When comparing the battery life of the Switch 2 and the Steam Deck OLED, the Steam Deck OLED comes out on top overall, even with more demanding games. However, Nintendo’s Switch 2 still demonstrates impressive efficiency for a handheld with a much smaller battery. Reviewers largely criticized Nintendo’s console for its battery life at launch, as it didn’t keep up with the major hardware upgrade this version received, but the comparison to Valve’s device isn’t just about total battery life.
In comparison, the Switch 2 and the Steam Deck have several hardware differences, since the first has an NVIDIA chip and the second an AMD chip. Digital Foundry’s testing with “Hogwarts Legacy” shows that the Switch 2 uses significantly less power than the Steam Deck OLED in a demanding game, consuming around 7W compared to around 14W on Valve’s handheld. This efficiency partly explains why Nintendo’s console can remain competitive despite a much smaller battery.
Although the Steam Deck OLED has an advantage in raw battery capacity, with a battery of around 6,470 mAh compared to 5,220 mAh on the Nintendo Switch 2, Digital Foundry also states that the difference is 50 Wh versus 19.7 Wh. That said, Valve’s console generally has better longevity, particularly in less demanding games, lasting around seven hours on “Stardew Valley” compared to four hours on the Switch 2.
Switch 2 vs Steam Deck OLED battery test results
The Switch 2 doesn’t always win, but it can take the edge in some heavier games. According to Tom’s Guide’s test, running “Hitman: World of Assassination” at the same brightness level, the Switch 2 lasted about two hours and 40 minutes before its battery reached zero. The Steam Deck OLED, on the other hand, couldn’t last more than two hours in the same game. Meanwhile, in “Persona 4 Golden,” Valve’s console lasted more than seven hours, while the Switch 2 stayed around four hours. Some other factors also affect the results, mainly the brightness level.
While testing generally uses the same level on both consoles, it’s important to remember that the Steam Deck OLED achieves up to 1,000 nits in HDR, compared to 450 on the Switch 2. This favors Nintendo’s console, but active Wi-Fi, background downloads, and even open apps also silently drain the battery, something you’ll want to change in order to extend the battery life of your Switch 2.
In the end, there is no absolute winner in the battery comparison between the two consoles, since each has an advantage in different contexts. The Steam Deck works much better for longer sessions in lighter games. The Switch 2, for its part, surprises by lasting longer in certain more demanding titles.
Does the battery difference between Switch 2 and Steam Deck really matter?
If you plan to use a Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch 2 primarily for handheld gaming, neither lets you leave your charger too far away for longer gaming sessions. In any scenario where you need to spend more than a few hours away from an outlet, the battery will need to be recharged. The Switch 2 has one more advantage, since it allows you to prop it up and use the top USB-C port to continue charging.
Ultimately, the battery difference matters less than how well each handheld meets your needs. The Switch 2 gives you access to many Nintendo-exclusive games and feels more like a real console. On the other hand, the Steam Deck OLED functions more like a laptop, and since it lets you access your own Steam library, it’s the best choice if you have a significant backlog but not enough time to clear it.
