The new Steam Deck OLED is here, and we dove right into it to check if this is the right time for you to get your first handheld, or if you already own one, should you upgrade the original Steam Deck instead of waiting for Steam Deck 2.
Transition to OLED Display Made Perfect Sense
With OLED technology offering multitude of advantages over traditional screens, especially compared to regular TN panels, it only made sense to have it in the next upgrade cycle. The most commonly underlined pros are deeper blacks, wider viewing angles, and superior color accuracy.
All of these technical advantages created a massive difference in gaming. The only noticeable downside is the burn-in effect, particularly if a static image is displayed for far too long, for example, your character health bar, but there are some cleverly thought-out workarounds that mitigate this problem (e.g., pixel shifting).
While OLED displays have been slowly ramping up for the last two decades ago, gaming handhelds were late to the party. The world’s first proper gaming OLED handheld was Sony PSVita, released in the US back in 2012. Although a beautiful console that I consider far ahead of its time, it turned out to be a dud in the long run, “a commercial failure,” as Sony stated.
Handhelds like Anbernic RG505 and AYANEO Air tried to do something different with their OLED versions, but it was actually the Nintendo Switch OLED that brought the focus back on the flat light-emitting technology. Its bigger display and vibrant colors set the stage for what’s to come next, a handheld display evolution that trickled down to manufacturers, Valve included.
| 512 GB OLED | 1 TB OLED | 1 TB Limited Edition (US, Canada Only) | |
| Price | $549 | $649 | $679 |
| Storage | 512GB NVMe SSD | 1TB NVMe SSD | 1TB NVMe SSD |
| Display | 1280 x 800 HDR OLED, 90 HZ | 1280 x 800 HDR OLED, 90 HZ | 1280 x 800 HDR OLED, 90 HZ |
| Size | 7.4 inches | 7.4 inches | 7.4 inches |
| CPU/GPU | 6nm AMD APU | 6nm AMD APU | 6nm AMD APU |
| WiFi | 6E | 6E | 6E |
| Battery | 50Whr battery; 3-12 hrs of gameplay | 50Whr battery; 3-12 hrs of gameplay | 50Whr battery; 3-12 hrs of gameplay |
| Power Supply | 45W | 45W | 45W |
| Other | Carrying Case | Carrying Case with Removable Liner, Premium anti-glare etched glass | Transparent Shell, Carrying Case with Removable Liner, Premium anti-glare etched glass |
The Heavy Hitters for Steam Deck OLED
1. A Fresh OLED Screen
The 0.4-inch bigger display offers more real estate while shrinking the bezels around the screen. The smaller bezels also help make the display feel even bigger than it is. Screen’s resolution is the same as the original but has a higher 90hz refresh rate, translating into smoother gameplay with fast pace titles. Oh, and it’s much brighter, too: 1000 nits compared to the original’s 400 nits. To get a one-up on Switch OLED, Valve has also added HDR support.
Combining all of this, it’s no wonder the games look pure eye candy. The contrast is better, viewing angles have improved, colors pop more, and deep blacks put the original’s display to shame.
2. Longer Battery Life
Valve has snuck in a bigger battery within the hardware change log. They claim it offers 30 to 50% more battery life, partially because the OLED display consumes far less than the previous LCD one. This is something you notice right away. Previously, playing games like Cyberpunk 2077 with a 720p resolution and a frame rate reduced to 30fps would deplete the battery in nearly an hour. However, you can now play the same game, using preset settings on the new Steam Deck OLED, for about 2 hours. This is massive – especially if you love taking yours along on road trips.
The extra ability to use the device as a PC rather than just being a pure gaming machine also profited from the larger battery, so for “desktop-like” operations like internet browsing or even playing web-based games, this should translate anywhere from 8 to 10 hours of use instead of 6 to 8 hours which is most reported by original Steam Deck users. Obviously, this will greatly depend on what kind of personal side quest you’re dealing with because it’s not the same if you’re watching a YouTube video of someone playing poker, where video streaming is done over a power-optimized VP9 codec, or actually playing it yourself on a Roo’s Casino platform, where you’ll come across on different-performing programming languages used in such games, the likes of Lua, C# and Javascript, each asking for different power requirements and reflecting on battery life.
3. Stronger CPU/GPU Combo
The main reason for better battery life is AMD’s revamped APU. The initial Steam Deck used a customized AMD 7nm chip to power the device. Steam Deck OLED, on the other hand, utilizes the same APU but on a power-efficient 6nm node. This transition improves efficiency compared to the original, especially when paired with a larger battery. While there is a slight performance improvement, it’s worth noting that the impact is less noticeable.
