Steam Deck OLED Assessment: My Favourite New Gaming Handheld of 2023

I’ve cherished handheld gaming for so long as I can bear in mind, however issues have not often been nearly as good for gaming-on-the-go as in 2023. Although my favourite handheld total continues to be the Nintendo Change, the OLED Steam Deck from Valve has gained me over with its options and efficiency, and its expansive recreation library. Of all of the gaming handheld gadgets that arrived this yr, the Steam Deck OLED is my favourite by far.

Handheld gaming consoles have been again on the rise these days, not simply with the Nintendo Change, indie handhelds and the PlayStation Portal, however in PC gaming too, with Home windows choices just like the Asus Rog Ally and the Lenovo Legion Go. The brand new OLED Steam Deck is a refreshed model of the year-plus-old Steam Deck, with a bigger OLED show that appears nice. It begins at $549, whereas the unique LCD-based fashions stay on sale, beginning at $349.

Though the OLED mannequin is not a lot totally different by way of graphics efficiency than the primary Steam Deck, the continued enhancements throughout the board — in new {hardware} and continued OS upgrades — have added as much as so much. Certain, it is a handheld that seems like a mini-surfboard. But it surely’s a lot enjoyable to make use of. Valve additionally made the value extra enticing, reducing the LCD Steam Deck costs and making the OLED mannequin basically the identical value because the midrange LCD Steam Decks earlier than.

Enhancements in all places

Evaluating the brand new OLED Steam Deck to the unique, I noticed some clear benefits. The brand new Steam Deck has a 7.4-inch HDR OLED show that, whereas nonetheless sporting the identical 1,200×800-pixel decision, seems much more vivid and colourful. Taking part in video games on the OLED Steam Deck provides me the identical feeling I’ve enjoying on the Nintendo Change OLED: I do not need to return to the unique and its LCD display screen. The bigger show on a equally sized chassis additionally means a sleeker, thinner body bezel.

The brand new OLED Steam Deck additionally has a bigger battery, which boasts as much as 50% extra battery life. I have never but skilled what that truly provides as much as in on a regular basis use, however the information is welcome. Much more surprisingly, the hand held is a bit lighter. Storage configurations have been boosted too: There’s now a 1TB Steam Deck choice, along with a 512GB mannequin. The 512GB model is $549, whereas the 1TB model is $649 — which is fairly unbelievable, since these had been principally the costs of the Steam Deck higher-config fashions beforehand. $649 now nets you twice the storage, an OLED show, a greater battery and lots of different enhancements.

Valve is promoting earlier LCD fashions at a reduction going ahead, with a lot of the financial savings on higher-end configurations. The 64GB model drops to $349 ($50 off), the 256GB mannequin is now $399 ($130 off) and the 512GB mannequin is $449 ($200 off).

There’s additionally a elaborate limited-edition clear 1TB OLED mannequin, too, for $679, which seems good, but it surely’s the identical {hardware} because the $649 1TB OLED mannequin.

Valve added lots of different tune-ups to the Steam Deck within the new mannequin: a shocking quantity, in actual fact. The laundry checklist is in depth:

• A 7.4-inch, HDR OLED show (1,200×800-pixel decision); most 1,000-nit brightness in HDR; 90Hz max refresh.
• Quicker-response touchscreen.
• Higher haptics on the Steam Deck and touchpads.
• Analog sticks have improved grip.
• 50Whr battery (up from 40WHr).
• About an oz lighter.
• Wi-Fi 6E.
• Extra power-efficient AMD APU processor (6nm as a substitute of 7nm).
• Bluetooth 5.3 (controllers can get up Steam Deck).
• Louder audio system.
• Microphone and headphones can be utilized directly.
• Longer cost cable, sooner charging (45 minutes for 20% to 80% charge-up) and a cost LED on the Deck.
• Bigger followers, promising higher cooling.
• Modified inside design and screws for simpler repairability.
• Included onerous case now has smaller journey shell case inside for simpler bag suits.

What I’ve seen essentially the most up to now, aside from the show, are the touchscreen enhancements. The unique Steam Deck was high-quality, however the responsiveness now feels higher, nearer to that of a cellphone or pill. The touchpad haptics are improved: The haptic “clicks” now really feel much more like a traditional on a regular basis touchpad click on, much less clearly a vibrational impact.

The 1TB OLED mannequin nonetheless has a matte-glass display screen, which to my eyes makes video games pop a bit extra. It is an ideal show, and the Steam Deck OLED would’ve been a welcome improve only for that alone.

I like that the general “console” really feel of the Steam Deck simply feels higher now. And I admire the included onerous case’s new inside mushy case. You might pull the onerous case off now and simply journey with a lighter shell case as a substitute. 

The Steam Deck nonetheless helps microSD playing cards to increase storage additional, and there is nonetheless 16GB of RAM on board. This is not a “Steam Deck 2,” however by way of its total upgrades it seems like a Steam Deck 1.5.

