Valve took the world by storm by introducing Steam Deck, further developing the comeback of handheld devices started by Nintendo Switch. Following its success Asus introduced its ROG Ally and Lenovo its Legion Go.
And now we got the latest Steam Deck OLED. So, is it any better than its predecessor? If yes, then is it worth the upgrade? Stay with me to find out.
Steam Deck OLED vs Steam Deck LCD: shortly about differences
As the name of the product suggests Steam Deck OLED screen is the biggest change compared to the device’s previous version.
Here’s what’s new in Steam Deck OLED:
bigger 7.4″ OLED screen
new CPU built with 6nm process technology
512GB and 1TB storage option (64 GB and512 GB LCD model no longer available)
higher refresh rate up to 90Hz
bigger 50Whr battery
Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E
Display and Resolution
The biggest difference is of course its new OLED display, which comes with a range of upgrades.
It is now bigger, coming at 7.4″ compared to Steam Deck LCD 7″.
The original Steam Deck offered an LCD display with a 60Hz refresh rate and 400 nits typical brightness, while the new one offers up to 90Hz and a typical 600 nits brightness.
The new display will offer greater contrast levels with beautifully dark blacks. Not only that, the new Steam Deck comes with HDR, which will give you additional peak brightness of 1000 nits and vivid accurate colors.
The resolution in both devices is the same, 1280×800.
Specs
Diving into specification you will find a new AMD RDNA 2 processor built in 6nm process technology. But what does that mean?
Shortly, it means less distance between the transistors of a CPU, which gives you a faster and more power efficient processor. And for your new Steam Deck, it means a better performing device and gaming experience.
The battery life has seen an increase as well. Bigger 50Wh battery now offers a big boost in battery life and 3-12h of playing in comparison to 2-8h on the LCD model.
Steam Deck OLED offers an improved cooling system, which I really like to see. A cooler device is always a welcome addition in my book.
Both Steam Deck LCD and STeam Deck OLED offer 16GB of RAM.
Size and Weight
You will be happy to hear that Steam Deck OLED, despite having a bigger screen and a bigger battery, has the exact same dimensions as Steam Deck LCD.
And is even a bit lighter, just 29 grams, but it is awesome to see it’s neither bigger nor heavier than its counterpart.
Storage options
We see quite big changes in storage options and pricing between Steam Deck LCD and Steam Deck OLED. The 64GB and 512GB storage options will no longer be available with the Steam Deck LCD.
And the price is noticeably higher going from LCD to OLED.
Here’s how it looks:
Steam Deck LCD 256GB – 399$
Steam Deck OLED 512GB – 549$
Steam Deck OLED 1TB – 649$
Connectivity
Steam Deck OLED comes with better connections in Bluetooth 5.3, which means better audio performance and quicker, more stable connection with Bluetooth devices.
It also comes with improved Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, which will give a slight bump in download speeds.
Both are minor but welcomed upgrades.
User experience
The overall experience is going to be quite a bit better on Steam Deck OLED for a number of reasons. You get a bigger, brighter, and more color accurate OLED screen with a higher refresh rate.
You get a better battery life and a bit better performance from the device. And the connectivity will be a bit better and faster, but it won’t be a crazy difference.
All that in the same dimensions and a lower weight package.
Is it worth buying/upgrading?
If you don’t yet own your Steam Deck and won’t mind a bigger price (remember that the bigger price also means bigger storage) I would suggest going for the newer OLED model. The upgrade in specs is quite significant and definitely worth the price.
For people who would mind spending an additional 150$ for Steam Deck OLED, the LCD model will definitely be enough. It is still a great device. Worth buying, even with a newer model option.
If you’re a Steam Deck LCD user and are happy with your device I would suggest skipping the OLED model unless you’re a hardcore tech person who won’t mind getting the greatest and latest devices.
Both versions are a great option for portable PC gaming and are worth buying.
Thanks for reading. Happy gaming!
