Steam Deck OLED vs Steam Deck: Comparison of Design, Specs, Performance and More

Valve’s groundbreaking handheld computer, the Steam Deck, was hugely popular at launch – and that’s no surprise. Steam Deck bridges the gap between PC and handheld gaming, allowing you to enjoy your Steam library anywhere.

The Steam Deck isn’t perfect, though, so it was welcome news when Valve released the Steam Deck OLED, an improved version of the handheld gaming PC that features an OLED screen and delivers improved battery life and performance. But is it worth buying a Steam Deck OLED instead of the original model?

We’ve reviewed Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED, and we’re here to point out the key similarities and differences between them so you can decide which one is worth your hard-earned money.

Once you’ve decided which ones to get, be sure to fill your Steam library with the best PC games and the best Steam games.

Steam OLED Deck vs Steam Deck: Price and Value

You can buy Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED directly from Valve via Steam shop. Fortunately, while both products were tough to obtain at launch, it’s much easier now as Valve estimates delivery within three to five days.

At the time of writing, there is only one Steam Deck model available: the 256GB LCD version. This model costs $399 / £349 / AU$649 and comes with a transfer pack and a Steam profile pack.

Not surprisingly, the OLED Steam Deck is more costly, but there are two models available. The 512GB Steam Deck OLED is priced at $549 / £479.00 / AU$899 and comes with a carrying bag and Steam Profile Pack, just like the LCD model. If you need more disk space and don’t mind spending a bit more, you can purchase the 1TB Steam Deck OLED for $649 / £569 / AU$1,049, which comes with a Steam profile pack, an exclusive startup video, a keyboard theme, and a carrying handle case with removable insert.

The 512GB OLED model costs just over $100 more than the LCD model, but offers twice the memory and a few other upgrades shown below. As such, it’s worth considering spending that extra cash on the latest model if you can afford it, especially if you have a sizeable Steam library. In my opinion, if you are planning to buy OLED, the 512GB model will be the best option unless you plan to operate 1TB of space.

While these pocket computers are still costly, they are well worth the price considering that gaming computers easily cost over $1,000 and you can’t take them with you when traveling.

Steam OLED Deck vs Steam Deck: Technical Data

Here is the full spec list for Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED.

Steam OLED Deck vs Steam Deck: Design

There are not many differences between the design of Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED. The biggest one, of course, is that OLED has a 7-inch OLED screen, while Steam Deck has a 7-inch LCD screen. This means that the OLED display provides a more colorful image with brighter contrast and richer colors than the Steam Deck. During testing, we found the difference between the two to be noticeable.

However, this screen does not make the OLED Steam Deck larger than the Steam Deck. They both have the same dimensions, and the OLED display is actually slightly lighter than the Steam Deck. It is worth noting, however, that the size of both models means that they are not as portable as, for example, the Nintendo Switch.

Both models have the same overall casing and a sleek black color scheme, although there are some minor differences in the OLED design, such as an orange power button instead of black.

Regardless of which model you choose, both are characterized by high quality workmanship and great design.

Steam OLED Deck vs Steam Deck: Performance

This is where the differences between Steam Deck OLED and Steam Deck become more apparent.

First, there is capacity. The Steam Deck LCD display is currently only available in the 256GB model, while the OLED is available in 512GB or 1TB versions. This means that an OLED display can store two to three times as many games as Steam, and you can fit several huge games on your mobile device before needing to clear up space.

Additionally, a slight memory improvement means the OLED should run slightly faster than its predecessor, while improved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth make connectivity more competent.

Then there is the screen itself. In addition to more colorful visuals, the refresh rate of the OLED screen is up to 90Hz, as opposed to 60Hz on the Steam Deck. This means your games will likely run fine and the frame rate will remain constant, but don’t expect flawless performance on any device. During testing, we discovered that several “Deck Verified” titles continued to experience issues on Steam Deck OLED.

Perhaps the most welcome difference between Steam Deck OLED and Steam Deck, however, is the improved battery life of OLED. Steam Deck battery life has always been controversial, as it only allows for two to eight hours of gameplay. In turn, Steam Deck OLED allows for three to 12 hours.

If performance and battery life are crucial factors for you when choosing a portable device, the Steam Deck OLED is definitely the better machine. While the Steam Deck is reliable, OLED solves some of its problems – just don’t expect perfection.

Steam OLED Deck vs. Steam Deck: The Verdict

Steam Deck OLED is the ultimate Steam Deck, offering improved visuals and performance, as well as longer battery life. While the Steam Deck is a solid portable device, if you’re on a tighter budget, an OLED display is better for future-proofing, especially as games become more and more hardware-demanding.

Just keep in mind that both models may have issues with some games and aren’t the easiest to take with you when traveling. If these are deal-breakers for you, you’ll find some great alternatives in our list of the best portable gaming consoles.