I am a newcomer of this bright and beautiful world of OLED technology. Televisions, monitors, handheld gaming devices; there is a world of technology out there that has surpassed the LCD norm and I am finally dipping my toes in. When Nintendo announced their OLED Switch, it was met with a rather mixed response. On one hand people wanted a full revision and didn’t see the value in just an updated screen, and Valve seemed to have copied the playbook; albeit with a few changes. In true “sure you can copy my homework but make it look different” fashion, Valve’s updated Steam Deck OLED offers more than what we have come to expect from a mid-gen refresh.
You can find our original thoughts on the Steam Deck here
From Inside Out
Just to cut to the chase, the OLED model is very similar to the OG model when it comes to the raw specs. The AMD processor has been cut from being a 7 nm to a 6 nm node. We still have the 16GB LPDDR5 RAM running at 6400 MT/s (3200 MHz). Storage size is what has changed with the addition of a 1TB model. There is a bit of catch when it comes to the remaining storage sizes as the 64GB model has become completely discontinued. The 256GB model still only comes in the LCD display variant while the 512GB model have been moved into the OLED territory with its fellow 1TB compatriot.
Despite some of the internal changes, it is no surprise here to say that the 7.4” OLED display takes front and center. It’s glorious brightness and vivid colorization is leaps and bounds better than the original model. So much that it is becoming the new standard if you were to purchase a brand new Steam Deck and it makes sense as to why. Since the tech has drastically matured since its release, the OLED Steam Deck takes the picture quality to higher levels making even HDR brightness technology stand higher than it ever has before, giving you true 1,000 nits of brightness. Dark colors are incredibly accurate with the 1-million (plus) contrast ratio and 110% DCI-P3 color gamut. The OLED display is truly the game changer the modern gaming enthusiast needs.
The resolution of the display is still 1280 x 800 but we do get a boost in the refresh rate department. The original model could only hit 60 Hz while the OLED display can go higher, up to 90 Hz, which is a pretty sizable jump. A 0.1 ms response time also helps with reducing latency for a more responsive experience. With some less demanding titles like Gunbrella (keep your eyes out on a review), which fits into the 2D pixelated indie game genre, you could easily hit over the 60 Hz hurdle. With graphically demanding titles, such as Baldur’s Gate 3, your milage varied.
I also want to point out that the upgraded screen from 7 to 7.4” feels a bit better as the bezels have been thinned out, giving you more screen real estate. It is almost a whole night and day’s worth of drastic upgrades when it comes to what you are looking at. If you are someone who is gaming as much as they sleep, then the upgrade is quite worth it. If you are on the fence about upgrading, well, it isn’t all about the screen. There are a few other neat features about this wonderful device.
Form Factor
If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it, as the saying goes. Valve took that to heart as the OLED Steam Deck doesn’t really change anything in the overall form factor. The limited edition model does sport the traditional “Valve” orange accenting as well as a smokey transparent shell which speaks to me on a visceral level as a lover of the style. The joysticks feel a bit nicer in a way that makes me wonder if this is the Mandela Effect. They are smooth and feel less rough, but I have yet to throw myself at the mercy of titles like Elden Ring.
Another detail that became obvious to me from the second I lifted the OLED Steam Deck out of the case was the weight. It was quite noticeable but barely. When it comes to mobile devices, weight plays a bit part; it is no different here. I can say that while it feels a bit lighter it still has the bulk of the original model, sort of like me after going to the gym for a month; not many visual changes but I am a bit easier to pick up and kidnap.
Battery Life
In my original review of the Steam Deck I lacked a dedicate space to discuss the battery life of the device. I only took it on one long trip with me from New York to Boston for PAX East, but during that time I was absolutely fine as I had an outlet ready for me for whenever I needed it. This trend continues with my daily commute, but I can say with the addition of a 50 Watt-hour battery (an upgrade from the previous 40 Whr battery), a smaller 6 nm node, and a more optimize screen, the battery life has been improved.
Once again, it completely depends on what game you are playing. Titles like Halls of Torment, a Vampire Survivor-styled game doesn’t take up a lot of juice. Larger, more graphically demanding titles drains the battery in about three hours. Downloading games and keeping the screen active also results in that same runtime.
Recharging the device to full is actually quite quick. The included 45W USB-C charger offers Power Deliver 3.0 technology with an 8-foot long cable, which is an upgrade from the previous model which had a 5-foot long cable. Routing this cable around various equipment or livable areas so you can charge when needed is more than a godsend. I have a 95W charger in my home office and a 65W charger at my work office and both recharge the Steam Deck OLED up to max quite fast.
Other Improvements
The OLED Steam Deck also includes Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 which are both improvements over the Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5.0 technology. This means that you can use the 6E wireless networking protocol for faster and more efficient downloading as long as your router can has that option available. Within the Bluetooth space, the 5.3 wireless interface offers a stronger connection with devices backed by improved subrating, channel classification, and a better Host Controller Interface (HCI), all working together to provide greater power efficiency. This provides you with a more optimized wireless experience for your game downloads and your peripheral usage, great if you also have a Steam Deck Dock.
For those who want the 1TB model, there is a new hardshell case that is overall one of the best design features I have seen. The outer shell can be removed, giving your Steam Deck a slim outer shell, ideal for those who have limited rooms in their backpacks or already have a safe spot within their carry on or luggage. It uses various hook and loop straps to secure itself within the outer shell. It is clearly one of the design features that has been inspired by owners who wish for something more compact yet protective.
Software
Currently, the Steam Deck OLED is running a newer hardware variant, version 3.5 which is absolutely amazing when it comes to establishing a baseline experience. As an early adopter, I found SteamOS to be quite problematic, but updates were constantly being delivered on almost a daily basis. This latest iteration has the system running smooth as butter with way less hiccups. Players are now getting a real solid experience here on day 1. If you want to leverage something like Game Pass, you can install Windows on the Steam Deck OLED but your experience is going to vary; I’d wait till Valve eventually adds dual boot functionality which is said to be coming soon.
Pricing & Should I Upgrade?
Money is king, as we all know and this is purely the make or break point for people out there, especially for a device that released just a few weeks before the holidays. As of right now, the 64GB and 512GB LCD Steam Deck models are discounted but still in Valve warehouses with limited quantities at $349.99 and $449.99, respectively, while the 256GB LCD is sitting at the $399.99 price point. As for the OLED models, the bars have been only slightly adjusted here with the 512GB at $549.99 and the 1TB model at $649.99.
That being said, the golden question still looms overhead; should I upgrade? The answer isn’t as cut and dry. If you are not a current Steam Deck owner, there is no better time to buy than right now. If you are an early adopter who has played their device in and out since launch, I could say an upgrade is entirely feasible. As someone who has done full game reviews on the device, I feel like it is worth it.
Now that I spent as much time discussing the financial aspects, I have to say that I loved the original Steam Deck with all of my heart. It is my ride-or-die commuter friend, it has accompanied me through my many Vampire Survivors runs and it helped my wife enjoy some Baldur’s Gate 3 while she was sick in bed. The OLED takes that amazing experience and greatly improves on it. Valve has stated that we won’t see a full hardware revision until 2025 at the latest, so here’s hoping that they don’t announce it next month! After all, Valve isn’t Apple.
