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The switch is still better than Steam Deck as a portable gaming device

Ezquimacore

Banned
First let me say that I love my steam deck and I actually love to play this thing... in my bed with the charger connected.
IMG-20220914-184134830.jpg

People keep saying the switch is underpowered (that's not the problem, the problem is the Switch is underclocked) and after the steam deck I'm actually more impressed with the switch/lite than I was before, because for the size/performance/cost/games is actually a fantastic portable machine.

If you just want a handheld gaming PC the steam deck is exactly that, so why this thread? I'm going to judge it as a portable device.

If the switch is underpowered, the deck is oversized and the fan is an actual vacuum cleaner, this thing is so loud that I thought it was defective at first, no wonder why Nintendo didn't make a more powerful console and underclocked the thing.

Now let's talk about the battery, with the kind of games the steam deck plays, you will get 1.5 hours at most so you will have to buy a battery bank or just play connected to the charger to not deal with low percentage of battery for longer gaming times.

Now let's talk about game optimization, if I want to play GTA V I gotta download the whole 107 gb, even if I play at the native resolution since this is a PC I gotta download the whole thing. An hypothetical GTA V on the switch wouldn't not need that because it would be optimized for the console and they wouldn't not need to add all the 4K textures, bells and whistles. So yeah the deck has more storage and you're a going to use it. There are a few more things but I think my point is clear.

I'm still impressed with the deck and the hardware is fantastic, but I'm not going to act like this is not a test/beta product for the better things in the future.
 
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Banjo64

cumsessed
Switch Lite and Oled smash it. The Steam Deck is a fantastic curiosity, but if you want a device to primarily play great games like Hades, Hollow Knight, Ori etc on the go, then the best choice is Switch.

Also, shout out to my New 3DS which is another fantastic handheld.
 

Daytonabot

Banned
...with the kind of games the steam deck plays...
Everything released on PC in the last 20+ years and more if you're into emulators? I can play Pixel Remaster a hell of a lot longer than 1.5 hours. How's the Switch version of that again?

I don't know why anyone would play modern (non-Nintendo) games on either one. I'm not giving up 3440x1440 on those. But for anything older, there is no contest, because the battery life "issue" is hugely mitigated, leaving the amazing flexibility and the fact that generations don't exist on PC.
 

Banjo64

cumsessed
Do you have a steam deck?
No, but it’s a fantastic curiosity in my opinion. A handheld PC, the stuff of dreams from our childhoods. I just fail to see how it can beat the Switch for what I want; slim form factor, great battery life, amazing screen (Oled) and simplicity - turn on, click Splatoon 3, play for 4 hours. I’m not dissing the Deck.
 
The mobile konsole wars have begun between Steam Deck, Switch, and Sony Xperia 1 IV Gaming Edition with Xperia Stream Dock.

But only one has a 4K display with 120fps. Also i jsut fund out you can play Steam games on Android.

So other than price I'm not seeing an advantage of the Switch or the Steam Deck now that I think about it. the dock isn't 4K like the phone but outputs at 1080p 120fps.

Maybe Sony wasn't as crazy as we thought.
 

SeraphJan

Member
Steam Deck has cheaper games, better version of the same game, better control scheme (especially for RTS games) with more button and customization, better performance, better battery saving setting (if playing games with identical spec to Switch, the battery is not much shorter if you cap frame rate and resolution), 3rd party controllers, much more powerful hardware, take less space in the bag if you are traveling (a HDMI cable takes less space than an entire Dock), emulations, much more variety of games, I don't know what OP is talking about.

Switch do have cheaper price and better screen (OLED version), but with how expansive Switch games are, the price gap of the hardware is almost none existent, as OP is playing BotW on Deck by emulation , you should know that the game had better performance that way (although its case by case and unstable).

I play Switch often before Deck, but after I got a Deck, Switch is only for exclusives.

