Valve has officially announced Steam Deck OLED, an improved model with a better screen, longer battery life, and other features.
In spite of its superior specs over the original, Valve is still considering Steam Deck OLED to be part of the first generation of the product. Furthermore, much of its internal hardware matches the LCD model, but nearly everything else has been enhanced. This new model comes in two different storage configurations in addition to a Limited Edition model. Pre-orders begin November 16.
Models and Pricing
Steam Deck OLED is coming in three storage configurations, including 512GB, 1TB, and a Limited Edition model only available in North America. Both the 1TB and Limited Editions models will include an etched-glass finish for the screen. The Limited Edition will be produced in a finite quantity and offer an exclusive translucent colorway with a design printed on the inside of the carrying case.
| Model | Price |
| 512GB Steam Deck OLED | $549 |
| 1TB Steam Deck OLED | $649 |
| 1TB Steam Deck Limited Edition (NA only) | $679 |
Preorders for Steam Deck OLED start November 16 at 10 AM PT. This includes all three models, which will likely be shipping soon after. In addition, the original LCD models have had each of their prices drop as of now.
| Model | Price |
| 64GB Steam Deck LCD | $349 |
| 256GB Steam Deck LCD | $399 |
| 512GB Steam Deck LCD | $449 |
HDR OLED Display
The key feature of the new Steam Deck is the HDR OLED display, which Valve proudly claims is the first handheld to offer this kind of screen.
Due to the fact that many titles on Steam have native HDR support, this new model will be able to take advantage of this graphical technology without the need for developers to put in patches.
Moreover, the display is larger than the LCD model at 7.4″ (up from 7″) given the smaller bezel, and a 90Hz refresh rate (up from 60 Hz). The LE and 1TB models include an anti-flare etched-glass finish on top of the screen.
Longer Battery Life
The new model offers a 50Whr battery (up from 40Whr). While this doesn’t officially confirm how much more time you can use the OLED model on a single charge compared to the original LCD model, the variance will likely be great due to the performance demand of specific games.
Lighter Weight
Steam Deck OLED is approximately 5% lighter than the original LCD. Weight varies depending on configuration, but Valve claims the average is 640g (down from 669g). Furthermore, the dimensions come in at 298mm x 117mm x 50mm. This is 1mm taller than the LCD because of the redesigned thumbsticks.
Gamers will have additional options for portability with the 1TB version, thanks to the new case offering a removable inner shell.
Faster Downloads
The new model offers a Wi-Fi 6E module to make use of 6Ghz spectrums if connected to a supported router. This ensures download speeds are 2-3 times faster than the original LCD model.
Performance and Thermals
- APU shrink to 6nm (down from 7nm) to improve power savings
- 6400 MT/s memory to improve latency and power management
- Larger fan to improve thermal performance
- Faster resume time (~30%)
Touchscreen and Haptics
- Higher polling rate (180Hz) to improve responsiveness, accuracy, and consistency
- Lower latency
- Redesigned trackpad to improve haptics, fidelity, and edge detection
Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.3 module includes a dedicated antenna to improve the use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth at the same time
- Improved connectivity, especially when docked
- Support for Audio Codecs like Aptx low latency and Aptx HD
- Can wake using Bluetooth controller
Comparing Steam Deck OLED vs. Steam Deck LCD
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the general tech specs for the new Steam Deck OLED vs. the old Steam Deck LCD.
| Spec | Steam Deck OLED (new) | Steam Deck LCD (original) |
| Display | OLED | LCD |
| Capacity | 512GB | 1TB | 64GB | 256GB | 512GB |
| Storage | NVMe SSD | NVMe SSD | HD |
| Screen | 7.4″ | 7″ |
| Resolution | 1280×800 | 1280×800 |
| Refresh | 90Hz | 60Hz |
| APU | 6nm | 7nm |
| Wi-Fi | 6E | 5 |
| Battery | 50Whr (3-12 hours) | 40Whr (2-8 hours) |
| Pwr. Supply | 45W (2.5m cable) | 45W (1.5m cable) |
| Weight | 640g | 669g |
| Brightness | 1000 nit peak | 400 nit peak |