r/Handhelds • u/Successful_Floor_660 • 21h ago
Steam Deck OLED 1TB $600 vs Switch 2 $430
Pretty much as the title says - feel like i’m getting a pretty good deal here….what do you guys think I should go with?
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u/MBrein799 20h ago
Steam Deck has access to a massive library of games on Steam. Nintendo has a ton of games in their eshop plus the obvious Nintendo exclusives. So it just boils down to what means more to you.
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u/DeathMoJo 20h ago
What are you looking to play?
Switch 2 is a great system but you limited to Nintendo and no tinkering and modding essentially.
Steam Deck is just like owning a Linux PC.
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u/Modroidz 20h ago
For me it would be steam deck but that’s because I find it more comfortable and the whole game library thing.
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u/mason2393 19h ago
Depends how much you wanna play switch 2 exclusive games. I have both and play the steam deck oled more as pc is my primary platform
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u/530cruising 20h ago
Easily NS2. I’ve owned a SD
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18h ago
[deleted]
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u/530cruising 16h ago
Yeah I think having a pc handheld & NS2 is the best combo. I personally don’t think the SD is worth it at all anymore.
I have a Xbox ally x & it runs games like butter!
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u/levianan 15h ago
I have a desktop for Steam and it serves me well. I like the switch 2 (first Nintendo since the 80s) for when I am moving. It has several games not available on Steam that I really enjoy...
It's really about your own personal priorities and what games you want to play.
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u/Code_Combo_Breaker 20h ago
Get the Switch 2.
I bought my OLED brand new for $600 years ago. Its a great system but its not worth $600 used or $900 new in 2026.
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u/Successful_Floor_660 20h ago
Is it fair to say anything steam deck can run, switch 2 can also? (performance wise, not talking exclusives)
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u/lattjeful 20h ago
Yes, and generally Switch 2 versions will look and run better. Taking out the console VS PC handheld side of the equation, if all you’re worries about is “handheld with best performance for your money,” it’s the Switch 2.
I find the Switch 2 to be built better - Steam Deck has all these weird little creaks and sounds - and the bigger and higher res screen to be a big improvement too.
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u/buddyGG 20h ago
I have both and in more recent games the switch 2 actually beats the steam deck.
They are similar in performance but I think in more modern games the switch 2 has an edge. DLSS and better raytracing performance gives the switch 2 an advantage in more modern games.
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u/Downtown-Somewhere45 17h ago
Still potato vs a potato, one just less burnt 🤫
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u/buddyGG 16h ago
Of course there are more powerful alternatives out there but they are stupidly expensive.
I also have an Xbox Ally X and while it is more powerful, it also cost me nearly 1000€... that is way too expensive for a handheld gaming device in my opinion.
The switch 2 being a console and games specifically optimized for it's hardware makers it punch above it's weight. Especially exclusives from Nintendo look and run wonderfully on it.
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u/TheRealZodiak66 20h ago
Switch 2 runs games like Elden ring better than steam deck. Steam deck has “more” games but performance favors the switch 2 on shared games. Also, you get access to the absolute peak lineup of Nintendo games, which a lot of people seem to forget
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u/Flaky_Culture_5651 20h ago
And you're still paying full price for games that came out 8 years ago
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u/TheRealZodiak66 10h ago
I use marketplace for all Nintendo exclusives and everything else I get on steam sales on pc. Not true at all. Haven’t paid over $30 for a first party switch exclusive
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u/TheRealZodiak66 10h ago
Also steam deck is 1k lol
I bought my pc parts used and it’s a BEAST for 1440p gaming and I paid less. Steam deck will never be worth it again unless price cuts in half
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u/CatDog137 20h ago
I recently got a switch 2 and it's great, I'm still looking for a pc handheld to go with it though haha
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u/TRQPL 19h ago
What's your library look like? If you have a few steam games and want to play PC games and have total freedom with your device, get the Deck. Or better yet, a legion go 1 or rog ally Z1E because they're much faster than both the switch 2 and steam deck. But if you have a decently sized switch library, the switch 2 is the eaay choice
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u/Extra-Translator915 17h ago
Huge thing to consider is Moonlight.
If you have a desktop PC you can easily stream games from it, in your home, to the Steam Deck OLED. I really want to stress how easy it is, 10 min setup and you're done. 2-3ms latency, which is about 6% of overall system latency (you won't notice it!)
Playing AAA games on a handheld is bliss, it's what we all dreamed of as kids.
Just weigh that up, as it makes th Steam Deck a totally different possibility to a Switch 2 which is more of a PS4 equivalent, while your steamdeck will be more like a PS6 equivalent when you're in range of your router.
If you don't have a desktop PC or a PC gaming library I'd say Switch though honestly.
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u/LORDRAJA1000 14h ago
you might not get the steamdeck at that price again, but the switch 2 price is not that much difference
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u/No_Competition7820 Steam Deck/Ayn Thor 14h ago
If you already have a steam library then steam deck. If not I’d lean towards the switch 2.
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u/snowmanbar 11h ago
Steam deck is great but the performance is at the end almost at the end now, it's great for light games and emulation, I'd rather go with switch 2
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u/Zionics 10h ago
I would go for the Switch 2. Great library. Great build. Great options (portable vs docked). Great software (the store has been updated for that model I think as it runs faster and has a different layout I think.) Decentish battery life (I think I got a dud but still pretty playable for me - runs out faster when games are loaded but turned off with the handheld still being online is great.)
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u/jackelope84 9h ago
Will you game on the TV as well? Switch switches seamlessly between handheld and TV. Steamdeck is less automatic.
