Valve has introduced the Steam Deck OLED. It is the first significant evolution of the console that aims to offer users more than just a change in the display panel. Although the improvements are not drastic, they can help ensure that the Steam Deck continues to hold a privileged place in an industry where there are proposals attempting to have some resemblance.
The Steam Deck entered the gaming world in February 2022 as a different proposal. We were faced with a versatile device that presented itself as more than just a portable gaming console and, as if that weren’t enough, offered the possibility to enjoy demanding franchises such as ‘God of War’ and ‘Tomb Raider.’ This proposition has just improved.
Technical Specifications of The New Steam Deck OLED
| Specification | Details |
| Size and Weight | |
| Dimensions | 298 mm x 117 mm x 49 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 640 grams |
| Processor | |
| AMD 6nm APU | CPU: Zen 2, 4 cores/8 threads, 2.4-3.5 GHz (up to 448 GFLOPS FP32) GPU: RDNA 2 with 8 compute units, 1.6 GHz (1.6 TFLOPS FP32) APU Power Consumption: 4-15 W |
| RAM | |
| Integrated LPDDR5 RAM | 16 GB (four 32-bit channels, 6400 MT/s) |
| Storage | |
| SSD NVMe Storage | 512 GB (Steam Deck) 1 TB (Steam Deck) Both include a high-speed microSD card slot |
| Controls | |
| Buttons | A, B, X, Y D-pad Analog L and R triggers Front-facing L and R buttons View and Menu buttons 4 assignable grip buttons |
| Analog Sticks | 2 full-size with capacitive touch |
| Trackpads | 2 square, 32.5 mm sides, with haptic feedback |
| Gyroscope | 6-axis IMU |
| Display | |
| OLED HDR Screen | 1280 x 800 pixels (16:10 aspect ratio) 7.4″ diagonal 1000 nits peak brightness (HDR) 600 nits (SDR) 90 Hz Touchscreen |
| Connectivity | |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 (compatible with controllers, accessories, and audio) |
| Wifi | Triple-band 6E, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz, 2 x 2 MIMO, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax |
| Audio | |
| Stereo | Integrated DSP for surround sound Dual microphone array 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack Multichannel audio via DisplayPort through USB-C, standard USB-C, or Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Power and Battery | |
| Power | 45 W USB Type C PD3.0 power supply |
| Battery | 50 Wh, 3 to 12 hours of gameplay |
| External Connectivity | |
| USB-C | Supports DisplayPort 1.4 alternate mode; up to 8K at 60 Hz or 4K at 120 Hz, USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Software | |
| Operating System | SteamOS 3.0 (based on Arch Linux) |
| Price | |
| Steam Deck OLED 1 TB | $639 |
| Steam Deck OLED 512 GB | $449 |
Steam Deck OLED, Much More Than a New Display Panel
Aesthetically, the new Steam Deck OLED is practically identical to the original version. The design, button layout, and ports faithfully maintain their essence. However, the device comes with an enhanced screen and a larger diagonal. We have made the leap from a 7-inch diagonal LDC panel to a 7.4-inch diagonal OLED panel with much slimmer bezels.
The introduction of this new display technology translates into other improvements in this section. While there are no changes in resolution, there are changes in brightness, which can now offer peaks of 1,000 nits in HDR, and in refresh rate, which scales from 60 Hz to 90 Hz. The screen promises deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and better motion reproduction.
As we say, the novelties go beyond the screen. Valve has also updated the connectivity section, providing the device with support for Wifi 6E, wireless technology that opens the door to higher bandwidth and, pay attention to this point, lower latency. How does this benefit us? On paper, in faster downloads and more stable online gaming sessions.
The battery has also improved. The Steam Deck OLED has a 50 Wh battery that promises up to 12 hours of gameplay. The original model, let’s remember, has a 40 Wh battery that offers up to 8 hours of gameplay. Changes under the hood also include a renewed thermal system with a larger fan. Now, the console weighs 640 grams, meaning it is 5% lighter.
Price and Availability
The new Steam Deck OLED will be available from November 16th. This update will be sold in 512 GB and 1 TB versions. The arrival of the new model has also resulted in a price drop for the Steam Deck (LCD) with 64 GB and 512 GB until stocks run out. Let’s see how the new pricing scheme for Valve’s console looks.
- Steam Deck OLED 1 TB: $639
- Steam Deck OLED 512 GB: $449
- Steam Deck LCD 256 GB: $399
- Steam Deck LCD 64 GB: $349
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