Handhelds like Switch and Steam Deck are a great pastime on the go. However, with the current temperatures, you should leave your devices at home. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann deliberately leaves Steam Deck and others at home during high temperatures.
Normally, Steam Deck, Switch, and other handhelds are the perfect pastime when sitting on the couch in the evening or out and about. For the trip to the city center, I often grab a handheld to pass the time.
But with the current temperatures, which are expected to reach up to 39 degrees over the course of the week (KW 26), I leave the devices at home.
Leave your gaming handheld at home during high summer temperatures
Why do I leave my handhelds at home? The reason is quite simple: Steam Deck and Switch are just not built for high outdoor temperatures:
- Nintendo regularly warns that the Switch is only designed for an outdoor temperature of 35 degrees.
- Valve also states on its support page that the Steam Deck is designed for a maximum room temperature of 35 degrees. Below that, “safe operation” is guaranteed.
If it’s hot outside and the device gets hot, then the Steam Deck or Switch can quickly overheat. In the best case, the device simply throttles the performance; in the worst case, the device just shuts down. And a small handheld has to deal with the heat much more than you do at high outdoor temperatures. That’s why it’s best to leave your device at home during the summer temperatures.
What about my gaming PC? Your gaming PC handles heat much better in general because it is simply larger and has significantly more options to dissipate heat. The same applies here: at high temperatures, performance is throttled; in the worst case, the hardware shuts down to avoid damage. And if the room temperatures, as currently, are higher than usual, your computer’s ventilation has to work much harder. Therefore, your PC can be quite loud under load.
Generally, keep in mind: Gaming systems dissipate their heat into the room, thus increasing the room temperature. Especially when your computer runs for eight or ten hours straight.
And what about my PS5? Sony generally specifies an operating temperature of 5 to 35 degrees (via playstation.com). In a normally ventilated room, you should normally not exceed these temperatures. The PS5 also shuts down if it gets too hot. The PS5 gives you a significant warning on the TV/monitor as soon as the hardware overheats.
Are you leaving your handheld at home in the heat, or are you still taking your Switch or Steam Deck outside? Let us know in the comments.
I have lived in an attic apartment for years. The best trick against oppressive heat is not an air conditioner, but so-called honeycomb pleated blinds. Because they effectively keep the heat outside during the day. You can read more about this on MeinMMO: I live in an attic apartment, and this purchase has saved me from the current summer heat for years
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