With the Nintendo Switch 2 being released fairly soon, on June 5th, 2025, to be exact, there has been a bit of speculation on how well the console will or will not do. With the console priced at $450 and $500, and several games coming in at $80, there’s a lot of talk on whether Nintendo’s next console will sell as well as the original Switch did, or possibly do even better.
Then there is the discussion on whether the Switch 2 will have a tougher time selling due to the X-Factor: handheld PC gaming devices. When the original Switch was printing money for Nintendo, it was seen as the only handheld gaming device on the market, with Nintendo putting the final nail in the coffin of the 3DS. In that regard, handheld PC devices were not even on the minds of most gamers, despite existing for years.
It wasn’t until companies such as Valve, Asus, Lenovo, and MSI introduced the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw, that this super niche corner of PC gaming started to lose some of its nicheness (is that even a word?). Since they hit the market, they have become synonymous with handheld gaming, often mentioned alongside the Switch and directly compared to it in many instances.
PC gaming in handheld form started shedding its niche status when manufacturers like Valve, Asus, Lenovo, and MSI introduced the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw. Since they hit the market, they have become synonymous with handheld gaming, often mentioned alongside the Switch, and in many instances, directly compared to it.
Now, however, with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 right around the corner, the conversation about which to buy has gotten louder. It is so loud that it is hard to ignore, and even people who once wrote off PC gaming due to its perceived complexity are starting to take notice. As someone who has been into PC gaming for decades and is now becoming a fan of its handheld options, it is refreshing to see more people recognize what handheld PC gaming can offer. Yet, it is also frustrating, as people are still confused, with many making assumptions and getting upset when expectations do not match reality.
Switch 2 Versus PC Handheld Gaming
One of the biggest arguments I have seen in recent months, now that we know more about the Switch 2, is: why does anyone need one? Let us be honest here, no one needs a gaming device. Still, I understand the conversation, and I wanted to share my two cents.
First, I cannot believe I am sort of defending the Switch 2, but here we are. If you asked me about handheld PC gaming, I would talk your ear off for days. Yet I understand it is not for everyone, and it is still not at a point where I can simply say, “Get this.” Whereas the Switch 2, love it or hate it, has a lot going for it that PC still cannot match.
Hardware-wise, it is looking like a pretty decent device. I say “looks” because we have only seen a handful of games running on Switch 2 hardware, and all in controlled environments. And while it is still just Mario Kart or Metroid Prime or Donkey Kong, it looks good. Nintendo still is not telling us everything, so we can only go by what we have seen. But I will admit, seeing Mario Kart World and Metroid Prime 4 in action has sold me. This is coming from someone who wasn’t a fan of the original Switch and has not touched it in months. That, my friends, is a prime example of that Nintendo magic.
Looking back at my Steam Deck and ROG Ally X, there is not a single compelling reason I could give someone to buy one easily. Sure, either device can play games, indie, AA, and AAA, but in most situations, it comes with compromises. The Steam Deck has hundreds of guides showing people how to run a game by lowering settings. And while there are fewer for the ROG Ally, they exist, too. Compromises. It bothers me because the PC’s greatest strength is also one of its weaknesses, and this is where consoles, especially in this case, have the upper hand.
The Switch 2 has the advantage of games being developed specifically for it. That is a huge factor. While many PC games are ported to consoles, there is not a single company entirely devoted to the PC. On the other hand, the Switch 2 has Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Bayonetta, Astral Chain, and countless other well-known IPs that will not be available anywhere else. Look at history. Millions of people purchase Nintendo consoles just for the games they offer. Sure, 3rd party games are nice, but it’s that Nintendo gold that they want. In the same example, if Mario and Zelda were available everywhere else, Nintendo would be in big trouble.
Circling back to the niche status, this matters. For every person who owns a Steam Deck, thousands own a Switch. Outside of myself, I do not know a single person who wasn’t already a PC gamer who owns a Steam Deck. Or a ROG Ally. Or an MSI Claw. As much as I enjoy portable PC gaming, it has not caught on like the Switch has. I could honestly end this article right there.
