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Valve has announced a remodeled Steam Deck model with a higher-quality display, better battery life, more storage capacity, and more. The Steam Deck OLED is still being called a part of the “first-generation” Steam Deck family, so it mostly packs the same internal hardware specs as the LCD model and plays the same games, but it’s been improved in almost every other way. The upgraded model comes in two different storage configurations, as well as a special Limited-edition model. It goes on sale surprisingly soon, with preorders beginning on November 16.
Table of Contents [hide]HDR OLED displayBetter battery lifeLighter and more portableFaster downloadsOther specsPerformance and ThermalsTouchscreenBluetoothHapticsAudioErgonomicsPowerModels, pricing, and preorders
HDR OLED display
The headliner feature is the new HDR OLED display, which Valve brags makes it the first handheld to sport such a screen. Since many games on Steam already have native HDR support, the new model will be able to display these without any further work or patches on the part of developers. The display is also slightly larger at 7.4″, up from 7″, due to a smaller bezel, and has a 90Hz refresh rate, up from 60Hz. The 1TB and LE models also feature an anti-glare etched-glass finish on the screen.
HDR OLEDWide color gamut – 110% P3Pure blacks – million to one contrast ratioImproved, more responsive touchscreenLarger 7.4” picture (up from 7” due to smaller bezel)90Hz refresh rate (up from 60Hz)1000 nit peak brightness (up from 400 nits)<0.1 ms response timeMore power efficientPremium anti-glare etched glass (1TB and Limited Edition models only)
Better battery life
In addition to the OLED screen promising to be more power efficient, the new model also sports a larger, 50Whr battery, up from 40Whr. This is alongside an updated AMD APU that is said to contribute to better battery life. The announcement didn’t give exact specs on how much this will improve battery life, but with the prior Steam Deck, it varied greatly based on the performance demands of individual games.
Lighter and more portable
The updated Steam Deck is also about 5% lighter than the LCD model. The weight varies by configuration, but Valve says it averages out to around 640 grams, a reduction from the 669-gram LCD model. Its dimensions come in at 298mm x 117mm x 50mm–just 1mm taller, which Valve attributes to redesigned thumbsticks.
The 1TB version will also include a new case with a removable inner shell, giving you more options for portability.
Faster downloads
The new model includes some other under-the-hood changes to make connectivity and downloads faster. Those include a wi-fi 6E module, which means it can use the 6Ghz spectrum if you have a supported router. Valve says this will offer download speeds that are 2-3 times faster than the LCD model.
Other specs
A variety of other aspects of the system have changed, as well. The aforementioned updated APU is now a 6nm chip and the system will resume games “roughly” 30% faster. The touchscreen should also be more responsive, the speakers can reach higher volumes, and the battery can be charged more quickly. The system itself should now be easier to take apart and repair, thanks to adjustments to number and types of screws, among other things.
Performance and Thermals
APU die-shrink from 7nm to 6nm for power savings6400 MT/s memory, improves latency, more power managementImproved thermal performance due to larger fanFaster resume time by roughly 30%
Touchscreen
Vastly improved responsivenessHigher polling rate (180Hz)Lower latency, better accuracy and consistency
Bluetooth
BT 5.3 module with a dedicated antenna for better experience when using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi simultaneouslyBetter connectivity, especially while dockedNow supports more Audio Codec’s like Aptx HD and Aptx low latencySupports wake via Bluetooth controller
Haptics
Improved, higher fidelity hapticsRedesigned trackpad for improved fidelity and edge detection
Audio
Louder speakers with improved bassOnboard mic can now be used simultaneously as headphone jack
Ergonomics
30g, or ~5% lighterImproved thumbstick texture and geometry for more comfort and control
Power
Redesigned power supply with longer cable (2.5m vs 1.5m)Faster charging with improved battery chemistry, 20%-80% in as little as 45 minutesWRGB charging LED
Models, pricing, and preorders
The Steam Deck OLED comes in three configurations: a 512GB, a 1TB, and a Limited-edition model that will only be available in the US and Canada. The 1TB and Limited edition come with the etched-glass finish on the OLED screen. As the name suggests, the Limited edition is only being produced in limited quantities, but it comes with an exclusive translucent colorway and has an exclusive design printed on the inside of the carrying case. The pricing breaks down as follows:
512GB Steam Deck OLED – $5491TB Steam Deck OLED – $6491TB Steam Deck Limited Edition – $679
Preorders for the Steam Deck OLED begin on November 16 at 10 AM PT. That will include all three of the new models, and it sounds as if they’ll begin shipping immediately. In the meantime, though, the LCD models have gotten a price drop that takes effect immediately:
64GB Steam Deck LCD – $349 ($399)256GB Steam Deck LCD – $399 ($529)512GB Steam Deck LCD – $449 ($649)
