The new Steam Deck OLED or the... Nintendo Switch OLED, which should you get? Before you rack your brain trying to figure it out, it's important to identify what you prefer to play. If you love playing games like Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon, then that's a no-brainer, go with a Nintendo Switch because you can only get those games on a Nintendo platform. You can actually get the new Nintendo Switch bundle that includes Mario Kart 8 Ultimate, plus three months of Nintendo online for multiplayer for $299.00. That's going to be the most affordable option between these handheld dockable options.
On the flip side, if you have a Steam library full of games, your friends game on PC... or you just want to get into PC gaming in a portable way, then the Steam Deck is probably the best option for you.
You don't have to worry about rebuilding your library with a Steam Deck, and that's the most beautiful thing about owning one or a PC in general. Not only that, there are Playstation games you can enjoy on the platform as well, plus there is no paywall to play online multiplayer. The only paywall you're looking at outside of general internet service for your home... is Xbox game pass if you so choose to use the service. The bright side is that it doesn't stop you from gaming on your PC, it's just a particular service that you can access through your PC.
What helps the Nintendo look more appealing is the price tag, because the cheapest Steam Deck you're going to get is the LCD version for $349, that is, until they sell out, and then those are gone since Valve doesn't plan to manufacture anymore. The best LCD version will run you $449. The other side of that Valve coin is the new Steam Deck OLED that ranges from $549 for the 512GB version to the 1TB version for $649. While this might make you lean back like Smokey and Craig did on Friday, the Steam Deck isn't a handheld system that would require you to upgrade every console generation.
I have a Steam library with games over a decade old and I can play games from today and over a decade ago without paying extra because they're already in my account. So this device beats out the Switch in the long run if it lasts that long, but that boils down to care as well... plus you can switch out the parts. This model is said to be easier to repair and to mod, just make sure you know what you're doing. If you don't, no worries, iFixit... officially repairs these products and sells tools to repair + mod.
This doesn't write the Switch off, but once a new console is up and running from Nintendo, it would only be a matter of time before they pull the support on the Switch... unless they adopt Valve's biz model (which I doubt would happen). The Switch has been around for a while now... but hopefully they give it a bit more time before they consider a new console that requires an upgrade to play. Even if a new console emerges, this wouldn't change what you've read here... so I hope this helps you with your decision. Game on!