Mind-Blowing Cost
Another major factor people forget when comparing the Switch 2 to the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, or any other handheld PC gaming device is the cost. This is a huge, compelling reason for most people, due to the sticker shock.
For the sake of simplicity, let us look at current pricing without market fluctuations:
| Device | Price |
|---|---|
| Switch 2 | $450 (not including bundles) |
| Steam Deck | |
| 256GB | $400 |
| 512GB OLED | $550 |
| 1TB OLED | $650 |
| ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme | |
| 512GB | $650 |
| ASUS ROG Ally X Z1 Extreme | |
| 1TB | $800 |
| Lenovo Legion Go | |
| 512GB | $600 |
| 1TB | $750 |
| Lenovo Legion Go S Z1 Extreme | $900 |
| MSI Claw 7 AI+ | $900 |
| MSI Claw 8 AI+ | $1000 |
As you can see, handheld PC devices, outside of the base Steam Deck, are pricey. On top of that, unlike the Switch 2, some of these devices are only available in select regions or retailers. They are also not all created equal. Some have larger or better screens, like OLED, some have more onboard memory, and others feature bigger batteries. As much as I love PC gaming, I can’t not look pass at what fragments the gaming scene and makes it hard at times.
Still, I keep circling back to the cost. I I was new to this and I was looking at an alternative to the Switch 2, I’ll be damned if, out of all these devices, I would go for the cheapest option. From my experience, that is usually a bad move. I have nothing against the Steam Deck, but I would pick the OLED version over the LCD model any day. For most people, it does come down to cost.
On that, I can’t wait to see how much the next wave of handheld PC gaming devices that will feature AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme. They’re coming… get your bank accounts ready.
Convenience and Convenience
If there is one thing the Switch 2 has going for it that no handheld PC device can touch, it is convenience. And yes, I meant to write “convenience” twice, because it applies in more than one way.
First, there is the convenience of use. You unbox a Switch 2, power it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and you are good to go. Games are designed to just work. There is no tweaking resolution, adjusting settings, checking compatibility, or wondering if the latest update broke something. That kind of plug-and-play experience is what most people want, especially families or casual players.
On PC, it depends. While the Steam Deck offers a fantastic plug-and-play experience and is the most console-like of the bunch, devices like the ROG Ally and MSI Claw rely on Windows. And let us be honest, Windows sucks for portable gaming. I mean, it seriously sucks. Yes, I know you can install SteamOS or a clone of it, like Bazzite. Yet, how many average users are going to be able to do that? That is not a realistic expectation for someone who just wants to turn the device on and play.
Then there is the convenience of the ecosystem. With Nintendo, everything is centralized. Games, friends list, online services, cloud saves, it is all built into a single interface. You do not have to juggle multiple launchers, manage files, or install third-party tools just to get things working. On a PC handheld, the experience is powerful, but fragmented. You might be bouncing between Steam, Epic Games Store, Game Pass, or even emulators. And while that flexibility is amazing for tech-savvy players, it is not what most people would call convenient.
This is where Nintendo wins without even trying. The Switch 2 may not match the power of high-end handheld PCs, but it offers something many players value more: simplicity. For the vast majority of people, that matters more than better graphics or extra features.
At The End Of The Day
Look, I enjoy my handheld PC gaming as much as the next person, but I’m not oblivious either. I can see the differences between the devices, and trying to claim that the Nintendo Switch 2 would have an uphill battle just because handheld PC gaming devices exist is a huge stretch. As someone who hasn’t been a fan of Nintendo’s hardware for years, I’m somewhat excited for the Switch 2, mainly because of the larger screen, the 120Hz refresh rate, even if it’s not OLED, and the possibly longer battery life. On the same note, I love my ROG Ally X, but when I can get, at most, two to three hours of gameplay without being tethered to a battery supply or charger, and the smaller screen becomes a strain because my eyes aren’t getting any younger, it does get frustrating.
All these devices have their pros and cons, but for the average user, such as moms, dads, grandparents, and everyone else in between, the Switch 2 is going to be the hot item and the one that sells like hotcakes all over.
