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I vote no.
Switch hardware in general is a much worse experience than emulation due to graphical limits, no save backups, etc.
If my understanding is correct, a used steam deck should be about €300, which will offer a much better experience for your switch games and play other games as well.
You can get a new one for $350 USD now and the hardware is easy to upgrade.
The V1 seems weird to spend so much on when the V2 and OLED exist for the same or less money.
Emulating on a Switch is also an odd choice, it's mainly for pirating current games. For €300 you could find a second hand V1 Deck and emulate Switch games instead.
Playing roms on a Switch means you're NOT emulating, that's the reason people jailbreak them. Plenty of Switch games run like crap on a Steam Deck, and the more demanding games are difficult to get running at all via emulation.
I'm not saying a jailbroken Switch is the best option, I'm just saying there are pros and cons. Honestly, I'd recommend OP get a cheap desktop PC with a budget GPU instead of a Steam Deck, unless they need it to be portable. It would perform better for emulation.
I think, I worded it wrongly.
I currently just pirate the roms and play the games through emulation. Wondering whether it is worth it to purchase an V1 Switch, that can be ‘hacked’ and then put the pirate roms into it to play the games handheld (traveling, in bed, cozied up next to the heater).
I have been told only the V1 versions can be hacked/ jailbroken.
That's not true, all can be. But get a Deck. The V1 dropped in price after the widely available new hack.
Early V1 can be soft modded which is much more hassle-free, new ones require a modchip.
You can also get a oled with a modchip installed
Hell no, get a Steam Deck. Nintendo's hardware sucks, I regret buying my switch and have had 6 pairs of joycons with drift problems.
I like the idea of joycons, like you can split it into two controllers for team games, but at the price Nintendo is attempting that drift is completely unacceptable.
They could definitely fix it, but they don't, then they go after emulators instead.
Compare it to the steam deck (a bit more pricey, but can also run emulators). If you want a more polished nintendo-like experience however, the switch is probably not a bad purchase (consider you have to add to it the hefty cost nintendo puts on their games and the fee for playing online, if you want to).
Well, my plan was to put the roms into the switch to play the games. Pirated the roms. But wasn’t certain if this is possible.
I’m not really planning to play online more of solo gamer
It's possible but is a lot more complicated with later switches.
First gen was super easy. I think current one needs a mod-chip installed to Boot custom Firmware (which you need for ROMs)
Have a friend with a Gen1, super easy to hack and not used in some time..
The others need a modchip, can be a bit pricy and is more fliddly.
Everyone saying to get a deck for switch games also needs to realize that emulation isn't perfect; many games don't run full speed, or have issues, because the deck isn't extremely powerful.
But, I'd check which games you want to play and how they run on the deck first, then choose
IME the only switch games to have significant issues on deck are the Zelda titles. Everything else works at least as well as on a switch, usually better.
Astral chain, super Mario RPG, and others I can't recall now have slow down issues as well
The switch isn't very powerful either. Even with legit, licensed switch games you can experience crashes.
Worth it? Sure, but I'd try to grab a 2nd hand steamdeck instead, similar prices, but much more capable
As someone who has a V1, I'd say: only if you can somehow get it for free or for a very low price. (you mention €300, I'd say I wouldn't pay more than €180 for it in 2024).
The hardware is dated (the GPU was half-deprecated when it came out, and that's the only part of the hardware the scene got to break through), your SD card port is going to have a notoriously low life expectancy so you'll be relying on a PC or an Android with USB to perform any important adjustments, who knows what conditions the unboxed ones have been kept in since the Old Times, and for jailbreaking it you have to check that you can get one on low enough firmware to jailbreak software-only. Otherwise you're having to get into modchips, RCM clips et al.
I think a Steam Deck is a better buy. It's a little more pricy sure, but a lot more powerful and a LOT more games to pick from. And it docks great, I mostly play docked to my TV
Early model switch is the only switch worth getting unless you want to do a pretty microsoldering heavy hardmod, check the serial number against the list on this page before you buy
Absolutely, v1 is the easiest Switch version to jailbreak. You could do it with a piece of foil or a $5 jig from amazon.
Not sure if you mean Switch ROMS or retro console ROMs, but a jailbroken Switch plays both, you'll just need to install RetroArch for retro games.
You can also use Nintendo's own emulators to play most NES, SNES, GB, GBC, GBA, and Genesis games. Nicer interface and has rewind.
For me it is like a low cost steam deck, I can play AAA games anywhere with moonlight over the internet and watch my favorite shows on jellyfin (also play switch games), and if I need a pc to edit documents, browse lemmy, etc I boot into my Android SD card.
So, if you want to tinker with a robust and very well supported system, yes, give it a try!
I'm a massive fan of my V1 Switch. There's an insane library of games available for Switch, and I've played it fairly regularly since launch. Problem is doing what you want to do with it. The Switch is not a platform that supports emulation in a way that's user friendly or enjoyable.
If you want a handheld with all of the bells and whistles for emulation, get a steam deck.
You have to decide for yourself if it's worth it. You're right about the hackability and the steam deck can't properly emulate all switch games at the proper speed.
You might also look into the Mig 2 once it's available, but then you probably can't backup your saves.
I like my OG switch. It's just less bulky than the steam deck. But the joycons are really small.
my plan would be putting the roms onto the Switch and then play handheld (is this possible?)
Jailbreaking a still supported console is generally pretty tough. I'm guessing you'll have to look for specific product numbers and firmware versions. For handheld gaming you could always get another device and use it for PC and retro emulators games. Steam deck is excellent, but pricey (and actually plays some switch games). On the slightly more affordable end there are the retroid pockets. There are hundreds of other cheap handheld emulators, but I'd do some reading into one before going with it.
On the first run of switches, there's a hardware bypass they can't patch out, it's super easy to mod.
Other than reasons of price (V1 is about as much as the latest models unless you go used) my V1 doesn't auto detect when plugged into my TV. Wouldn't mention it if my TV didn't lock the controls and take a full minute to say, "I got no clue".
Get a lightweight gaming laptop instead. Combine with a lap desk.
I've got a Switch and a Deck, and I can't fathom all these replies saying the Deck is just as good for Switch. It's not, and it's not worth playing games at 90 or 95% performance when you want 100% performance. "Playable" to "native performance" is such a big step. Plus, it costs more.
I also own both a hacked V1 Switch as well as an OG Steam Deck and prefer playing my Nintendo games on the original hardware.
Steam Deck lags like dogshit in certain games for no reason on Yuzu and other emulators. Meanwhile I can install PC mods on very specific Switch games in my hacked Switch and still play at full speed on Switch hardware.
If you specifically want to play switch games, get a v1 switch.
If you're fine with switch games being hit or miss, get a steam deck. Much better overall on all fronts except not all switch games run well.