Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck: Which Should You Buy?

You want to game on the go and you need more power than your smartphone, so you’re weighing the Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck. Which is right for you? It’s not an easy answer, and we’ve got the breakdown of specs, game library, dimensions and pricing so you can make the smart choice.

Whoever wins your Steam Deck vs. Switch 2 battle, you can load up your game library the same way: for free, using your Fetch Points. 

Earning free games with Fetch

Building out your game library is easy with Fetch, where you can turn your reward points into gift cards to buy your next Switch or Steam game. Once you download the Fetch app, earning your free games is easy (you can even earn them by playing games).

• Snap your receipts in the Fetch app. You’ll earn at least 25 points per receipt.
• Take advantage of boosted brands and personalized offers for more points on your receipts.
• Do your digital shopping in Fetch Shop, where you’ll earn points on the dollar for your order.
• Play games featured in Fetch Play. That’s right, you can earn points toward free Switch 2 and Steam games by playing mobile games on your phone.

However you earn your points, you can redeem them for gift cards to the Nintendo eShop (or a Visa gift card for Steam) and expand your gaming library for free.

Performance: Is Switch 2 more powerful than Steam Deck?

Winner: It’s complicated. While there are some similarities, and the Steam Deck comes out ahead on RAM and max battery life, we think the advantage actually lies with the Switch. 

The Steam Deck’s increased RAM is a necessity for a gaming handheld that also needs to work as a PC, while the Switch is streamlined for gaming and will make the most of that 12GB. The incredible variance of the Steam Deck’s battery life comes from the same issue: it’s a console that’s trying to be able to do more than just be a console.

On the other hand, it’s easier for developers to optimize for the Switch 2: it’s a single piece of hardware. Steam games need to work across all manner of PCs (including the Steam Deck), and it means you need “superior” hardware to ensure it runs smoothly.

Video game library and exclusives

It might not seem like an easy choice when comparing the Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck, but at first glance, it seems like a simple one:

• Buy a Steam Deck if you want a huge library of classic and indie games.
• Buy a Nintendo Switch 2 for iconic, exclusive games like Zelda and Metroid.

That’s not a bad place to start, but the Nintendo eShop has thousands of games in it, and quite a few developers have done the work to port classic games to the Switch and Switch 2. You can find Quake, Doom, Myst, Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic and plenty of older games on the Switch.

The flip side to the Switch’s library of classic games is the Steam Deck’s access to the latest PC game hits. While you won’t find Tears of the Kingdom on there, popular PS5 and Xbox games like Elden Ring (and its follow-up, Nightreign), Metal Gear Solid Δ, and Battlefield 6 are on the Steam Deck.

Winner: Tie. That’s not to say the two consoles are equivalent, rather that they have very different and very significant advantages. If Nintendo didn’t have a history of creating incredible exclusive titles, we’d give this one to the Steam Deck, but as-is, this is like comparing apples and oranges.

Handheld portability and design

There are a few different factors that affect portability, though the biggest ones are size and weight. The Switch 2 is far more portable than the Steam Deck. Despite having a bigger screen, the Switch 2 is smaller in every dimension:

• Switch 2: 10.7 in x 4.5 in x 0.55 in (with 7.9-in display)
• Steam Deck: 11.7 in x 4.6 in x 1.9 in (with 7.4-in display)

The Switch 2 also weighs a bit less, coming in at 1.1 pounds to the Steam Deck’s 1.4 pounds.

There is one other thing to consider when it comes to portability: battery life. The larger size of the Steam Deck does bring with it a higher max battery life, giving anywhere from 3 – 12 hours of gameplay while the Switch 2 ranges from 2.5 – 6.5 hours.

Winner: Switch 2. As long as you remember to dock your Switch when you get home, it should have plenty of battery power to get you through your day, and it’ll fit into your backpack or purse much easier than a Steam Deck will.

Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck: versions and pricing

Price is a bit trickier to compare on the Steam Deck vs. Switch 2

Right now, there are just two choices for the Switch 2, both featuring the same hardware:

• $449.99 for the standard Switch 2
• $499.99 for the Switch 2 + Mario Kart bundle

The Steam Deck, on the other hand, has 3 different models to choose from:

• $399 for a 256GB Steam Deck with 7-inch LCD display
• $549 for a 512GB Steam Deck with 7.4-inch HDR OLED display
• $649 for a 1TB Steam Deck with 7.4-inch HDR OLED display

If you want to dock your system and play on a bigger screen, that’s standard for the Switch 2 but costs another $79 on the Steam Deck.

Winner: Switch 2. While you can technically buy a Steam Deck for less than a Switch 2, Nintendo’s hardware is closer to the more expensive Steam Deck models, and it might be more accurate to compare the 256GB Steam Deck to the original Switch. 

Since either one will set you back a few bucks, remember to snap your receipts in the Fetch app to earn free games. Save big on Steam or Nintendo titles with Fetch.

Steam Deck vs. Switch 2: Which do you choose? 

There’s not a wrong choice when you’re comparing the Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck, but there’s probably a right choice for you.

• Diehard Nintendo fans already know they’re going to get a Switch 2 eventually to play those exclusive titles.
• Gamers with extensive Steam libraries can easily take all of their favorites on the go with a Steam Deck.
• PC gamers might prefer the familiarity of a Steam Deck, while console gamers might prefer the streamlined nature of the Switch 2.

While it’s certainly fair to compare these two portable consoles, the average gamer might benefit from having both and shirking other consoles: the majority of popular video games hit Steam the same time they hit the Xbox and Playstation stores, and owning a Switch 2 ensures you’ll have access to Nintendo titles, too.

Build out your game library with Fetch today

Whatever you’ve decided after comparing the Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck, Fetch is one of the easiest ways to load it up with free games. Open the Fetch app, check your points balance and get yourself a gift card to cover your next game. You can spend a Visa gift card on either console, or you can buy one directly for the Nintendo eShop.