The Valve Steam Deck has long been a head-turner among gamers thanks to its portability and power, especially for PC gamers. But now, the Steam Deck is back and better than ever before. The new OLED version boasts a high dynamic range screen, which means that colors are more vibrant and images are sharper than yesterday's model. This feature alone makes it worth upgrading to the OLED version when it comes to some gamers, but there are other improvements as well. Just like the Nintendo Switch, you have to really want that bump up in visual clarity to shell out more green, but at the same time, it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling when I see collectors with various models of a system.
One of the most notable improvements is the longer-lasting battery. The OLED version can provide up to 8 hours of gameplay on a single charge, which is a significant improvement over the original version. This means that you can play longer without having to worry about running out of battery life.
In addition to the longer battery life, the OLED version also has faster downloads. This is thanks to the improved Wi-Fi hardware, which can download games and updates at a much faster rate than before. This means that you can spend less time waiting for your games to download and more time playing them.
Of course, all of these improvements come at a cost. The OLED version is available in two models, the 512GB version for $549.00 and the 1TB version for $649.00. This may be a bit steep for some gamers, but the improved features are definitely worth the investment for some gamers.
Parents in the market for gifts: If your teen doesn't have a Steam Deck, the upgrade could certainly be worth the investment... if you'd got it like that. It takes their existing games on PC (via their Steam account) and gives them the ability to enjoy their games on the go. If you're accustomed to buying them game multiple times throughout the year... the savings will ultimately surpass the initial investment if you're looking to get them a new system. They aren't locked behind a paywall with the Steam Deck if they want to play online. If you have internet, they have access to play online multiplayer.
If you choose to stick to discounted games... and a few new releases for the year, your gamers win because the Steam deals have a reputation of being crazy good. At the same time... I gotta keep it real, if you're big on Nintendo... you're saving some serious green if you get your hands on the Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle for $299.00, but they'll make that money back with the price of the games + that paywall (although it's fairly inexpensive). By the way, you get 3 months of online play included in this bundle.
Anyway, if you're not ready to upgrade to the Steam Deck OLED version just yet, don't worry. The original version is still available at a reduced price ranging from $349.00 to $449.00. This is a great option for gamers who want to try out the Steam Deck but don't want to spend too much money.
However, if you're a true gaming enthusiast, you might want to consider the limited edition Steam Deck OLED. This version comes with a see-through shell, which gives it a unique and futuristic look. Quantities are limited, so if you want to get your hands on one, you'll need to act fast before they're all gone.
Overall, the Valve Steam Deck OLED is an improvement over the original version. With its improved screen, longer battery life, and faster downloads, it should please those who score one. Steam Deck OLED is available November 16 If you want to take advantage of the lower-priced LCD version, get it before it's gone because the existing units are the last ones Valve intends to manufacture.
You won't get a big difference between processors in the LCD & OLED versions, but the refresh rates and response times are very different... along with some additional upgrades.
The LCD version serves up 60 Hz, has the OLED version delivers 90Hz w/ <0.1 ms, but... the LCD version has a 7" screen, the OLED has a 7.4" screen. 5.0 Bluetooth is in the LCD version while 5.3 Bluetooth is in the OLED version. See more... here!
