Valve, known for their gaming platform Steam, has captured the hearts of gamers worldwide with their powerhouse portable gaming device, the Steam Deck. With fans eagerly adapting to the system's immense game library and retro gaming capabilities, Valve has now decided to introduce an upgrade: the Steam Deck OLED. This new model boasts an OLED screen, replacing the LCD panel from the original device, giving it a visual overhaul that breathes new life into every game played on it without improving the device's raw processing power.
The Steam Deck OLED is offered in two storage options, 512GB and 1TB, priced at approximately £479.00/$549 and £569/$649, respectively. Its design remains largely unchanged, save for some minor color adjustments and a more grippy texture on the analog sticks.
Valve has made a point of enhancing the device's battery, offering 50Whr compared to the original's 40Whr, which translates to a more reliable playing time ranging from 3 to 12 hours. This longevity was one of the main critiques of the original model, so the improvement is notable.
Network connectivity also gets an upgrade with the addition of WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring that the device is future-proof in terms of wireless technology standards. The Steam Deck OLED also trims down on the storage options by removing 64GB and 256GB SKUs, putting 512GB as the baseline, which can still be expanded using a microSD card.
Steam Deck OLED's versatility isn't limited to just modern gaming – it also excels in retro gaming and emulation. The device makes it easy to set up and play classic games, even allowing you to neatly organize and add these emulators to your Steam library. The new 6 nm "Sephiroth" chip offers slight performance enhancements that help older games run smoother, even though these may also be due to improvements within the emulator software rather than the hardware alone.
Despite these new tweaks, if you're hoping for the Steam Deck OLED to play the most demanding AAA games flawlessly, it might not meet those expectations. While there are subtle improvements in how games feel, due to reduced latency and the more responsive 90 Hz screen, overall performance in graphically-intensive games won't differ much from its predecessor. That's not to say gamers won't find the upgrades worthwhile – colors are brighter and more vibrant, loading may feel snappier due to the improved hardware, and the improved battery life extends playtime between charges.
So, is it worth upgrading if you already own the original Steam Deck? It truly depends on how much value you place on the enhancements made. The Steam Deck OLED primarily offers aesthetic and comfort benefits – the visually superior screen, the cooler and quieter operation, and the longer battery life. These upgrades could be enough to justify the purchase for some users. However, if you're satisfied with your current device or place greater emphasis on performance changes, it might be wise to wait for a more significant overhaul in the future, such as a potential Steam Deck 2.
For newcomers to the portable gaming scene or those looking to jump onto the Steam Deck bandwagon, the OLED model is undoubtedly the best entry point. While not being the most powerful handheld console compared to competitors like those from AYANEO or ASUS, its balance of performance, price, and convenience – with a user-friendly interface and easy setup – makes it one of the best portable gaming devices currently available. The Steam Deck OLED shines as a premium choice in portable gaming, blending the robustness of Valve's ecosystem with the allure of crisp OLED visuals and improved hardware efficiencies.
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