Interesting, I adore my switch. I love my deck for its capabilities (e.g., modding) but I’ll usually buy a game on the switch if I have the option. For me, it’s much more comfortable to use for extended time whereas the deck is heavy enough that it’ll give me wrist pain for long sessions. The battery difference is underrated here too. It’s nice traveling or hell even on the couch to not have to worry much about battery on the switch.

I agree I always get cramps whenever I play mario kart in handheld. That’s why I buy as many of my games as I can on the Steam Deck instead.

It’s an amazing console, but the shortcomings you’ve mentioned are legit. When I got my Switch, I immediately ordered the Hori Split Pad. Then I threw the Joycons in a drawer and never looked at them again. A large capacity SD card is mandatory and is so cheap, I don’t consider that a big deal.

Online subscription shit is just console bullshit that I won’t pay on principle.

All the reasons you’ve mentioned have been sorted with a Steam Deck, and I haven’t ever picked up my Switch from the day my Deck arrived.

Handheld mode is really not great for extended periods.

I got it for (business) trips, so I appreciate that I can easily connect it to a hotel room TV, or put it upright on a train or plane table.

One disconnected joycon in each hand IS pretty comfortable, since I can avoid the static “controller in front of you” arm pose.

I recently bought an adjustable clip to clip the Switch (sans joycons) to my Pro Controller and it’s super comfy for long periods of gaming. I’ve also seen people use 3rd party joycons that are shaped more like the Pro Controller handles which seem comfy too.

You’re right, the base Switch isn’t all that comfy for long periods of play, but there are both ways around that and it can also be played docked, which I think are redeeming features.

This is something I think a lot, how portable gaming kind died. I don’t mean the devices itself, yes the switch and the deck are amazing devices, but I miss games designed and meant to be playable on small devices, like the games we got until the 3DS, games that fit the portable device if that makes sense.

It’s amazing but I simply can’t play a game like Elden Ring on a portable device the same way I used to play my DS.

One small thing but I’m surprised nobody points it out - the charging port location. I like using my switch/steam deck in bed or otherwise laying down, and the fact that the charging lead is at the bottom of the console rather than the top sucks. It just gets in the way and stops you resting the console on you. Whereas the Steam Deck just has it on top where you can just plug it in while playing.

I know the technical reasons behind it because of the dock and all that, but it’s annoying.

In general, I think the steam deck is better than the switch in almost every way - The switch is just an expensive ticket for the right to play Nintendo games nowadays.

I preferred the switch lite with a protective case that gave the grips a little more body, made it way more comfortable to hold. At least until I picked up a Steam Deck, which ended up being pretty much everything I wanted out of portable gaming, and waaaay easier to emulate on.

Wii U gamepad was a lot more comfortable for me. I’d play Windwaker or Mario Maker or 3D World or Splatoon for hours and never feel all cramped up with half-numb palms. I play Ace Attorney for an hour and it just hurts.

Plus the charging port location makes it annoying to play while charging. It makes sense for the dock, but it ruins it in handheld mode.

I’d love to just get a Steam Deck and be done with it, but Valve won’t be shipping here anytime soon and the cost of importing it along with our shitty forex rates end up with the base model hitting PS5 cost territory for me (which is also more expensive here than in most Western nations).

ever since i got the steam deck i hate using my switch

I honestly wish for a vita sized steam deck. I love the PS vita 1000. It was small and portable but thick enough to hold. Still would be uncomfortable after many hours but honestly that just means it’s time to take a break

It basically needs more ergonomic joycons to be usable for more than an hour in handheld mode for me. I’ve got a pair of hori split pad pros that work really well, but you lose the gyro which kind of sucks for aiming in games like zelda

Back in the day I was drifting in Mario Kart DS on the Dpad until my thumbs hurt before the Wii version (with Nunchuk) and later.

The switch was fine, of course in handheld mode its inferior to the larger/heavier, newer and more ergonomically designed Steam Deck. These days at my friends house I bring a Pro controller around which works and feels just fine.

Oh and yeah the best Switch gaming experience is via emulation of the games you own and using nicer controllers.

It’s meant for children so, yeah, as an adult it fucking sucks to hold. But that is still the case when it’s docked and you’re using the joycons. The joycons are just incredibly small. They also suck in terms of construction and get drifting sticks super fast.

All I wanted from the Switch was a console-only version. I know why it didn’t happen, but I picked mine up on launch day, I’ve played on it every week since, and I’ve used the screen like, a handful of times on one trip the first year I had it.

I haven’t disconnected it from the TV since then. I really didn’t need the handheld form factor.