Valve announced the Steam Deck OLED, a new model of their gaming handheld device Steam Deck. Read on to know more about the new device and Valve’s future plans for the Steam Deck product line.
New Steam Deck OLED Announced
Steam Deck OLED to be Released on Nov 16, 2023
Valve is set to release an upgraded version of its own handheld gaming device, the Steam Deck, incorporating several improvements based on user feedback. The Steam Deck OLED, slated for release on November 16, 2023, comes with improvements including a higher-resolution display and enhanced visuals, extended battery life, and other additional refinements. However, it maintains the same internal specifications as the original Steam Deck. It will be lighter, quieter, and cooler than its predecessor.
Product designer Lawrence Yang expressed excitement about the device, stating, This new version of the Steam Deck was inspired by months of customer feedback. It’s all the things we wish we could have done.
Steam Deck OLED Key Features and Tech Specs
Key features of the Steam Deck OLED include a 30-50% increase in battery life, a 50Wh battery allowing for 3-12 hours of gameplay, and the integration of Wifi 6E for improved bandwidth and lower latency. The device is also equipped with a larger fan, updated thermals, and a weight reduction of approximately 5% compared to the LCD model.
The OLED screen boasts a 1280x800 resolution, a 90 Hz refresh rate, and a 6 nm APU with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM. The active screen area has been increased to 7.4 inches, and peak brightness has been upgraded to 1000 nits.
Notable improvements in touchscreen capabilities include a polling rate of 180Hz, enhanced latency, and accuracy. Additionally, the trackpad haptics have been significantly improved for better feel and precision.
Valve will offer the Steam Deck OLED in three storage variants: 512GB for $549, 1TB for $649, and a limited edition 1TB model featuring a smoky translucent colorway for $679. The limited edition model will be available in the United States and Canada in limited quantities.
While no exclusive content tailored to the OLED version is planned for launch, Valve assured users that their existing and upcoming titles will be optimized for the new device over time. “A lot of folks at the company are excited about this product,” Yang said. “We are very invested in the Steam Deck.”
Steam Deck 2 Not Yet Ready
“Obviously we'd love to get even more performance in the same power envelope, but that technology doesn't exist yet," Valve hardware engineer Yazan Aldehayyat said. “That's what I think we'd call a Steam Deck 2. We would love for the trend of performance-per-watt to progress rapidly to do that, but it's not quite there yet.”
Valve clarified that a Steam Deck 2 is not in the works for the near future. Engineers at Valve explained that the technology needed to launch a handheld device with a significant performance upgrade does not yet exist. Aldehayyat stated, "even more performance" is the key factor for a potential Steam Deck 2, but the necessary technology has not yet advanced to that stage.
