New OLED Steam Deck price and specs explained

William Davis Published 16/11/2023

The newest Steam Deck packs an OLED screen, but that’s far from the only upgrade to the device.

Ever since the Steam Deck was first released in early 2022, fans have been clamoring to upgrade the device. While the platform’s software has become a modder’s paradise, the actual physical components are challenging to update. Valve has finally decided to take it upon itself to give fans an upgrade path, and as of November 26, 2023, it’s not possible to buy an upgraded Deck with an OLED screen, improved Wi-Fi, longer batter, and more.

The new OLED Steam Deck was announced shortly before its official release, and it’s now available to purchase directly from the Steam Store. It comes in three different versions, including a special limited edition. The $550 version comes with a 512 gigabyte SSD, while the $650 edition packs a full terabyte.

The $680 limited edition OLED Steam Deck combines the terabyte SSD with a translucent plastic body, orange stick bases, and a special carrying case. 

In addition to the new OLED display, all of the new models come with upgraded 6E Wi-Fi connectivity and an improved battery. Valve boasts up to 50% longer uptime for the new models, depending on the game. Lastly, the new model comes with a new cooling solution meant to keep the console’s heat output in check. All of this somehow winds up being slightly lighter than the original model as well.

Is it worth upgrading from the normal Steam Deck to OLED?

For gamers who already have a Steam Deck, the question becomes whether or not upgrading to the OLED screen and enhanced internals is worth it. This depends on several factors, including the potential release of an even better Steam Deck later on.

The new features could be enough to sway potential buyers who were on the fence before. The OLED model is a strict upgrade in every sense. The price point is slightly higher, but the older Steam Deck models are now on permanent sale for budget gamers until Valve runs out of stock. Users who already have a Steam Deck may not benefit much from the upgrades, but anyone yet to join the ecosystem now has an excellent jumping-on point.

However, all of that goes out the window with the potential of an even better Steam Deck in the future. Valve personnel have previously hinted that an actual Steam Deck 2 is in the development pipeline. The release date for such a device is probably set for 2025 or later, and this is clearly more of a Steam Deck 1.5. If you’re willing to wait even longer, it may be worth skipping out, buying used, or picking up one of the discounted older models.

Read Also

Kick

Brand Risk announces BRP14: Full fight card, price, and date details Hannan Mundia Adin Ross’ Brand Risk Promotions has just announced its BRP14 fight night event, and it will feature highly popular influencers such as Johnny Manziel and Bob Menery. Adin Ross' Brand Risk series of influencer fighting events has outlived the likes of Misfits Boxing and Kingpin. Some of the biggest previous matches included Charleston White vs. Kodiyakredd, and BRP14 hopes to up the stakes. Being the 14th event from this promotion ...

Esports Betting

Esports World Cup to move to Paris for 2026 as reports confirm rumors Michael Hassall The Esports World Cup 2026 will make the dramatic move to Paris, France, confirming a plethora of rumors that hit the esports scene earlier this month. A dramatic report from GamesBeat peeled back the veil on behind the scenes talks that had seen stakeholders informed that the event would move to the French capital for the 2026 edition. Now Esports’ largest event will seemingly head to Paris, ditching Riyadh, Saudi ...

News

EA announces FC Pro Mobile 2026 esports ecosystem with World Championship Titas Khan Electronic Arts has confirmed the launch of EA FC Pro Mobile, the official esports ecosystem for the mobile title. With the rising popularity of both mobile esports and FC Mobile, it was only a matter of time before an organized esports ecosystem came along. FC is already one of the biggest video game franchises of all time. EA has confirmed that the first season of FC Pro Mobile will conclude ...

News

The dreaded Nintendo Switch 2 price hike is here Zachary Roberts If there were complaints about the Nintendo Switch 2 pricing when it launched, things are about to get a whole lot louder. Nintendo has officially announced an incoming price hike for its latest console. However, prospective players still have the chance to get it at the old cost for a little while longer. From now until September 1, the Nintendo Switch 2 is going to be available brand-new for $450 ...

GTA

When is the GTA 6 next trailer? Latest Trailer 3 rumors explained Zachary Roberts Looking for GTA 6's next trailer? Plenty of the world is, as anticipation for this title continues to rise. It has perhaps been the most anticipated video game of all time since its initial announcement, despite multiple delays. Every crumb of marketing is gobbled up. We've seen two trailers so far, with both doing an excellent job of building the hype. Naturally, a third one before the November 19 release ...

News

Will Half-Life 3 be released this year? Prediction markets are split Michael Hassall Half-Life 3 is one of the true unicorns of gaming, a sequel that could revolutionize the industry, conclude a decades-long narrative, and finally quash the slander that developer Valve can’t count to three. And yet there’s no official signs that the game is on the horizon. But with rumors swirling, teases and activity extracted by data miners, and Valve characteristically silent on all fronts, why do 24% of predictors on ...

GTA

Will will GTA VI be delayed (again)? The prediction markets don’t think so Michael Hassall Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA6) is on track to be one of the important gaming titles not just of 2026, but of this generation. With the game expected to set a new standard in the gaming industry, as well as a new pricing standard, anticipation for what many expect to be a game of the year, is high. The open-world crime action game is slated for release later this year, ...