The Steam Deck OLED improves much more than its screen
www.polygon.com
A better battery, faster refresh rate, and many tiny tweaks make the Steam Deck OLED hard to resist

This is the best coverage of the new Deck that I’ve seen yet.

Upgraded:

  • 7.4" OLED HDR screen with a 90hz refresh rate and 600 nits brightness(with 1000 nits peak brightness), (old screen 7" LCD with 60hz refresh and 400 nits brightness). Touchscreen accuracy and responsiveness is reportedly improved.

  • Longer battery life. Improvements to software and hardware are supposed to increase the battery life by 30-50%. New battery is 50wh vs original 40. Original decks will see some of this improvement thanks to software/bios updates, but not as much as the new Decks. The new Deck charges faster as well, charge from 20 to 80% battery in 45 min.

  • 6E wifi module for improved wifi speed.

  • Dedicated bluetooth module, allowing better audio quality over bluetooth and the option to wake the steam deck from a bluetooth controller. Will also support more controllers at once for multiplayer.

  • Faster RAM, 6400 MT/s vs 5500 MT/s on original.

  • More repairable. The screws are now torx, and all thread into metal screw holes. Should prevent stripped screws that were the most common issues with SSD replacements.

  • New carrying case, for the 1TB model, there’s an insert case inside the full size case. The insert can be pulled out and used as a slim carrying case when you don’t need full protection.

  • Weighs 5% less.

Prices:

$649 - 1TB OLED

$529 - 512GB OLED

$399 - 256GB LCD

For a limited time, Valve will sell a special edition 1TB OLED with a translucent shell for $679, only in the US and Canada. Expected to sell out quickly.

Note: I’m updating this as I get more information, so the written out info will change as I learn more.

    • DjMeas@lemm.ee
      12·
      1 year ago

      What’s funny for me is I have two gaming PCs and yet I play more games on the deck. It’s just easier for me to pop into games for an hour or so and suspend it when I’m done. So far I’ve beaten the Trails In The Sky trilogy (with each game taking me about 3-4 months to beat) and it’s been such a wonderful experience on the deck.

      • Diplomjodler@feddit.de
        5·
        1 year ago

        Same here. I built a new PC recently but I still play mainly on the deck. Sitting in front of the PC all day at work is enough.

    • beastlykings@sh.itjust.works
      6·
      1 year ago

      It’s funny because I was at a point where I wasn’t playing games at all really, not on my big PC, phone, or anywhere.

      I had pre-ordered the steam deck for my wife, and she used it a bit but when TotK came out that took all her attention playing on switch.

      I had poked around on the deck, played a few games, but didn’t love using a controller instead of mouse and keyboard.

      Then we had a gig where we had to sit in a car for 8 hours, and she convinced me to try playing horizon ZD. I had never played it, but I ended up really liking it. And the convenience of having it on the deck was great! I ended up playing it all the time, and beating it, and now I’m emulating BotW, playing it for the first time, and enjoying it.

      Now I’ve gone full crazy, I’m emulating a couple dozen games, got a bunch of others installed and waiting. I upgraded my SSD to 2tb, replaced my fan, and am eyeballing that clear back with RGB.

      My advice, if you can afford it, get it and just see what you think. You might like it!

      Or, if you don’t like it, you can resell it. The value of these things seems to stay reasonably high. Though I imagine we might see a drop in price with the flood of LCD models about to hit the market.

      • Mac@mander.xyz
        2·
        1 year ago

        Funny. I had bought one for my ex when we were together and played it a little. I really enjoyed playing games and messing with it. I had plans to do some emulation on it too.

        But now she’s gone and the Deck was a gift so it is too.

        I want one but i just don’t game much and i would never actually sell it. Lol

    • M137@lemm.ee
      6·
      1 year ago

      I really want a deck and would use it hours every day, but I can barely afford food.