The Next features an AMD Ryzen 7 5800U CPU, AMD Vega 8 GPU clocked at 2GHz, 16GB of LPDDR4 RAM, and a generous 2TB SSD. Like the Ayaneo Next Advance, which costs a shocking $1,345. They’re also generally far more expensive than the Steam Deck. They’re powerful, and they have much more clearly defined hardware than the Steam Deck’s custom AMD processors. Which is to say, full Windows gaming PCs with handheld form factors. This is where we start to look at the “real” Steam Deck alternatives. On the other hand, third-party flagship games being released on the Switch tend to be a coin-flip. On one hand, consistently high-quality first-party Nintendo games can only be played on the Switch, and the console has a healthy indie game scene (though not as robust as Steam's as a whole). Its interface, library, and ecosystem are entirely different.

It’s telling that 2019’s Control appears to run natively on the Steam Deck, while you can only play a streamed, cloud-based version on the Switch.Ībove all else, keep in mind that the Switch isn’t a gaming PC. The Switch has a five-year-old Nvidia Tegra-based processor, while the Steam Deck has a Zen 2 SoC (plus, many games released on Nintendo’s system occasionally chug along with low framerates). In terms of specs, the Switch lags far behind the Steam Deck. The Steam Deck can also output over HDMI, though, and even supports DisplayPort on top of it, though it doesn’t have a convenient dock like the Switch (yet). The Switch's big appeal, apart from Nintendo's first-party games, is the ability to use it as both a handheld game system and a home game console, thanks to the detachable, wireless Joy-Con controllers and the HDMI-outputting dock. It’s also less expensive than the Steam Deck at $350 for the high-end OLED model, and just $200 for the handheld-only Switch Lite. With its controllers attached in handheld mode, it’s about the same size and shape as the Steam Deck, though half-a-pound lighter. The Nintendo Switch is the most obvious and readily available Steam Deck alternative.

How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.

How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.

How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.

How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.

How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.

How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.

Steamdeck cost