Yes Deck is heavier than Switch, but weight is not everything, Deck's controller is much easier to grip than Joy-con, for Switch when every time I'm playing some control intensive games (No way I'm playing Bayonetta 2 with a Joy-con) I have to use the Pro controller, sacrificing portability which I don't have to on the Deck

Although Deck was branded handheld PC, but its easy of use is identical to consoles
 
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Kilau

Gold Member
I get your point OP about battery life especially but why not compare a game both systems can play. No matter the size, Steam deck can play GTA5 and Switch can’t.

What is the Witcher 3 size comparison?
 

recursive

Member
Switch Lite and Oled smash it. The Steam Deck is a fantastic curiosity, but if you want a device to primarily play great games like Hades, Hollow Knight, Ori etc on the go, then the best choice is Switch.

Also, shout out to my New 3DS which is another fantastic handheld.
I agree but I think the big appeal to the Steam Deck would be those who prefer PC gaming as their main platform but want to take things on the go when needed. Even though it is a similar portable device, I don't really see the Steam Deck as a direct competitor to Switch personally. I would be curious to see some stats on those that play on a "standard pc" and the deck vs. those with just the deck.
 

Beechos

Member
Im actaully a little dissappointed by the steamdeck myself. I still have way too many problems trying to get games to run. Even steamdeck verified ones dont just automatically work. Maybe steamdeck 2 will be better.
 

Ezquimacore

Banned
Everything released on PC in the last 20+ years and more if you're into emulators? I can play Pixel Remaster a hell of a lot longer than 1.5 hours. How's the Switch version of that again?

I don't know why anyone would play modern (non-Nintendo) games on either one. I'm not giving up 3440x1440 on those. But for anything older, there is no contest, because the battery life "issue" is hugely mitigated, leaving the amazing flexibility and the fact that generations don't exist on PC.
I'm not arguing about the games or usability, I love to play breath of the wild modded on my deck, this thread is specifically about the device itself. give me a steam deck with the form factor of a nintendo switch and that's my dream console.
 

Ezquimacore

Banned
I get your point OP about battery life especially but why not compare a game both systems can play. No matter the size, Steam deck can play GTA5 and Switch can’t.

What is the Witcher 3 size comparison?
obviously anything you play on the deck is better than on the switch, except switch games because yuzu emulator is trash on the deck. Read the thread again and notice that I'm talking about the device not the games or gaming experience.
 

Northeastmonk

Gold Member
I’d have to throw out the Crysis argument on this one. I really love my switch but Crysis looks absolutely terrible on the Switch. DOOM Eternal is another one. While the Switch port runs great, you can see it in Doom guy’s face on the launch screen. The Switch is an amazing platform for certain games. Resident Evil Zero’s loading screen after each door is also a bummer. I don’t have my SD yet, but those things have been let downs.
 
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First let me say that I love my steam deck and I actually love to play this thing... in my bed with the charger connected.
IMG-20220914-184134830.jpg

People keep saying the switch is underpowered (that's not the problem, the problem is the Switch is underclocked) and after the steam deck I'm actually more impressed with the switch/lite than I was before, because for the size/performance/cost/games is actually a fantastic portable machine.

If you just want a handheld gaming PC the steam deck is exactly that, so why this thread? I'm going to judge it as a portable device.

If the switch is underpowered, the deck is oversized and the fan is an actual vacuum cleaner, this thing is so loud that I thought it was defective at first, no wonder why Nintendo didn't make a more powerful console and underclocked the thing.

Now let's talk about the battery, with the kind of games the steam deck plays, you will get 1.5 hours at most so you will have to buy a battery bank or just play connected to the charger to not deal with low percentage of battery for longer gaming times.

Now let's talk about game optimization, if I want to play GTA V I gotta download the whole 107 gb, even if I play at the native resolution since this is a PC I gotta download the whole thing. An hypothetical GTA V on the switch wouldn't not need that because it would be optimized for the console and they wouldn't not need to add all the 4K textures, bells and whistles. So yeah the deck has more storage and you're a going to use it. There are a few more things but I think my point is clear.