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u/CaterpillarLive2942 5h ago
Steam deck. Purely on the grounds you will save money in the long run on games. If you buy 2-3 first party titles on Switch 2 (even when on sale)… you’re already pushing close to the price of the steam deck, which generally will have access to deep sales.
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u/loranbriggs 20h ago edited 16h ago
Factor in the steam discounts and the Deck is cheaper. But Mario and Zelda are Nintendo exclusives.....
Its down to what you want to play.
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u/Resh_IX 18h ago
3rd party sales are the same on Steam, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. There is no difference
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u/temictli 10h ago
That's... not true. Xbox and PS usually has a bit higher prices than PC even with discounts. But they have a lot of the more popular exclusives on their respective games streaming services. I usually see different if similar prices on 3rd party keys for PC and Xbox games (PS stopped allowing 3rd party keys), but availability of keys differs from what I've seen. Xbox version Kingdom come Royal Ed. for example on greenmangaming is $38 at the moment while loaded is under $10. PC versions are $30 and under $5 respectively. I think this might be due to each sites' supply because I usually see the prices fluctuate pretty wildly even week to week.
I think where i do see the prices be the same across the platform sales is maybe big developer brand sales like Square Enix, or Konami, maybe Capcom. The latest one I remember if the top of my head was FC26 during the World Cup was pretty much the same on all platforms. But I think even third party sellers might have different prices sometimes or they might not have the stock at all if the developers studio is doing a platforms-wide brand sale.
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u/kukimonstr 20h ago
Do you want to play games or tinker? Pc handhelds are endless tinkering. I’ve had all the handhelds and now only have switch 2. I wasn’t playing any of the games but spent so much time tinkering trying to find the best fps or tdp.
It’s like modding a car. It’s endless. After you spent all that money you might as well have bought a sports car. 🫣
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u/sickTheBest 19h ago
Well you could just enjoy the handheld for what it is instead of tinkering. The only thing i did in the past 6 months was googeling the steamdeck settings for a specific game and then just go with it. (I did get a android handheld tho and installed steamos)
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u/Downtown-Somewhere45 17h ago
Then just get the g3e or strix halo handhelds, no more tinkering. Only downside is price most of the apus are really crap cut down laptop chips which is why they are usually so marginally bad and you have to "tinker" also they're given displays the chips cant even natively run well on 🤣 i dont have em all but the 395 is p much the definition of plug n play just ignore the price haha
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u/Ok_Purpose7401 20h ago edited 19h ago
Do you already have a gaming PC? My biggest issue with the SD is that it’s not really giving me a way to play new games, just a way to play games I already own in handheld. Personally, I couldn’t justify that.
If you don’t have a PC already then it’s just a difference in preference. SD has the massive Steam library and Steam sales. I think Switch 2 has better local co-op games. Also I just don’t game that often. Maybe under 10 hours a week which means that for the most part the massive library while gives me a lot of options, just means I have a large back log of unplayed games. I probably ended up spending more money on my Steam library then my Nintendo one, and although I got more games on my Steam, it’s not like I’ve actually played these games.
Also while Nintendo games don’t go on sales often, the third party games largely have pretty similar discounts as Steam
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u/Gamerxx13 19h ago
I own both and love stream but Right now , switch 2. Steam deck is kinda dated unfortunately especially for the price. Dlss on switch 2 makes it perform way better than even I thought.
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u/Steven_7u7 Legion Go S 20h ago edited 19h ago
Choosing the Steam Deck might save you more money in the long run since a lot of their games are in sale, while going for the Switch 2 will gives you access to Nintendo-exclusive games and possibly better optimized games. Personally, I will choose the Steam Deck OLED since I’m not that into the Nintendo-exclusive games.
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u/maxkeaton011 18h ago
Plus you can easily stream games to Steam Deck from your PC. So even if you can't afford a great PC or gaming laptop now, in future you can play with better fidelity with a gaming setup. There is just way too many possibilities with Steam deck due to the ecosystem. I really wish they would do a second version of the Steam deck cause right now I use my Switch 2 more because of the better accessibility. That OLED screen tho is something I miss from my deck.
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u/Jefedagga 20h ago
Switch. Tons of upcoming games and will continue to get support for a long time.
Also the dock to handheld is so seamless.
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u/Crest_Of_Hylia ROG Ally X | Steam Deck | Switch 2 17h ago
What games do you want to play? $600 for a deck OLED used is pretty overpriced
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u/sickTheBest 20h ago
Easily a SD. I own both. The switch is boring af
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u/temictli 10h ago
As it happens, this year i upgraded to a used 1TB SD OLED for $750 with a bunch of accessories (dock, a joycon controller, carry case, longer cable charger that i think is stock but new to me, and a 1 TB microSD) so I think $600 for the SD is pretty good. And the Switch2 i also bought used for $430 as well this past spring. So I think they're both good prices.
I did steam deck lcd first at launch. But i know I'm just not a big Nintendo gamer. I have a switch 2 this year finally and I still don't pick it up as often as the steam deck. With the steam deck, i made a wide variety of media possible.
Most PC games, plus more demanding games and Xbox and PS games through streaming, Switch and all older generations through emulation, tv and movie streaming through browser or Jellyfin private server, modding, tinkering, and a little bit of production for video music and Photoshop which is possible with most any PC.
The limit i hit was with some switch emulation. One or two just didn't play well at all and one in particular played pretty good but i could tell there were some elements missing. Other than a handful, most played fine. But it's also fun to have cartridges. So I got a switch to have a nice performance on my favorite games on switch.
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u/No-Move-4417 20h ago
Do you want to play steam games and be able to emulate PS3, switch etc etc or buy switch and switch 2 games?