Valve has recently made waves in the gaming community with the announcement of a new OLED model for their popular Steam Deck, alongside a price reduction for all existing LCD models of the device. This news came as a surprise, especially since there were no prior indications of a hardware revision for the Steam Deck.
The new OLED model boasts significant enhancements, including a vibrant OLED screen and a larger 50Whr battery, which is a step up from the original’s 40Whr. This upgrade is not just about longer battery life, which is estimated to be between 3-12 hours depending on usage, but also about the quality of the display.
The OLED screen is slightly larger at 7.4 inches diagonally, compared to the 7-inch LCD, achieved by reducing the bezel size. However, the overall size of the Steam Deck remains unchanged.
In addition to the display and battery improvements, the OLED model also features WiFi-6E for faster download speeds. The custom AMD chip remains largely the same, transitioning to a 6nm process from the 7nm of the original, which could offer some performance benefits, though Valve suggests performance will be almost identical to the LCD models.
For those interested in the existing models, Valve has reduced the prices of the 64GB and 512GB LCD models to $349 and $449, respectively. These models will be phased out once the current stock is sold. The 256GB LCD model will become the new entry-level option at $399, continuing to be sold alongside the OLED versions.
The new OLED Steam Deck models are priced at $549 for the 512GB version and $649 for the 1TB version. Additionally, there’s a special Limited Edition of the 1TB model available for $679, featuring an exclusive red colorway and translucent black casing, though it’s expected to be in limited supply.
Valve’s official dock for the Steam Deck has also seen a price drop to $79. Pre-orders for the new OLED models will open on November 16th, with links available on Valve’s redesigned Steam Deck website.
Discover the Future of Handheld Gaming: Are you curious about how the new Steam Deck OLED revolutionizes portable PC gaming? Don’t miss our in-depth Steam Deck OLED review for a detailed analysis of its performance, display quality, and gaming experience.
