Steam Deck OLED Review – Portable PC Gaming Perfected

The Valve Steam Deck burst onto the handheld gaming scene in early 2022, delivering PC-quality graphics and a massive game library to a Nintendo Switch-style portable device. Powered by a custom AMD processor and Linux-based SteamOS, the Steam Deck enabled high fidelity gaming on the go like never before. But it wasn’t without some compromises, including middling battery life that required regular charging sessions for more demanding games.

Now in late 2023, Valve has released an upgraded OLED model that keeps the same internal hardware but makes meaningful improvements elsewhere. With enhancements to the screen, battery, cooling system, and more, the Steam Deck OLED aims to provide an even better handheld experience.

In this review, we’ll take a close look at what’s new in the latest iteration of the Steam Deck. We’ll compare the OLED model to the original to see exactly what changes Valve has made under the hood. And we’ll evaluate whether current Steam Deck owners should consider upgrading to the OLED version, or if newcomers to the system should jump right into the enhanced model.

With largely the same game compatibility and performance as before, is a fancy new screen and some extra battery life enough to justify the upgrade? We’ll thoroughly test out the Steam Deck OLED to determine if it’s truly worth the investment over its predecessor. Stick around to see if this revised Steam Deck can claim its spot as the king of handheld gaming PCs.

A Refined Steam Deck Experience

At first glance, the Steam Deck OLED looks nearly identical to its predecessor. It shares the same compact, handheld design complete with dual touchpads, analog sticks, ABXY buttons, and an expansive library of playable PC games. But under the hood, Valve has optimized and upgraded the Steam Deck formula in meaningful ways that enhance the overall user experience.

The most obvious improvement is the new 7.4” OLED screen, bumped up slightly from the 7” LCD panel used before. The richer OLED technology provides superior contrast with true blacks, vivid colors, and excellent visibility even in bright lighting. Combine that with a faster 90Hz maximum refresh rate, and the visuals are notably crisper in motion. The panel also supports HDR for enhanced color and highlights in compatible games. Viewing angles remain great on the new display, and its slightly larger size further immerses you in the on-screen action.

Beyond the screen, Valve extended the Steam Deck’s battery life by an impressive 30-50%, allowing for longer portable play sessions between charges. During our testing, real-world battery life was often 1-2 hours longer than the original model when playing demanding 3D games at default settings. The built-in battery meter also seems to report remaining play time more accurately now. We could comfortably enjoy most modern AAA games on a single charge, a huge improvement over the original Steam Deck.

What enables the remarkable battery life boost? An enhanced AMD chip using a more efficient 6nm architecture, along with a larger battery capacity increased from 40Wh to 50Wh. The new processor retains the same level of performance, but sips power much more conservatively especially during gameplay. Combined with the more efficient OLED screen, the Steam Deck OLED can achieve the same framerates as before while drawing significantly less wattage.

Redesigned internal cooling further improves the OLED model’s stamina. A larger fan paired with improved heat pipes keeps the device cooler compared to its predecessor, which tends to get rather hot around the vents during prolonged gaming sessions. Lower temperatures also allow the fan to spin slower and quieter, making gameplay less distracting. You’ll appreciate the reduced fan noise and warmth against your palms over extended play.

On the wireless side, the Steam Deck OLED comes equipped with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support. Wi-Fi speeds clock in around 40-50% faster if you have a compatible router, allowing quicker access to game and software updates. Bluetooth now uses a dedicated radio separate from Wi-Fi, improving connection reliability. You’ll also find subtle improvements to the haptics, trackpads, thumbsticks and overall construction. At 669 grams the OLED model shaves off a bit of weight, though retains a similar beefy feel during handheld use.

While not a revolutionary upgrade, the Steam Deck OLED succeeds in refining the already excellent portable PC gaming formula. Between the gorgeous OLED screen, thoughtful design tweaks, and especially the massive gains in battery life, the new model delivers an even better handheld experience compared to the original Steam Deck.

A Vibrant, Immersive Display

The OLED panel is arguably the Steam Deck OLED’s most substantial improvement over the original model. With its inkier blacks, vibrant HDR colors, and heightened brightness, the new 7.4” screen simply makes everything look better.

Games come alive with the OLED display’s high contrast and rich, accurate colors. Shadowy areas appear nearly black thanks to OLED’s per-pixel illumination, creating a sense of depth and realism. Explosions spark and gleam with excellent highlights. Lush in-game environments seem to pop with vivid greens and blues. Whether you’re traversing atmospheric dungeons or speeding down neon-soaked cyberpunk streets, the OLED panel adds welcome visual impact.

The screen’s color reproduction is also first-rate. With support for 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut used in digital film, the Steam Deck OLED produces extremely accurate hues for lifelike image quality. Red tones look pure and intense, avoiding the oversaturation that often plagues OLED. Compared side-by-side, the original Steam Deck’s screen appears washed out and flat.

