Valve’s Steam Deck Receives First Hands-On Impressions, More Comparisons Made To Switch

Following its reveal last month, several media outlets got a chance to try out the Steam Deck, Valve’s upcoming portable PC console that looks very similar to the Switch.

As one may expect, many of the journalists and reviewers were quick to compare the device to the Switch in their impressions, with the most common comments being about the differences in size and weight. Overall, the consensus seems to be that the Steam Deck is quite promising, and it would be interesting to see how it fares alongside the Switch moving forward.

You can check out some links to the full impressions below, along with some brief excerpts:

IGN ~ Bo Moore

The Steam Deck will draw immediate comparisons to the Nintendo Switch, but while it might look like a handheld console, Valve’s device really does have more in common with a desktop gaming PC when it comes to its capabilities…

All-in-all, I’m extremely impressed with what I’ve seen of the Steam Deck. $399 for the entry-level model is a very attractive price point for folks who are either new to the PC space, or are looking for a more powerful alternative to the Nintendo Switch…

Gamerant ~ Brendan Dick

In terms of size and design, the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch (OLED Model) are indeed remarkably similar. They both sport a seven-inch touchscreen, but the Steam Deck will come in as the larger of the two consoles. The Steam Deck is about two inches wider and half an inch taller than the Nintendo Switch, and almost twice as heavy.

There isn’t a lot of wasted space on the Steam Deck’s face though, considering the sticks, directional pad, buttons, and touchpad, so the bulkiness comes as a necessary evil. The Nintendo Switch does win out easily on battery life between consoles (two to eight hours for the Steam Deck against four to nine hours for the Switch), with the Steam Deck likely utilizing even more battery due to more demanding game content.

…both consoles are fairly priced for the specs that consumers are getting, with the main difference between the two being their respective game libraries and the power advantage that the Steam Deck has over the Switch. However, it’s important to remember that the Switch is likely going to be the more streamlined and user friendly of the two, with a whole roster of tried-and-true portable games to tap into.

The Verge ~ Sean Hollister

What I didn’t necessarily envision when I walked into Valve’s lobby: just how gigantic the Steam Deck looks next to a Nintendo Switch — and yet, how much more comfortable it is to hold. While it just barely fits into a deep cargo pants pocket (if you can call “bulges out in every direction” a fit), I now believe Valve when it says the Deck was sculpted for long play sessions.

The first time I picked it up, it felt like my fingers just melted into its grips and grooves, placing every control at my fingertips — including far meatier joysticks and a deeper, softer throw to its triggers than the stiff, clicky controls I’ve come to expect from the Switch and Switch-like PC competitors.

While I immediately noticed the extra half-pound of weight compared to the Switch, it didn’t bug me during my brief session. The Deck may be heavier, but these prototypes seem light for their size, with a slightly hollow feeling that — come to think of it — might be polarizing. I wonder if Valve will keep it that way and if the screen finish and the plastics might improve.

PC Gamer ~ Wes Fenlon

After spending a far too brief couple hours with the Steam Deck, I’m not sure if I would consider it a one-to-one replacement for the Nintendo Switch. Its bigger size isn’t as ideal for throwing in a backpack and playing on the go. But as a portable PC gaming machine, it really is impressive: it’s comfortable, feels great to hold, and seems to have the power to play games like Death Stranding with decent settings.

If SteamOS really can deliver the compatibility Valve’s aiming for, the Steam Deck is going to become my go-to system for playing games that I wish I could play on the Switch, lounging on my couch, that it just doesn’t have the muscle for. And I’m convinced it’s going to be the best emulation device ever made.

Tom’s Hardware ~ Andrew E. Freedman

My first impressions suggest that yes, this can work, and I’m looking forward to PC gaming in bed and on planes. Games won’t look as pretty as they do on my desktop. But for those who dream of Switch-like portability and playability with PC games, it feels like Valve is on track.

GamesRadar+ ~ Rachel Weber

Compared to my Nintendo Switch, it definitely feels like a more serious gaming machine with the extra controls and bigger screen, and it’ll be interesting to compare the new OLED screen Switch and the Steam Deck later this year.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.