Nintendo Switch vs Steam Deck:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Nintendo Switch had more branded searches than Steam Deck among video game consoles worldwide. Nintendo Switch was estimated to have 3.4M branded searches compared to Steam Deck’s 1.5M, and held a 19% Share of Search versus Steam Deck’s 8.5%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck?
Compare the video game consoles people buy. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo Switch | Steam Deck | Meta Quest | Atari |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 39.8% | 26.6% | 21.8% | 9.7% | 2% | 0.14% |
| Nov 2025 | 37.8% | 25.3% | 20.7% | 13.9% | 2.3% | 0.11% |
| Dec 2025 | 35.6% | 29.1% | 19.5% | 13% | 2.6% | 0.13% |
| Jan 2026 | 40.3% | 27% | 18.1% | 12.1% | 2.4% | 0.15% |
| Feb 2026 | 38.2% | 31.2% | 17.1% | 11.4% | 1.9% | 0.14% |
| Mar 2026 | 33.5% | 27.4% | 27.4% | 10% | 1.6% | 0.12% |
| Apr 2026 | 36.8% | 30.1% | 20.2% | 11% | 1.8% | 0.13% |
| May 2026 | 34.4% | 28.1% | 23% | 12.6% | 1.7% | 0.12% |
| Jun 2026 | 41.7% | 27.9% | 18.7% | 10.2% | 1.4% | 0.12% |
| Jul 2026 | 41.2% | 33.7% | 15.1% | 8.3% | 1.7% | 0.12% |
| Aug 2026 | 42.4% | 28.3% | 19% | 8.5% | 1.7% | 0.15% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Nintendo Switch was ahead of Steam Deck in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Nintendo Switch’s estimated Share of Search among video game consoles worldwide moved from 21.8% to 19%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.1M to 3.4M.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Steam Deck’s estimated Share of Search among video game consoles worldwide moved from 9.7% to 8.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.8M to 1.5M.
How did search popularity change for video game consoles worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Nintendo Switch gained estimated Share of Search among video game consoles worldwide, from 15.1% to 19%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Steam Deck worldwide fell 18% over 11 measured months, from 1.8M to 1.5M in August 2026.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Nintendo Switch’s and Steam Deck’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Nintendo Switch
1 branded search term
- switch 2
Steam Deck
1 branded search term
- steam deck
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.