Valve revealed the first major update to its handheld gaming device on Thursday when it announced the Steam Deck OLED, an upgraded version of the original handheld that launched in 2022.
Much like its name suggests, the Steam Deck OLED comes equipped with an HDR OLED screen that will result in more vibrant colors, darker darks, and better low-light visuals as well.
The screen isn’t the only upgraded, though, as the Steam Deck OLED also features a boost in battery life (around 30-50% depending on the game, according to Valve), an updated AMD APU, and the support of Wifi 6E, which Valve says will result in faster downloads and more stable online connections.
A new, bigger fan has also been fit inside of the Steam Deck OLED, making the system cooler and lighter as a result of the new screen and internal changes.
Preorders for the Steam Deck OLED begin next week
According to Valve, the Steam Deck OLED will be available to preorder beginning on November 16. It’ll come in three different models, one of which is a limited edition, transparent variant that will only be available in the United States and Canada.
The base model of the Steam Deck OLED will retail for $549, with the 1TB and Limited Edition 1TB models going for $649 and $679, respectively.
Steam Deck 2 in development, still a few years away
Alongside the news of the Steam Deck OLED, Valve also had a few things to say about a new, major upgrade to its handheld device. In an interview with Bloomberg, product designer Lawrence Yang said that a “next-generation” power upgrade is in the works, but wouldn’t be available for at least two or three years from now.
“A lot of folks at the company are excited about this product,” Yang said. “We are very invested in the Steam Deck.”
