Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck: How does Nintendo’s next console stack up?

The Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been revealed, and it looks more like a Steam console than its predecessors. Its recent design covers the iconic red and blue Joy-Cons with a black finish that could almost be mistaken for a Valve portable computer. We don’t have many details about the Switch 2’s content in April, but for now we can see how it stacks up against the Steam Deck as a portable gaming device.

Here are all the specs we can assume about the Switch 2 from the trailer, and how they compare to the Steam deck.

Nintendo increased the overall size of the Switch 2 slightly to accommodate the larger screen. While we don’t have specific measurements, we did some calculations based on the trailer and found that it’s about 14% larger than the original Switch (with Joy-Cons included). This makes the Switch 2 approximately 4.5 inches statuesque and 10.7 inches wide. The Steam Deck is slightly larger at 4.6 inches statuesque and 11.7 inches wide.

A report from last year said that the Switch 2 would have an 8-inch LCD screen and the video looks something like this. From our measurements, the Switch 2’s screen measures 7.8 inches diagonally, which is a significant improvement over the original Switch’s 6.2-inch LCD screen, and is actually slightly larger than both Steam Deck models. The Steam Deck OLED has a 7.4-inch touchscreen, while its LCD cousin only has a 7-inch touchscreen.

Resolution remains a mystery for the Switch 2. Leaks suggest it may still have a 720p screen like the original console, but will be able to operate Nvidia’s DLSS-like upscaling technology to achieve 4K when docked. This would mean that the Steam Deck resolution is 1280 x 800, and you won’t notice the difference unless you hold the screen very close to your face. But the Steam Deck can output up to 8K using the USB-C port, and the latest model has an OLED screen. Picture quality on the Switch 2 will feature blacks that will be grayer and duller than Steam Deck OLED, but will likely have better battery life as a result.

This is where the speculation begins. According to leaks from someone who got their hands on it Switch 2 motherboardthe system will run on a custom Nvidia Tegra T239 processor. Analysts predict it will reach similar power levels to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. However, it is unclear how much of this power will be related to docking or not. If true, the Switch 2 will be slightly faster than the Zen 2 processor in Steam Deck OLED, but considering its rumored 12GB of memory – compared to Steam Deck’s 16GB of memory – the differences will be minimal.

The Switch 2’s storage status isn’t something you can glean from a fancy trailer. More motherboard leak rumors suggest that the Switch 2 will come with 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, which is a huge jump from the original system’s 32GB of storage. It may also have a slot for microSD Express cards with a capacity of up to 128 TB. The Steam Deck OLED beats the Switch 2 with a 512GB NVMe SSD for internal storage on the base model and a 1TB NVMe SSD on the upgraded version. However, remember that PC games are often much larger than Nintendo games, so the difference may not matter much. And the Valve device only supports microSDXC and microSDHC cards, which gives the Switch 2 a slight edge in terms of data transfer speeds.

Nintendo surprised us with not one, but two USB-C ports on the Switch 2. And like the previous model, it will come with a 3.5mm headphone jack (take that, Apple!). The Steam Deck only has a single USB-C port along with a headphone jack and, unlike the Switch 2, there’s no fancy kickstand.

Battery life and other specifications

The Switch 2’s battery life is still uncertain. Leaks can only tell us so much, because a lot of it will depend on how the hardware and software work together. The battery life of the original Switch ranges from about two and a half to six and a half hours, so the Switch 2 may last a little longer. Steam Deck is a similar story: its battery lasts anywhere from three to 12 hours of gameplay, depending on what you’re playing and how high your graphics settings are.

And so we’re left with the mystery button and mouse-like Joy-Cons on the Switch 2. Rumors say the recent button is the C button, but no one seems to have any idea what it does. And while we’re pretty sure the Joy-Cons can be used as mice, we have no idea how you actually operate them. We’re sure the Switch 2 won’t fit the Steam Deck’s dual trackpads, which also act as immense buttons.