Valve recently introduced its upgraded handheld gaming console Steam Deck OLED. It is the successor to Steam Deck which was introduced back in 2021. The Steam Deck OLED introduces subtle yet impactful design refinements when compared to its predecessor. The standout change is the adoption of a new OLED display, boasting a slightly larger size and an enhanced refresh rate. Notably, the reduction in bezel size contributes to a more contemporary appearance. In this detailed article, I will explain the differences between Steam Deck OLED and Steam Deck.
Steam Deck OLED vs Steam Deck
First of all, have a look at the comparison table.
| Feature | Steam Deck | Steam Deck OLED |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 7-inch 60Hz IPS LCD | 7.4-inch 90Hz RGB-stripe OLED custom Samsung screen |
| APU | 7nm AMD “Zen 2” + RDNA 2 | 6nm AMD “Zen 2” + RDNA 2 |
| Memory | 5500MT/s | 6400MT/s |
| Fan | Smaller, louder | Larger, quieter |
| Heatsink | Smaller | Larger |
| Speakers | Quieter | Louder |
| Thumbsticks | Shorter | Taller |
| Button printing | Lighter | Darker |
| Haptics | Standard | Higher fidelity |
| Trackpad | Standard | Redesigned for improved fidelity and edge detection |
| Touchscreen polling rate | 120Hz | 180Hz |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Battery | 40 watt-hour | 50 watt-hour |
| Power cable length | 1.5m | 2.5m |
| Quoted battery life | 2 to 8 hours | 3 to 12 hours |
| Indicator LED | Single color | Multi-color |
| Starting price | $400 | $549 |
Design enhancements encompass a revamped fan and heatsink, both larger and more efficient. This alteration aids in maintaining the device’s temperature at optimal levels, resulting in a quieter operation even during demanding usage. Additionally, the thumbsticks have undergone a subtle elevation for improved comfort during usage.
A visually striking multi-color indicator LED is a new addition, offering at-a-glance information on crucial device parameters such as battery life and charging status.
The new Steam Deck OLED has some cool improvements compared to the old Steam Deck. The biggest change is the fancy OLED screen, which gives you better colors and angles to look at. The screen is now 7.4 inches, a bit bigger than the old 7-inch one. The images and games look even smoother because they increased the refresh rate from 60Hz to 90Hz. It’s like making your games and animations extra smooth and fun to watch.
Steam Deck OLED also comes with a more efficient 6nm AMD “Sephiroth” APU as compared to the 7nm AMD “Aerith” in the predecessor.
Other notable spec enhancements include a larger battery capacity (50 watt-hour vs. 40 watt-hour), faster memory (6400MT/s vs. 5500MT/s), and a redesigned fan and heatsink. In terms of connectivity, the Steam Deck OLED boasts Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, surpassing the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 capabilities of the original Steam Deck.
The Steam Deck OLED signifies a substantial leap in performance over its predecessor. This is attributed to the accelerated memory and the more efficient fan-heatsink combination. Consequently, the Steam Deck OLED excels in running games at elevated settings and frame rates, outperforming the original Steam Deck.
Remaining consistent with its predecessor, the Steam Deck OLED operates on the same SteamOS software. SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system designed exclusively for gaming. It retains its gaming-centric features, including a built-in controller mapping system and a performance overlay.
Steam Deck OLED incorporates a larger battery and promises an improved battery life. The company claims that Steam Deck OLED can offer 3 to 12 hours of battery life depending on the game you play. If you compare the battery life with its predecessor, Steam Deck with LCD display promises 2 to 8 hours of battery life.
The new Steam Deck OLED has the same processor, the same 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, and the same NVMe M.2 2230 SSD storage modules. Other things that have not been changed are potentiometer joysticks, buttons, case compatibility, screen resolution, aspect ratio, microSD card slot placement, game compatibility, and same power supply wattage.
Conclusion
The Steam Deck OLED emerges as a potent and versatile gaming device, surpassing its predecessor in display quality, performance, and battery size. However, it is important to note that these enhancements come at a higher price point.
For those seeking the pinnacle of handheld gaming experiences and are willing to invest, the Steam Deck OLED stands as the superior choice. On the other hand, for budget-conscious consumers, the original Steam Deck remains an excellent gaming option.
