mollyfamwatThe Valve Steam Deck is a new gaming device that has been gaining traction in the past few weeks. It’s a combination of an Android-based console, controller, and keyboard all built into one sleek package. With its innovative design, it may be able to compete with Nintendo Switch as the go-to handheld gaming system on the market.
The steam deck vs switch specs is a discussion that has been going on for quite some time. It is about the differences between the Valve Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch, with many people saying that the Steam Deck might be the new Nintendo Switch OLED killer.
For years, Nintendo has reigned supreme in the portable market. Since the release of the Nintendo DS, they have dominated the market. With the announcement of Valve’s Steam Deck, there seems to be some genuine competition in the portable market. The Steam Deck has some amazing specifications, and since it’s essentially a PC, it can do a lot more than simply play games. When the Nintendo Switch OLED and the Valve Steam Deck were revealed, we covered them both. However, now is the time to compare and contrast the two upcoming handhelds to determine which one comes out on top.
Quick Specs: Nintendo Switch OLED vs. Valve Steam Deck
OLED Nintendo Switch (Official Page)
- NVIDIA Tegra processor (custom)
- NVIDIA’s Tegra processor is a custom NVIDIA CPU.
- 64 GB of storage
- 7-inch display screen (diagonal)
- 1280 x 720 pixels; 720p in portable mode, 1080p in TV mode
- 60Hz is the maximum refresh rate.
- 4.5-9 hours of battery life
- Linear PCM 5.1ch audio
- Wi-Fi (compatible with IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) / Bluetooth 4.1
- Cost: $349.99
Steam Deck by Valve (Official Page)
- AMD Zen 2 4c/8t CPU (2.4-3.5GHz) (up to 448 GFlops FP32)
- 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6GHz GPU (up to 1.6 TFlops FP32)
- On-board memory: 16 GB LPDDR5 (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels)
- 64 GB eMMC (PCIe Gen 2 x1) / 256 GB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4) / 512 GB high-speed NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4) (PCIe Gen 3 x4)
- 7-inch display screen (diagonal)
- 1280 x 800 pixel resolution
- 60Hz refresh rate
- 2-8 hours of battery life
- Multichannel audio through DisplayPort over USB-C, regular USB-C, or Bluetooth 5.0; stereo with integrated DSP.
- Cost: $399.99 (base version)
Looking at the technical specs of each system, it’s clear that the Valve Steam Deck has much more raw power than the Nintendo Switch OLED. This is understandable, given that Valve is positioning it as a portable PC. We can’t compare how the Steam Deck feels to play since it hasn’t been launched yet. Will its buttons and touch controllers be as responsive as the Switch? Will it fall to the notorious j0y-con drift as well? Owners-to-be should bear this in mind before making a purchase.
It’s also worth noting that the handheld isn’t only defined by its specifications. Consider Sony’s (at the time) powerful PS Vita, which struggled despite its excellent specifications. When it comes to consoles, whether they’re in our hands or in our homes, we all know what counts most: the games.
Valve Steam Deck vs. Nintendo Switch OLED: Gaming Library
The sheer number and quality of Nintendo’s exclusives cannot be overlooked. Years and years of memorable encounters have helped it carve itself a niche of strong, devoted followers. Each of these franchises, from Mario to Pokémon to Legend of Zelda to Animal Crossing to Fire Emblem, and more, has left an everlasting mark on the gaming world. These games aren’t accessible anyplace else, either.
The breadth of the Steam Library, on the other hand, is Valve’s response to Nintendo’s exclusivity – the promise of thousands upon thousands of titles across every genre at your fingertips. It will also enable cloud saving between the Steam Deck and PC, so you won’t have to purchase titles you already own on Steam. Of course, there are some exceptions to this guarantee, since multiplayer titles like Destiny 2, Apex Legends, PUBG, and Rainbow Six Siege may not even function on SteamOS owing to anti-cheat software compatibility problems.
Personally, as a big fan of grand strategy games like Crusader Kings and Total War that never get ported to consoles, the idea of ruling kingdoms and forging alliances on the go and during long flights is already making me forget how I almost bought a Switch on the spur of the moment just to play Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
Because the Steam Deck is essentially a portable PC, it will be able to run any other PC-like program. Consider the Microsoft Office suite or perhaps the Epic Games Store. It is also not restricted to proprietary cards or peripherals since it utilizes standard slots and ports.
Valve Steam Deck vs. Nintendo Switch OLED: Which Is Better?
To be honest, the Valve Steam Deck seems to be almost too wonderful to be true. The idea of having access to the entire Steam catalog at your fingertips is enticing, but because it hasn’t been released yet, we don’t know what sort of compatibility problems it may face. I believe it will receive the greatest use from PC gamers who are already part of the Steam ecosystem and are seeking for a portable experience – particularly those without access to a tablet or laptop. The Steam deck may be able to meet both productivity and gaming requirements. These players will undoubtedly benefit from the $50 price differential between the Switch OLED and the Steam Deck.
However, I do not believe it will be enough to destroy the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo’s fan base is much too devoted to its many brands. This is a well-deserved truth, in my view. Even games that attempt to capture the same enchantment fall short of Nintendo’s first-party offerings. Perhaps the Steam Deck will give Nintendo pause and prompt them to think of new ideas.
More competition, in my view, is better for everyone — game developers, hardware manufacturers, and, of course, gamers. More innovation, better games, and better goods result from competition. I, for one, am pleased to see it on both handhelds and consoles.
The steam deck hardware is a device that has been released by Valve. It is said to be the Nintendo Switch’s killer because it is cheaper, smaller, and more powerful than the Switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Steam Deck a switch killer?
The Steam Deck is a switch killer. It has a lot of features that can take up the extra space on your Switchs screen, but it also takes up the same amount of space as a Switch controller.
Does the Steam Deck have an OLED screen?
The Steam Deck is an HTC Vive compatible virtual reality headset, with no OLED screen.
Is Steam Deck better than switch?
Steam Deck is better than the Switch because it has a lot more games and an easier to use interface.
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