I'm still impressed with the deck and the hardware is fantastic, but I'm not going to act like this is not a test/beta product for the better things in the future.
Sounds like I'd prefer Switch as well.

3DS was fantastic for things like this that people on enthusiast boards often overlook. Games were built for portable play and quick sessions. You could quickly close the system and power down and jump back in at any time. You didn't even have to turn the system off and your battery would last a month.

Portable is not often best served by just making a console, as we saw with many of the early PSP and Vita games. I'm sure the Steam Deck is cool for people that want it, so I have no real animosity against it. Switch is a nearly perfect portable design for me. I wouldn't want the screen any bigger really, as it would just not even be a portable anymore. I wouldn't want the controllers to be much bigger for the same reason. It's about as small and compact as it can be while retaining functionality. And the novelty of the detachable controllers, gyro control with IR or built in easy 2P on simple games, or easy docking to a TV are all massive convenience bonuses.
 

Kilau

Gold Member
obviously anything you play on the deck is better than on the switch, except switch games because yuzu emulator is trash on the deck. Read the thread again and notice that I'm talking about the device not the games or gaming experience.
I’m taking specifically about your storage example. Comparing a game with a hypothetical version isn’t necessary when other games exist that are available on both platforms.
 

Ezquimacore

Banned
I’m taking specifically about your storage example. Comparing a game with a hypothetical version isn’t necessary when other games exist that are available on both platforms.
I mean I could say mortal kombat 11 is 150 gb on pc while on switch is like 30gb.
 

Ezquimacore

Banned
If you want 2x the battery life of the Switch then just set the graphics quality to Switch-like potato mode and limit the framerate to 30FPS.

It's really easy to do that on the Deck
but then what's the point of holding this beast if I'm not going to use it as intended. Everything I'm saying is wrong with the deck is actually perfect to enhance the experience for the steam deck 2.
 
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SeraphJan

Member
If you want 2x the battery life of the Switch then just set the graphics quality to Switch-like potato mode and limit the framerate to 30FPS.

It's really easy to do that on the Deck
Not to mentioned if someone is really serious about portable gaming (like I do), will most likely carrying battery bank in their pocket or bag, the battery difference isn't as night and day difference from Game Gear and Game Boy era
 

danklord

Gold Member
Yeah I think 33 years of mobile gaming console production gives you a bit of an edge
 
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ReBurn

Gold Member
The issue I have with my Steam Deck is the issue I had with Game Gear and Atari Lynx back in the day. They are awesome machines but they eat battery. I love the Steam Deck but I can't use it as a portable because I rarely seem to get more than 2 hours out of it before the battery dies. Then I'm carrying around a brick all day. My Switch gives me at least 4 hours on the go but I can usually get at least 6 out of it.

To me Steam Deck is more of a take advantage of Steam sales and sit on the porch and play machine than a game on the go machine. And that's ok.
 

Ezquimacore

Banned
lol that’s crazy, good comparison.
still, obviously the games look beautiful on the deck most of the time so I'm not going to act like the hardware is bad, plus all the games you can play is unmatched. I'm just saying I'm not going to act like the deck is perfect.
 

Sleepwalker

Gold Member
The switch has terrible ergonomics unless you have small hands, for me the thing feels like its going to give me carpal tunnel if I play more than an hour.

The switch is underpowered and underclocked, its tablet hardware from 2017, nothing wrong with that. But the performance is lacking nowadays.

The steam deck has a bigger battery, it would probably outlast the switch playing the same game at the same settings and resolution.

GTA V example is not great because the switch can't run the game and rockstar is not porting it. But let's talk about games that are on both, say the witcher 3, blurry fest at 30fps vs higher settings at 30/40/60fps on deck. Game optimization is up to you with the deck. All with its pros and cons, but you can tweak it however you feel like.



Or the games that the switch flat out can't run and needs to stream like the newly announced RE cloud versions.

