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Comment by thorum | Hacker News Reader

One negative: With all that hardware it’s almost 3 times heavier than the Nintendo Switch, which is already near the upper limit for holding comfortable for longer play sessions.

edit: On closer look that's comparing the Switch without controllers (297g) to the Steam Deck with controllers (669g). The Switch with controllers is 398g, so the Steam Deck is only ~1.7x times as heavy - though that's still a lot of extra weight to hold in your hands.

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It's much less than 3x the weight of a Switch. They list it at 670g and a Switch with Joycons attached is about 400g.

I've been thoroughly unimpressed with the build quality of the Switch, I'd probably have paid more for a sturdier 'pro' version, to be honest.

That’s what I keep saying. The switch is amazing but the quality is truly bad. Apple launching a switch-like console would be amazing.

The is zero chance of Apple ever releasing anything gaming-related

Apple arcade?

In what sense are the iPhone and iPad not gaming related? Games are 90% of the App Store’s revenue, every new i-device boasts a more powerful GPU that they advertise on stage with top gaming companies. I agree they’d probably never be so gauche as to launch pure gaming hardware but it’s clearly a core pillar of their business at this point.

Hopefully I can save up the downvotes for a third pair of replacement joycons.

I actually got the pro controller over the joycon issues. I'll be damned if I'm going to buy new joycons for the drift to happen again.

That issue alone is bad/wide-spread enough they should replace joycons for free.

The build quality is the main I never considered getting a Switch. I simply hated playing with the joycons, they felt like things you win in puff snack bags.

That’s almost a deal breaker. My hands get tingly after playing in hand held mode for too long. Not sure if it’s the weight or ergonomics.

Sounds like ergonomics. If it was weight based I’d expect you to experience pain or cramps near your shoulders or upper back, not your hands.

Tingling in your hands sounds worryingly like RSI, I’d see a doctor about that.

I wonder if they have lanyard loops so you can hang it around your neck like those heavy RC controllers xD

Tingly feelings in your body are almost always nerve related. Sounds like its pressure on a specific nerve thats causing this issue for you. Hopefully nothing to be alarmed about but that you are putting a strange pressure on a specific nerve.

Had this issue as well. I now use it as a display only and always play with a controller (tabletop mode). If I can't use a controller, I play slower games (like Civ).

I bought a "switch grip" that completely fixes the tingling and cramping for me. I have the "satisfye pro" I think. It's pretty big, but there are smaller ones out there if portability is important to you

Do you play lying down, by any chance? I sometimes get that if I do, but not seated.

Yes I think it's usually playing while pretty much laying down on my couch.

Your problem is probably not the weight of the Switch, but that you're resting the weight of it and your forearms on your ulnar nerve (the "funny bone"). Next time it happens, try lifting your elbows off the couch. You'll be supporting more weight with your muscles, but I bet the tingling would go away pretty quickly.

Ergonomics for me. The buttons are far too close to the edge for my big hands, and it's so thin and flat I have to grip it more with my outer-most fingers than a random comfortable controller.

Definitely second the recommendation for the Satisfye Pro in terms of ergonomics

This is such a short-term knee-jerk reaction. We should be thanking Steam for their wonderful push to get gamers into shape. Toned arms might seem like a bit of a joke but when you consider you get your biggest exercise wins doing literally anything at all this will literally save lives. How can you not be for it? Is it heavy enough is the only question to be asked here. There is nothing valve won't do for us!

I can't tell if you're posting copypasta... Sure reads like one.

I wrote every word of it. Probably it isn't really funny at all, even the greatest comedians have misses and I don't claim to be that. But probably not less funny than your response..? Best!

I smiled.

The tech page says that it weighs "Approx. 120 grams" [1] Is this information incorrect?

1. https://www.steamdeck.com/en/tech

edit: crtl-f mistake, that's the docking station

That's the docking station.

Yes, I had scrolled too far before I used find. I was trying to figure out how it was lighter than my phone until I realized that it was the dock.

120 grams is the weight of the dock. You scrolled a little too far. From the same page, "Approx. 669 grams" for the system.

As someone with with incredibly poor wrists, the OG switch is already too heavy.

Unless you have an actual disability or are like 7 years old, this is trivial to fix in about one month.

Really interested in how to fix this. Strength training?

Yes! Start with low reps and weights and just do it regurarily. There are plenty of sites that show what to do if you want to strengthen certain muscle groups.

I've had success with daily low reps, but some longer intervals may work too. Once they've been primed, muscles grow when you rest, so rest is crucial.

On the other hand I find the switch pretty light.

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