Valve launches OLED version of the Steam Deck

Valve

Valve has unveiled the Steam Deck OLED, the next iteration of its portable gaming PC, over a year after launching the original Steam Deck.

The new model will be released on November 16 and boasts an enhanced OLED display, better audio, and a handful of quality-of-life improvements. It also promises a significant increase in battery life, with Valve estimating a 30 percent to 50 percent improvement over the launch version.

The Steam Deck OLED will come in two storage options: 512GB and 1TB, priced at US$549 (around CA$758) and US$649 (~CA$896), respectively. Like its predecessor, it will also have a microSD card slot. Pre-orders will open next week.

Valve The main difference between the new and old models is the display. The Steam Deck OLED will feature a 7.4-inch HDR OLED screen, slightly larger than the seven-inch LCD touchscreen display on the original model. The dimensions of the handheld will remain the same, but the bezels will be slightly smaller on the new model.

Another notable upgrade is the new 50Whr battery—better than the 40Whr battery on the launch model. This is a welcome addition, as battery performance was one of the main drawbacks of the Steam Deck at launch. Valve also claims that the new model will charge faster.

The new model will also be lighter and cooler than the launch model, thanks to updated thermals and a weight reduction of about 30 grams. The form factor will remain the same, though.

Valve

The Steam Deck OLED does not offer any performance improvement either. The OLED screen has a higher 90Hz refresh rate. But it still has the same native resolution of 1280x800. It also has a Wi-Fi 6E module that allows faster download speeds or improved online gaming performance, depending on the internet connection and router.

You shouldn't consider the Steam Deck OLED as a sequel to the Steam Deck. Valve has previously stated that it will not release a Steam Deck 2 until at least 2025. Instead, the new model is more of a refinement, similar to the Nintendo Switch (OLED Model) that was released over two years ago.

Valve is sticking with an all-black colour scheme for the Steam Deck, but it is not ruling out the possibility of making more colour variants. Valve told IGN in a recent interview that it has experimented with and thought about other colour options, but it makes no guarantees about adding more. For now, they want to see how customers "feel about" the new Limited Edition option.

Valve

There is a Steam Deck OLED model with a translucent design. It'll only be available in Canada and the US. And it'll only be available in the 1TB option. Valve will throw in an exclusive carrying case. It will cost US$679 (~CA$937), which is US$30 more than the regular 1TB Steam Deck OLED. 

Valve is also lowering the price of its LCD models, and plans to discontinue the 64GB and 512GB LCD models. 

The new prices for the LCD models are as follows: 

• 64GB Model - US$349/~CA$482 (previously US$399/~CA$551)
• 256GB Model - $399 (previously US$529/~CA$730)
• 512GB - US$449/CA$620 (previously US$649)

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