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After spending a couple of week with the Nintendo Swap 2, I’ve to confess that it’s console. It’s priced pretty for its glossy kind issue and the efficiency it affords, and it units Nintendo as much as keep related whereas gaming graphics solely proceed to get extra complicated. And but, for my very own preferences, it’s nonetheless not my handheld of selection. As an alternative, I’ll be sticking to Valve’s Steam Deck, the primary and nonetheless total finest handheld gaming PC, not less than going by worth for cash. And if you happen to don’t essentially care about Nintendo’s unique video games, there’s probability it may be the higher choice for you, too.
The Steam Deck is cheaper than the Swap 2
Out of the gate, the obvious purpose to get a Steam Deck over a Nintendo Swap 2 is value. Beginning at $400 for a brand new mannequin, it’s solely modestly cheaper than the Swap 2’s $450, however that’s solely a part of the story. Valve additionally runs a licensed refurbished program that gives used Decks with solely beauty blemishes for as little as $279. Restocks are rare, since Valve is just capable of promote as a lot as will get despatched again to it, however once they do occur, it is a heck of an amazing deal.
That mentioned, there may be one catch. The Steam Deck OLED, which affords an even bigger, extra colourful display and a bigger battery, is dearer than the Swap 2, beginning at $549. Nevertheless, it’s possibly a bit unfair to check the 2, for the reason that Swap 2 doesn’t use an OLED display and comes with much less storage. If all you care about is the fundamentals (I’m completely pleased with my LCD mannequin), the bottom Steam Deck is nice sufficient—it’s acquired the identical efficiency because the newer one. And that efficiency, by the way in which, ended up being about on par with the Swap 2 in my testing, not less than in Cyberpunk 2077 (one in every of my go-to benchmark video games).
The Steam Deck is extra comfy to carry than the Swap 2
This one is a little bit of a toss-up, relying in your preferences, though I feel the Steam Deck takes a slight lead right here. Whereas the Nintendo Swap 2 goals for a totally flat and considerably compact profile, the Steam Deck as an alternative permits itself to stretch out, and though it’s a little bit larger and a little bit heavier for it, I finally suppose that makes it extra comfy.
At 11.73 x 4.60 x 1.93 inches in opposition to the Swap 2’s 10.7 x 4.5 x 0.55 inches, and at 1.41 kilos in opposition to the Swap 2’s 1.18 kilos, I gained’t deny that this can be a non-starter for some. However personally, I nonetheless really feel just like the Steam Deck comes out on prime, and that’s because of its ergonomics.
I’ve by no means been a giant fan of Nintendo’s joy-con controllers, and whereas the Swap 2’s joy-con 2 controllers enhance on the Swap 1’s with larger buttons and sticks, in addition to extra room to carry onto them, they nonetheless pale compared subsequent to the Steam Deck’s controls.
Steam Deck in profile (above) vs. Swap 2 in profile (under)
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
On the Swap 2, there are not any grips to wrap your fingers round. On the Steam Deck, there are. The triggers additionally flare out extra, and since the console is wider, your arms can stretch out a bit, quite than choking up on the system. It could actually get a bit heavy to carry a Steam Deck after some time, however I nonetheless want this method total, and if in case you have a floor to relaxation the Steam Deck in opposition to (like an airplane tray desk), weight is a non-issue.
Plus, there are some additional bonuses that include the extra house. The Steam Deck has giant touchpads on both facet of the system, plus 4 grip buttons on the again of it, providing you with some additional inputs to mess around with. Good.
It’s a bit much less moveable and a bit heavier, however for my grownup arms, the Steam Deck is simply higher formed to them.
The Steam Deck has an even bigger, cheaper library than the Swap 2
That is the kicker. Whereas there are low cost video games that may run on the Swap 2 courtesy of backwards compatibility and third-party eShop titles, the large system attracts (Nintendo-developed titles like Mario Kart World, for instance) can get as dear as $80. To not say the Steam Deck doesn’t have costly video games as properly, however on the entire, I feel it’s simpler to get low cost and free video games on the Steam Deck than on the eShop.
That’s as a result of, being a handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck can make the most of the various gross sales and freebies PC gaming shops love to offer out. These occur a bit extra continuously on PC than on console, and that’s as a result of there’s extra competitors on PC. Somebody on PC might obtain video games both from Steam or Epic, as an example, whereas somebody on the Swap 2 can solely obtain video games from the Nintendo eShop.
