Introduction: Valve’s Approach to Listening to Customers
I recently purchased two Steam Deck OLEDs, and I’m convinced that Valve truly listens to its customers. Let me explain why.https://youtu.be/WmSNFRmG6Q8
Quick Overview of the New Steam Deck OLED
When the Steam Deck OLEDs went on sale, I was quick to go online and check them out. One of the first things I noticed was that Valve had lowered prices and phased out the 64 GB and 512 GB models. I was a bit frustrated that I couldn’t place my order right away, but after several attempts, I successfully ordered both a 1 TB model and a limited edition OLED.
Unboxing the Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED
My orders arrived within days of the release, with the limited edition model arriving first, followed by the standard 1 TB version the next day. Let’s start with the unboxing of the limited edition OLED. Inside the box, you’ll find the Steam Deck and its power brick in separate packages. The power brick that comes with the Steam Deck OLED is a 45-watt USB Type-C charger, which is a step up from the previous models. It now features the Steam Deck logo, and Valve has increased the cable length to 2.5 meters from the earlier 1.5 meters, a welcome change based on customer feedback.
Enhanced Features and Design Details
Additionally, Valve has improved the battery capacity from 40 watt-hours to 50 watt-hours, allowing faster charging and longer playtime. The case for the Steam Deck has a small pouch to hold the power brick and its cable, fitting neatly into a cutout at the bottom of the case, showing that Valve considers even the smallest details.
The limited edition Steam Deck’s standout feature is its transparent shell, which Valve clearly designed in response to customer demand. The transparent shell has a dark tint, with orange accents on the power button, controllers, top vent, screws, and rear vent, providing a nice contrast. The interior of the limited edition case is lined with soft fabric printed with a Steam Deck parts graphic, and the case itself is removable, revealing a smaller, lighter case that’s easier to carry around.
Unboxing the Standard 1 TB OLED Steam Deck
The standard 1 TB OLED unboxing experience is similar, minus the transparent cover and orange accents. The interior of its case doesn’t have the printed graphic, but it still provides excellent protection for the device.
Simple Setup and Easy Installation
Setting up the Steam Deck is straightforward. Unlike other handheld gaming consoles like the ROG Ally or Legion Go, the Steam Deck runs on SteamOS, a customized Linux distribution optimized for Valve’s hardware. You select your language, time zone, and Wi-Fi connection, and SteamOS begins installing. Although the installation might take a while, there’s no need to install additional operating systems or software updates before gaming. Once SteamOS is installed, you log into your Steam account, complete a short tutorial, and you’re ready to start downloading games.
Swapping SSDs and SD Cards
If you have an older Steam Deck, you don’t need to redownload your games. I upgraded my 64 GB Steam Deck with a 2 TB SSD from Sabrent and downloaded all my games there. Instead of redownloading them onto my new 1 TB model, I swapped the SSDs between my old and new Steam Decks. Valve makes it easy to join their beta program to access the latest system updates, which is necessary before switching SSDs. After ensuring my Steam Deck was updated to the latest beta version, I used a T6 Torx screwdriver to open the new OLED model and transferred the SSD from my older Steam Deck. After a quick firmware update, my games were ready to play without having to download them again.
I also tested swapping SD cards between the older Steam Deck LCD and the new OLED. I formatted a 512 GB Samsung Pro Plus SD card in my original Steam Deck LCD and downloaded God of War and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. After inserting the SD card into my new Steam Deck OLED, both games were immediately playable without any additional downloads. I tested this with the limited edition OLED model, and the results were consistent.
Tri-Band Wi-Fi and Improved Download Speeds
The Steam Deck OLED has a tri-band Wi-Fi 6E radio, while the original LCD has a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 radio. I downloaded the same game onto both models and found that the OLED consistently completed the download faster. This was the case with several other games I tested, confirming that the tri-band radio offers improved performance.
OLED Display: Better Brightness and Anti-Glare Features
As for the display, the Steam Deck OLED has a 7.44-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800, slightly larger than the 7-inch LCD screen in the older model. It can reach a peak brightness of 1,000 nits in HDR and 600 nits in SDR, compared to the 400 nits maximum of the LCD. The OLED model also features a premium anti-glare etched glass, making it easier to use in bright environments. While the anti-glare glass reduces reflections, the color on the OLED screen doesn’t seem as vibrant when viewed in direct sunlight compared to the LCD model.
Performance and Stability
Both the OLED and LCD Steam Deck models are equipped with custom AMD APUs, Zen 2 CPUs that support 2.4 to 3.5 GHz, and 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM. The main difference in performance is the refresh rate, with the OLED capable of up to 90 Hz compared to the LCD’s 60 Hz. This higher refresh rate, combined with a 110% P3 color gamut and a 1-millisecond response time, results in a smoother and more vibrant gaming experience on the OLED model.
In terms of performance, I initially experienced some issues with God of War and Apex Legends on my older LCD Steam Deck, with the games slowing down or stopping completely. However, after a couple of days, these issues seemed to resolve themselves. With the OLED model, I didn’t encounter any performance issues while playing the same games. It appears that Valve has fine-tuned the hardware and software for better stability and performance on the OLED model.
Conclusion: Valve’s Commitment to Customer Feedback
Overall, Valve’s attention to customer feedback and their efforts to improve the Steam Deck experience are commendable. The Steam Deck OLED is a significant upgrade from the original model, offering improved hardware, a better display, and enhanced performance. If you’re considering upgrading or buying a new handheld gaming console, the Steam Deck OLED is a fantastic choice. Perhaps other companies could learn a thing or two from Valve’s approach to customer feedback and product development.
Tommy Coleman