Steam Deck OLED vs Nintendo Switch OLED: which gaming handheld is right for you?

With the Steam Deck OLED hitting the market, you might be wondering if it's worth picking up over a Nintendo Switch OLED.

The Steam Deck OLED is finally here and we're seeing how it stacks up against the Nintendo Switch OLED, so you know if it's worth the upgrade.

If you're considering upgrading your Nintendo Switch OLED to a Steam Deck OLED, it's worth weighing up the key differences between the two handhelds. Whether or not you pick up a Steam Deck OLED will likely be down to the price, specs, design, and game availability, so we've considered all of these when comparing it to the Nintendo Switch OLED.

Here's everything you need to know about how the Steam Deck OLED stacks up against the Nintendo Switch OLED.

Steam Deck OLED vs Nintendo Switch OLED: price

The Steam Deck OLED price comes in cheaper than the previous Steam Deck LCD models when comparing storage sizes. The Steam Deck OLED comes in at £479 / $549 / AU$865 for a 512GB edition and £569 / $649 / AU$1020 for a 1TB version. These models will be replacing both the 256GB and 512GB versions of the Steam Deck LCD.

On the other hand, the Nintendo Switch OLED comes in at £319.99 / $359.99 / AU$539, which is not only much cheaper but due to the console being slightly older now after its release back in 2021, it's also common to see sales or deals that allow you to get a discount on the console or pick up free games along with it.

Steam Deck OLED vs Nintendo Switch OLED: specs and design

The Steam Deck OLED has the same processor as the original Steam Deck LCD meaning you're able to comfortably play some AAA PC titles that have been optimised. However due to the screen only being 720p and maxing out at 60Hz your performance is capped at 720p and 60fps. Both consoles, as their name suggests, have OLED displays, so your games will look significantly more vibrant than their non-OLED counterparts.

Steam Deck OLED specs

• Processor: CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32), GPU: 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6GHz (up to 1.6 TFlops FP32)
• Operating System: SteamOS
• Memory: 16GB LDDR5 RAM
• Storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4 or PCIe Gen 3 x2*), 1 TB high-speed NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4 or PCIe Gen 3 x2*)
• Weight: 640 grams
• Display: OLED, 7 inches, 60Hz, 720p, touchscreen
• Sound: Stereo with embedded DSP for an immersive listening experience

Nintendo Switch OLED specs

• Processor: NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor
• Operating System: Nintendo Switch system software
• Memory: 4GB RAM
• Storage: 32 GB of internal storage with a MicroSD slot for expansion
• Weight: 420 grams
• Display: 6.2 inches, 60Hz, 720p, touchscreen
• Sound: Stereo speakers

The Nintendo Switch OLED, on the other hand, has much older hardware and contains the same processing power as the original Nintendo Switch which was released back in March 2017, so it won't outperform a brand-new device on the market. However, a majority of the games on the Nintendo Switch OLED, particularly first-party titles, are optimized to run smoothly on the handheld.

In terms of design, the Steam Deck OLED is simple, in a full black casing. But, it weighs 220 grams more than the Nintendo Switch OLED. With Nintendo's console, it's unique in that you're able to detach the controllers and use them separately. Both consoles can also be docked to play games on your TV or monitor.

Steam Deck OLED vs Nintendo Switch OLED: games

As you'd expect from the name, the Steam Deck OLED limits you to games that are available only on the Steam platform. One issue with the Steam Deck OLED is that not all Steam titles are guaranteed to work either, as some aren't optimised. However, the list of optimised games is ever-growing as more developers adjust their games to work on the platform.

Picking up the Nintendo Switch OLED will give you access to a range of both first and third-party exclusives. If you're a big Nintendo fan or just like series like The Legend of Zelda or Super Mario, then you have to pick up a Nintendo console to play these titles.

Steam Deck OLED vs Nintendo Switch OLED: verdict

Whether or not you pick up a Steam Deck OLED or a Nintendo Switch OLED will be based on what you want from a gaming handheld. If you're looking for a device that will let you leap into a range of Nintendo titles that aren't available on any other platforms, then the Nintendo Switch OLED is for you. If you already have a console or PC that you play on and you're just looking for a cheap and portable handheld to play your collection on the go then the Steam Deck OLED is a great option.