So, even sticking to simply Steam, you’ll get entry to common weekend and mid-week gross sales, quarterly occasion gross sales, and developer or writer spotlight gross sales. That’s extra gross sales occasions than you’ll often discover on the Nintendo eShop, and if you happen to’re on the lookout for cheaper first-party video games, overlook about it. Nintendo’s personal video games rarely go on sale, even years after launch.
However that’s just the start. Regardless of being named the Steam Deck, the system can really run video games from different shops, too. That’s because of an simply put in Linux program referred to as Heroic Launcher, which is free and allows you to obtain and play video games out of your Epic, GOG, and Amazon Prime Video games accounts with just some clicks.
What do you suppose to date?
Credit score: Heroic Video games Launcher
It is a sport changer. Epic and Amazon Prime are each underdogs within the PC gaming house, and so to bolster their numbers, they each recurrently give away free video games. Epic particularly affords one free PC sport each week, whereas if you happen to’re a Twitch person, you would possibly discover a good however extra rare quantity of notifications permitting you to say free Amazon Prime video games. A few of these are large titles, too—it’s how I acquired Batman: Arkham Knight and Star Wars Battlefront II. With a easy set up and some months of ready, you could possibly have a Steam Deck stuffed to the brim with video games that you simply didn’t even pay for. You simply can’t try this on Nintendo.
After which there’s the elephant within the room: your backlog. In case you’re something like me, you in all probability have already got a Steam library that’s a whole bunch of video games giant. It was possibly even like this earlier than the Swap 1 got here out—common gross sales generally tend to construct up the quantity of video games you personal. By selecting the Steam Deck as your handheld, you’ll be capable of play these video games on the go, immediately providing you with what would possibly as properly be a full library with no added value to you. In case you migrate over to the Nintendo Swap 2, you’re going to have to begin with a contemporary library, or not less than a library that’s solely as previous because the Nintendo Swap 1.
Mainly, whereas the Swap 2’s {hardware} is just $50 dearer than the Steam Deck, it’ll be simpler to fill your Steam Deck up with prime quality, cheap video games than it might be on the Swap 2. In case you don’t care about accessing Nintendo unique video games, that’s an enormous draw.
TV Play is a blended bag
Lastly, I need to acknowledge that the Steam Deck nonetheless isn’t essentially a greater choice than the Swap 2 for everybody. That’s why I’m writing from a private perspective right here. Like all gaming PCs, it’ll take some fiddling to get some video games to run, so the Swap 2 is unquestionably a smoother expertise out of the field. It’s additionally acquired much less battery life, from my testing. However the large level of departure is TV play.
Taking part in your moveable video games on a TV on the Swap 2 is so simple as plugging it into its dock. With the Steam Deck, it’s a must to purchase a dock individually (the official one is $79), and even then, it’s a must to join your personal controller to it and manually discover appropriate TV graphics settings for every sport by itself. It’s not practically as simple or versatile.
And but, for folk like me, I’m prepared to say that even TV play is best. Or, relying on what sort of PC gamer you might be, monitor play.
That’s since you’re not restricted to enjoying your Steam Deck video games on the Deck itself, dock or not. As an alternative, you possibly can play on the Deck once you’re away from your private home, after which swap over to your common gaming PC once you’re again. Your Deck will add your saves to the cloud routinely, and your PC will seamlessly obtain them. Whereas not as intuitive as plugging your Swap 2 into its dock, the profit right here is that your non-portable play isn’t restricted by the ability of your moveable system, whereas docked Swap 2 play remains to be held again by working on moveable {hardware}.
The tradeoff is that sustaining a devoted gaming PC along with a Steam Deck is dearer, however possibly extra importantly, requires extra tinkering (there are methods to construct an inexpensive gaming PC, in any case). And I feel that’s the important thing level right here. In order for you a simple-to-use, pick-up-and-play handheld, the Swap 2 is a good selection for you. However if you happen to’re like me, and also you’re not afraid to obtain some launchers and sometimes dive into compatibility settings or swap between two units, the Steam Deck would possibly nonetheless be the very best handheld gaming system for you, even three years later.