Furthermore the deck is better at playing nintendo games than the switch itself, with the ability to emulate pretty much every console up to the ps3/360. Hell it might be better than the switch at playing switch games lol.

The one thing I do wish the deck had is an OLED screen, that thing is beautiful.

I havent played my switch in months lol
 

Ezquimacore

Banned
Not to mentioned if someone is really serious about portable gaming (like I do), will most likely carrying battery bank in their pocket or bag, the battery difference isn't as night and day difference from Game Gear and Game Boy era
I actually enhanced my experience by changing the fan for the ifixit fan and the thermal paste. but that's me modding the thing, not everyone is willing to do that.
 

Ezquimacore

Banned
The switch has terrible ergonomics unless you have small hands, for me the thing feels like its going to give me carpal tunnel if I play more than an hour.

The switch is underpowered and underclocked, its tablet hardware from 2017, nothing wrong with that. But the performance is lacking nowadays.

The steam deck has a bigger battery, it would probably outlast the switch playing the same game at the same settings and resolution.

GTA V example is not great because the switch can't run the game and rockstar is not porting it. But let's talk about games that are on both, say the witcher 3, blurry fest at 30fps vs higher settings at 30/40/60fps on deck. Game optimization is up to you with the deck. All with its pros and cons, but you can tweak it however you feel like.



Or the games that the switch flat out can't run and needs to stream like the newly announced RE cloud versions.

Furthermore the deck is better at playing nintendo games than the switch itself, with the ability to emulate pretty much every console up to the ps3/360. Hell it might be better than the switch at playing switch games lol.

The one thing I do wish the deck had is an OLED screen, that thing is beautiful.

I havent played my switch in months lol

I'm just going to argue that argument saying yuzu on deck is actually trash and I was sad.
 

Ezquimacore

Banned
Got both Steam Deck and OLED, both are great for different things! The Deck is a legit PC for the tinkerers, and the Switch is a portable hybrid console that can co exist with the SD
this is exactly my experience and I love both, some people here are mad thinking that I don't like the deck but that's far from true. Just like the switch has a bunch of cons, the deck too.
 

SmokedMeat

Gamer™
I find that my Steam Deck…

- Is more comfortable to use, then my Switch.
- Doesn’t require separate game purchases.
- Plays my existing library of PC games
- Has no shitty Switch tax
- More versatility with what can be done with it.
- Plays Switch games
- Plays games Switch owners wish they could play


My Switch

- Requires all new game purchases
- No BC with previous purchases. $60 for games I owned on Wii U.
- No Virtual Console carryover
- 32GB of internal memory
- Runs third party games poorly
- Generally looks like crap when connected to a TV
- Collects Dust
 
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SeraphJan

Member
After seen the new Zelda trailers, I just can't stop imaging how good will the game look on Switch successor, I really hope Nintendo announce something next year. I know there are people that are perfectly fine with the Switch, but I'm one of those camp that hope for a better successor with DLSS capability
 
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OverHeat

« generous god »
After seen the new Zelda trailers, I just can't stop imaging how good will the game look on Switch successor, I really hope Nintendo announce something next year. I know there are people that are perfectly fine with the Switch, but I'm one of those camp that hope for a better successor with DLSS capability
I’m not so sure that Nintendo will use nvidia again would be nice if so.
 

PhaseJump

Banned
Sometimes, but sometimes I think why would I hold the my deck to play celeste when I can play it on switch.

The Deck gives you input and docking options. Better performance.

The switch limits you to proprietary Nintendo peripherals. The only upside I see being the fancy screen, dock inclusion, or physical game media of you require it.

Holding Nintendo handhelds is uncomfortable over long periods, and has been ever since GBA SP. I would pretty much rather hold a Deck than anything Nintendo made in the past 20 years.
 
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Ezquimacore

Banned
The Deck gives you input and docking options. Better performance.

The switch limits you to proprietary Nintendo peripherals. The only upside I see being the fancy screen, dock inclusion, or physical game media of you require it.