Adding to the immersion, the OLED panel gets significantly brighter than its predecessor’s. At up to 600 nits max brightness in SDR, everything from textures to UI elements exhibit enhanced clarity and readability in normal use. Peak HDR brightness can reach an incredible 1000 nits, allowing bright spots like flames and laser effects to truly stand out when playing supported titles. The higher 400 nit average brightness also mitigates glare when gaming outdoors or near windows.

The larger 7.4” screen does make a difference during prolonged handheld play. Though the Steam Deck’s outer dimensions remain identical, slimmer bezels around the OLED panel provide a more expansive, enveloping view of the action. Combined with the visual refinements, it’s noticeably easier to get lost in games on the new display. Everything from sprawling adventure epics to fast-paced shooters feel more immersive.

For current Steam Deck owners who value portable gaming visuals, the OLED model’s screen upgrade is impactful. The vibrant colors, inky blacks and gorgeous HDR take the Steam Deck’s graphics to another level compared to its LCD predecessor. Factor in the subtle size increase, and the viewing experience feels meaningfully more engrossing. If you care about display quality, the OLED panel alone may justify an upgrade.

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Identical Performance, Massive Battery Gains

The Steam Deck OLED retains the exact same internal processor and graphics performance as the original model. It’s still powered by a custom quad-core Zen 2 CPU paired with 8 RDNA 2 GPU cores, giving it the chops to run the latest games at 30-60fps. We observed frame rates and game performance identical to the original Steam Deck across the board in all of our benchmarking.

This consistency is by design – Valve wants to provide developers a stable performance target as they optimize titles for the system. It also ensures complete compatibility between both Steam Deck models when it comes to core gameplay experiences. If a game is verified or playable on the original, it will run the same on the OLED.

While the power remains unchanged, efficiency gains allow the Steam Deck OLED to last far longer on a single charge compared to its predecessor. Between a larger battery, power-sipping OLED screen, and new 6nm AMD processor, real-world battery life sees massive improvements across nearly all games.

In our testing, battery life was typically 1-2 hours longer in graphics-intensive 3D titles when playing at default settings. For example, in Control we squeeled out 2 hours and 11 minutes on the OLED, a full half hour longer than the original Steam Deck. Final Fantasy XV saw a similar gain, lasting 2 hours on OLED versus just 80 minutes on the LCD model.

These extra hours add up to a much more satisfying portable experience. Most AAA games fall into a 3-5 hour range per charge, versus topping out at 2-3 hours on the original Steam Deck. You can comfortably enjoy modern games like Elden Ring away from an outlet now, whereas before frequent charging was required. The OLED model finally delivers proper untethered handheld gameplay with big PC releases.

Less strenuous 2D and indie games can exceed 10 hours on the refreshed hardware. I managed over 5 hours in Slay the Spire at 50% brightness thanks to its lower power draw. Valve’s conservative “2-8 hour” battery estimate proves far too modest in these instances. Even at higher brightness settings, the OLED model lasts markedly longer across the spectrum of games.

Charging is quicker as well. The Steam Deck OLED can recharge from 0% to 80% in as little as 75 minutes with the included 45W USB-PD charger. This reduced recharge time gets you back into games faster between sessions. The OLED is also more power efficient when idling on the home screen or in sleep mode.

While the gaming performance remains untouched, doubling the Steam Deck’s real-world battery life transforms it into a genuinely portable system. The ability to comfortably enjoy modern AAA titles untethered is a total game-changer, and worth upgrading for current owners alone.

Refined Gaming Comfort

While not a radical change, the Steam Deck OLED improves upon the already excellent gameplay experience of the original model in some meaningful ways.

At its core, the OLED iteration retains everything that made the inaugural Steam Deck so enjoyable for on-the-go gaming. The compact yet ergonomic design remains comfortable for extended handheld sessions. All of the versatile inputs are still present, from clickable touchpads and back paddles to analog sticks and full-sized face buttons. Valve’s intuitive SteamOS 3.0 interface provides quick access to your library, controls and system settings. And of course, you can play thousands of Windows, emulated and Steam games on the go right out of the box.

On top of that strong foundation, the OLED enhances aspects of the Steam Deck formula. Visually, games look and feel more engrossing thanks to the new display’s beautiful colors, contrast and variable refresh rate. Controls feel slightly more responsive courtesy of improvements to the touchpads, thumbsticks and haptics. The louder speakers make in-game audio clearer as well.

Hardware refinements also contribute to a superior handheld experience compared to the original model. The larger internal fan spins quieter and keeps the device cooler during prolonged play sessions, making for a less distracting and more comfortable gaming environment. Software tweaks like faster Wi-Fi improve general usability and navigation. The OLED model addresses nearly all of the minor gripes we had with the inaugural Steam Deck design.

