major third-party projects on this console. If you're a fan of the "Western" approach to games, the selection will be limited. There's Diablo 2 and 3, The Witcher 3, Divinity: Original Sin 2, and some other small stuff. But on the Steam Deck, you can literally play everything: Baldur’s Gate 3, GTA 5, Cyberpunk 2077.

So, buying a Steam Deck won't introduce you to anything new. These are the same games you love, but in a portable format. Buying a Nintendo Switch, you should either already be a fan of such games or have the right mindset – you won't get top-notch graphics, but it will be an interesting experience and engaging gameplay.

However, the Nintendo Switch has another huge advantage in terms of control customization. Many games are designed not for standard controller input but for motion control or even have their own custom controller.

For example, the famous Ring Fit, which is designed for fitness.

Or the train control controller.

So the Nintendo Switch offers many more ways to play and allows you to do it with others. The Steam Deck, on the other hand, is an individual device.

Epilogue

To conclude the article, it remains to choose which console is better and more preferable to buy.

The Valve Steam Deck has become a device for me that allows me to look at old games in a new way. After work, lying on the couch or on a business trip, you can play full-fledged AAA games. Or, as Valve wrote on the most visible part of the box – in the bathroom.

On the other hand, the Nintendo Switch is a separate world that you won't encounter if you only have a computer. Cool games (Pokemon, Metroid Dread, Densha de GO), interesting control methods, or the ability to have fun with two, three, or four people – that's what the Switch offers.

In the end, if you've only ever played computer games, it's time to take a closer look at the Nintendo Switch. And if you're a Nintendo fan, you can try the Steam Deck, which will give you a new experience with full-fledged AAA games.