4. Beefier Cooling
An efficient processor means less power consumption, which inherently translates to less heat generated. Valve stepped up their game in the cooling department, too. Yep, it’s still one fan, just an upgraded version. It’s been flipped around to pull more air through the front deck instead of the motherboard. The cooling fins are also slightly thicker. Add these slight improvements, and the cooling system takes less effort to cool the device, enabling the fans to run with slightly higher clock speeds while dialing down that fan hum.
5. Weight Cut-down
One significant change that’s less noticeable the first time you take Steam Deck OLED out of the package is its weight. It’s about 5% lighter than the original. While such a minor change doesn’t mean much right away, it can be beneficial in long gaming hauls.
6. Better Connectivity
Now featuring WiFi 6E, the device is future-proofed for those speedier WiFi connections, promising increased bandwidth and low latency for faster downloads and stable online play, according to Valve. However, the download speed improvements weren’t immediately noticeable if the side-by-side comparison with the Steam Deck LCD is accurate.
Moreover, the device has also added a standalone Bluetooth module. The third antenna sits snugly on top of the device inside the case. With added Bluetooth 5.3 support, players can now wake up the Steam Deck using a Bluetooth controller—an exciting upgrade. Personally, one of my most desired features for the Steam Deck was fulfilled with this update. I loved to connect my phone to Steam Deck and listen to YouTube while playing games. I love connecting my phone to the Steam Deck and jamming to YouTube while gaming. Previously, when connecting BT headphones, the sound would get garbled or drop out entirely.
7. More Storage s Space
Valve has upped the storage, making room for bigger games. The OG Steam Deck was available in three versions – 64GB eMMC, or 256 and 512 GB SSD. The cheapest OLED version features 512GB SSD, and then there’s the 1TB SSD version, which costs about $100 more. This puts the device in the same category as Xbox Series X.
And then, for those who want a little even more special, there’s a stunning see-through limited edition 1TB model with pops of orange color on different parts that look sharp against the smoky translucent skin.
Some New Features That Flew Under the Radar
Improved Analog Sticks
The joysticks are slightly different and better. The texture has improved, and the material also helps improve the grip. While they are in no way Hall Effect joysticks, the extra grip prevents your thumb from sliding away every so often.
Swift Repair Process
Valve has made repairing the Steam Deck OLED a breeze. They’ve decked out the device with Torx screws all around, so no more switching heads constantly when you’re popping off the outer cover. Plus, they’ve gathered all the switches for different controller parts onto a single board, making them super accessible.
Anti-glare Screen
The Steam Deck OLED arrived in two 1-TB versions; both feature an anti-glare screen coating. Enhancing portability, they come with a two-piece particular case. This case allows you to leave the hard exterior at home and carry the Steam Deck OLED in a slimmer svelter sleeve when on the go.
Contrasting the Steam Deck OLED with the Switch OLED
Although Steam Deck has its more appropriate PC-oriented rivals, the fact of the matter is that when it comes to sale numbers, it’s more comparable to Nintendo’s Switch OLED.
| Steam Deck OLED | Nintendo Switch OLED | |
| Dimensions | 11.7 x 4.6 x 1.9 inches | 4 x 9.5 x 0.55 inches |
| Weight | 640 grams | 422 grams with Joy-Cons |
| Chipset | 6nm AMD APU CPUL Zen 2 4c/8t | NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 6400MT/s | 4GB |
| Storage | 512GB or 1TB NVMe SSD | 64GB |
| Wireless Connectivity | WiFi 6E radio, Bluetooth 5.3 | WiFi (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compliant) / Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Display | 7.4-inch OLED 1280 x 800 x RGB with HDR support | 7-inch 1280×720 OLED display |
| Ports | USB-C (with DisplayPort support) | USB-C |
| Battery | 5313mAh | 4310mAh |
The only real hardware advantage over Steam Deck OLED is its portability. It’s much lighter, meaning less fatigue during long video gaming sessions, and you don’t have to shell out extra dough to get a new console. You could argue that Nintendo’s ecosystem of games and community is another pro, but that conversation mostly ends up going the opposite way with PC enthusiasts.
Releasing Your Steam with the Latest Valve Product
Without a doubt, this is a very compelling mid-cycle release. Looking at the community’s reaction, it is safe to say that no one expected it to be that substantial. It’s like they’ve reversed their intention of what the true second gen of this console should be and packed it as a refresh. If you’ve been waiting to get your hands on a Steam Deck or anything better than Switch OLED, then cashing out for the OLED variant is a no-brainer.
However, if you already own a base LCD Steam Deck and don’t care about how the games look on screen, you’re satisfied as it is, then there probably isn’t much of a performance bump for you. In that case, holding out for the real upgrades in the next iteration, Steam Deck 2, could be a better choice for your case.