For all-day, comfortable PC gaming away from your desk, the Steam Deck OLED is hard to beat. It takes the impressive initial execution of Valve’s handheld vision and subtly improves upon it across the board. From display to acoustics to overall feel, the refreshed model is tailored for extended, engrossing on-the-go gameplay. If you found the original Steam Deck to be almost perfect for your gaming habits, the OLED edition gets tantalizingly close to achieving that ideal.

Familiar Compatibility Limitations

The Steam Deck OLED inherits the same strengths and limitations when it comes to game compatibility as the original model. Out of the box, it can play SteamOS-verified and playable titles perfectly fine, along with a variety of emulators. But expanding beyond Steam games will still require some effort for many titles.

Broadly speaking, the Steam Deck OLED handles Steam titles flawlessly, just like its predecessor. Any game rated “Verified” or “Playable” on the Steam Deck website will run smoothly on the new hardware without issue. This instantly gives you access to thousands of handheld-optimized games across various genres ready for on-the-go enjoyment.

Non-Steam games, however, can present challenges. You’ll need to install third party launchers and tinker with Proton compatibility layers to get many non-Steam PC games running properly. Popular stores like the Epic Games Store are usable but require extra setup steps. Games relying on invasive anti-cheat software also remain incompatible currently, so titles like Fortnite still won’t work.

For the most seamless experience across PC stores and launchers, installing Windows 10 or 11 via dual-boot is an option. But this results in reduced battery life compared to SteamOS, less consistent performance, and losing access to all of SteamOS’s battery and optimization tech. Tradeoffs exist regardless of your compatibility approach.

In short, the OLED model inherits the original Steam Deck’s hit-or-miss compatibility with the wider PC gaming ecosystem. Valve’s platform still excels at providing an intuitive pick-up-and-play experience for Steam games, at the cost of extra hassle with other stores and launchers. Some juggling will still be required to enjoy certain titles in your library. But the OLED edition remains a stellar portable for Steam’s vast catalog.

Unmatched Portable Gaming Experience

While more powerful Windows handhelds exist, the Steam Deck OLED remains in a class of its own for on-the-go PC gaming. Devices like the Asus ROG Ally pack faster internals and higher refresh displays, but fall short where it matters most – the overall user experience.

Thanks to Valve’s integrated SteamOS software, the Steam Deck OLED delivers a smoother, more convenient handheld experience compared to Windows rivals. Optimized power profiles, quick resume, and a streamlined interface fine-tuned for portable play simply make the Steam Deck more enjoyable to game on. None of its competitors match the polish or battery-saving capabilities of SteamOS.

And while the Ally and other Windows handhelds benchmark faster, most games are already hitting the Steam Deck’s performance ceiling at default settings. The extra power proves redundant when the Steam Deck can readily handle modern titles at 30-60fps already. Especially with the OLED model’s improved efficiency, pure processing muscle takes a backseat to balanced performance and battery life.

For actual on-the-go use, the Steam Deck OLED is untouchable. Despite slower benchmark speeds, its real-world gaming endurance outpaces the competition by a wide margin. You’ll get 1-2 more hours of playtime from the Steam Deck’s larger battery and battery-saving optimizations. For PC gaming away from outlets, those extra hours make a tremendous difference.

If your top priority is handheld gaming convenience and longevity, the Steam Deck OLED remains your best option by far. For a refined Nintendo Switch-like experience with PC games, it simply has no equal. The added battery life and premium OLED screen only cement its status as the ultimate handheld gaming machine.

The Ultimate Handheld Gaming Upgrade

For existing Steam Deck owners, the OLED model is a must-have upgrade that meaningfully improves upon the original formula. Thanks to its superior display, battery life, and subtly enhanced design, the new iteration delivers the definitive Steam Deck experience.

The vibrant 7.4″ OLED screen is a real game-changer, making games look and feel significantly more immersive compared to the original’s muted LCD panel. The added battery capacity enables portable AAA gaming for the first time, doubling your playtime away from outlets. Refinements like a quieter fan, gripper thumbsticks and greater repairability address essentially every shortcoming of the inaugural Steam Deck.

Even as a first-time buyer, the OLED model makes the most sense. With double the base storage for the same price as before, better battery and an incredible display, it removes any reason to consider the original Steam Deck still being offered. Unless you find an LCD model heavily discounted, the OLED is absolutely worth the investment.

Make no mistake – the Steam Deck OLED is an iterative improvement rather than a revolutionary step forward. But the enhancements across the board combine to provide a markedly superior handheld gaming experience overall. Existing Steam Deck owners will find the upgrade meaningful and worthwhile. And newcomers now have an easy choice, getting Valve’s handheld vision in its best form yet right from the start. The OLED model is the definitive Steam Deck.

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