Holding Nintendo handhelds is uncomfortable over long periods, and has been ever since GBA SP. I would pretty much rather hold a Deck than anything Nintendo made in the past 20 years.
guess we have different experiences.
 

Beechos

Member
Playing vampire survivors on steamdeck has been worth it for me lol. I also tried resident evil 3 remake and wow this thing is literally a portable ps4/xbox one. The battery life i dont mind much 2 hrs is good enough for me on the go. If i need more i got a power bank. If im playing anything longer than that i might as well play on console. Steamdeck is strictly for long commutes for me or while on the throne.
 

Ezquimacore

Banned
Man, I much prefer the ergonomics of the Deck. I have big hands but it feels way more comfy to me.
I have small grips for my switch that are really nice although I understand what you're saying. However, if I'm going to take a device out, trust me that I'm going to take the switch instead of the deck. It's nice that I can use both in different scenarios, but I really thought the deck was going to replace all my portable needs and that's not the case. At least for me, it's portable and obviously more convenient than a laptop, but the portability(battery, size, noise) of the switch is better and that's the point of the thread.
 

spons

Gold Member
I cancelled my Steam Deck reservation, mostly due to absolutely, completely, utterly hating PC gaming. No idea if my specific complaints are valid for the device itself, but I don't want to adjust graphical settings, dick around with external utilities, or endure "gaming on Linux" crap - it's already terrible on Windows and that's the native platform for almost everything. PC gaming falls apart when you fart in the direction of it. I have a Freesync monitor, yet I don't know whether I should turn on Vsync in a game. Is the resolution I've chosen good enough for this game? Does everything run optimally? Why the fuck are my GPU fans so loud? I don't want to figure this shit out. Consoles handle this automatically, and thank God for that. Gaming on a PC is a chore - the exact opposite of what it should be.

Xbox Series and Switch get me through most of it. Shit, I'm actually part of a group who thinks the Xbox dashboard is already too cluttered with bullshit.
If there's anything I can't play on either, I just have to suck it up and play something else.
 

Ezquimacore

Banned
I cancelled my Steam Deck reservation, mostly due to absolutely, completely, utterly hating PC gaming. No idea if my specific complaints are valid for the device itself, but I don't want to adjust graphical settings, dick around with external utilities, or endure "gaming on Linux" crap - it's already terrible on Windows and that's the native platform for almost everything. PC gaming falls apart when you fart in the direction of it. I have a Freesync monitor, yet I don't know whether I should turn on Vsync in a game. Is the resolution I've chosen good enough for this game? Does everything run optimally? Why the fuck are my GPU fans so loud? I don't want to figure this shit out. Consoles handle this automatically, and thank God for that. Gaming on a PC is a chore - the exact opposite of what it should be.

Xbox Series and Switch get me through most of it. Shit, I'm actually part of a group who thinks the Xbox dashboard is already too cluttered with bullshit.
If there's anything I can't play on either, I just have to suck it up and play something else.
Well if you don't like to deal with pc gaming stuff then the deck is not for you. I actually don't mind to optimize games for my PC, but on the deck when a game gives me problems I just say fuck it and don't even try.
 

SmokedMeat

Gamer™
Best part about Steam Deck was playing Elden Ring on my PC, and then continuing to play it on the Deck while on vacation.

Or finishing the God of War campaign on my PC, and then continuing to tie up loose ends on my Steam Deck, while moving onto something new on PC.

Before the Deck I’d bring the Switch on vacation, and barely touch it. I just don’t enjoy the playing experience.
 

Knightime_X

Member
but then what's the point of holding this beast if I'm not going to use it as intended. Everything I'm saying is wrong with the deck is actually perfect to enhance the experience for the steam deck 2.
Switch's battery life would be just as short as Steamdeck's had it used the same level of power.
It's a bit silly to claim switch is better when the best it can muster is baked potato mode. (docked)
 
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