Hey!
I want to get myself a handheld console and can’t decide between Switch OLED and Steam Deck OLED. I already own a PS5, but no gaming PC.
What would you suggest to get?
From Switch, I would like to try Zelda BotW and TotK, Mario Wonder and later on some other games, it attracts me because of these games, smaller size and ability to connect it to TV, although I would play it in handheld mode for 90% of the time.
While Steam Deck attracts me with variety of the games, ability to have emulators and play same games as on Switch and so on.
I’m concerned about battery, which one would let me play longer withou being charged?
So, in my position, which would you choose?
Two different devices for two different people. Steam Deck is a PC, while Switch is a dedicated console. If you’re wanting an open option to do anything you want, get the Deck. If you want a locked down system, but also want Switch exclusives, get the Switch. Games that are available on both systems will almost always be cheaper on Steam.
The Switch will have longer battery life with its exclusive games, while Steam Deck has the ability to play entire PC games, so battery life is anywhere from a couple of hours up to 8-10 depending on how demanding the game is. It takes more power to emulate the Switch than it does for the switch to run the game natively. Steam Deck OLED will be a bit closer than the LCD because of its larger battery and higher efficiency, but it’s still not quite at the level of the Switch OLED. Plus, as others have said, emulating is not a great replacement for the Switch itself. You’ll still have Shader Compilation stutter, some games don’t run or will have missing textures… you’ll be giving up convenience, for sure.
That being said, there’s still only really one legal way of obtaining Switch games anyway - dumping the ones you own yourself with your own exploited console.