Steam Deck OLED vs. the Home windows handheld competitors

The Steam Deck nonetheless feels huge to carry and use, but it surely’s not as huge as some rivals. The Lenovo Legion Go is huge compared, with a fair greater and higher-res 8.8-inch show, and detachable controllers. 

The benefits of Home windows-based gaming handhelds is you’ll be able to run all of Home windows simply on them, together with Microsoft’s Recreation Move and streaming choices, along with Steam. Steam Decks run their very own Linux-based OS that is optimized solely to Steam gaming, though they’re hackable you probably have the curiosity or endurance. Out of the field, the Steam Deck feels way more like a whole console expertise, although not all Steam video games play on Steam Deck.

These new updates and the value not having elevated is welcome information for anybody who’s purchasing for one. I do not know if it’s essential improve from an authentic Steam Deck simply to get these adjustments, however the collective enhancements look to make this a must-buy choice over the LCD fashions, you probably have the funds.

Falling in love with Steam Deck

Over the previous few weeks for the reason that new Steam Deck’s launch, I’ve cherished how enjoyable it’s to play PC video games on the go as I do with the Change. I used to be late to utilizing the Steam Deck, however I did begin with an LCD mannequin earlier this yr, so I am used to the concept. When you’ve by no means gamed on one earlier than, and you just like the Nintendo Change, think about it an analogous proposition, however a bit extra funky and PC-like with its updates and deeper flexibility in software program. 

However, the Steam Deck’s software program flexibility is a trade-off for what’s extra of an rigid {hardware} design than a Change. As an example, the Change could be docked (and the dock is included) and has removable controllers and a kickstand. The Steam Deck is dock-compatible, but it surely’s bought individually, and its controllers are fastened, and it would not have a kickstand. That handheld-only mode of enjoying is essentially high-quality, however the Change (not the Change Lite, in fact) is a TV-or-handheld proposition proper out of the field.

Docking a Steam Deck provides all types of extras. You need to use a mouse and a keyboard and connect with a monitor and use it like an everyday PC. You may sideload stuff and tinker with betas, although actually, I have never even gone there but. I am utilizing it solely with Valve’s Steam retailer and library, and that is greater than sufficient for me… for now.

I say this as a result of, aside from the brand new OLED Steam Deck as a product, Steam Deck as a platform by itself is unbelievable. You might get monetary savings and simply get the LCD mannequin, however I might say go together with the OLED one for its numerous upgrades, particularly show and battery life. Present LCD Steam Deck homeowners do not want the OLED improve, although I am certain the temptation is robust.

I ought to emphasize that the Steam Deck is huge. Sufficiently big that it is a bit onerous to journey with, though the thinner inside case that is now included with the OLED Steam Deck does make it a extra moveable factor to tuck in a backpack.

Battery life: Fairly high-quality

I’ve performed video games all through lazy afternoons and downloaded numerous video games on the OLED Steam Deck, and battery life has by no means appeared prefer it was dipping too low. It feels shorter than that of the newer OLED Nintendo Change, however most likely higher than that of the unique Change. I admire that the Steam Deck’s fan is fairly quiet, too, and charging up for some time through USB-C is not an excessive amount of of a problem. In comparison with the Lenovo Legion Go, which burned by means of battery life extraordinarily quick, it feels precisely the place I might need to be for a handheld with this dimension and energy.

The way forward for handhelds

Nintendo is probably going getting ready a Change successor for subsequent yr, firms like Sony are exploring streaming-based handheld equipment just like the PlayStation Portal, and PC {hardware} producers are dabbling in Home windows-based handhelds just like the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally. So, the way forward for handheld gaming has by no means regarded brighter. Within the middle of that, for me proper now, is the Steam Deck.

Valve’s dedication to creating advanced video games work on the go, and making the hand held expertise enjoyable and nonthreatening, opens doorways for the place Home windows handhelds ought to purpose their designs. This additionally factors to the place Nintendo must go; the Steam Deck’s processing energy is sufficient to play Elden Ring or Cyberpunk 2077, which is what I need in a Change 2. The identical goes for the Steam Deck’s wonderful controls, which have a no-compromise really feel and the identical efficiency you’d anticipate from any next-gen console controller. The OLED mannequin’s haptics are even higher, and I actually like its trackpads.

The Steam Deck ought to get removable controllers (please) and a kickstand, sometime, and I might like a fair bigger 1080p display screen so I may see tiny textual content a bit extra clearly up shut. Nonetheless, for now, it is one in every of my favourite gaming handhelds, although I do not know the way typically I will actually take it on the transcend my home. For journey, I am nonetheless into the Nintendo Change (or, the Panic Playdate). It is huge, for certain, however I maintain selecting it up, looking the Steam retailer for gross sales, and seeing what else I can uncover. That is the truest signal that this factor is sweet… and now, even higher.

Valve has already made me a believer in PC handheld gaming, and the Steam Deck’s enhancements elevate it on the proper time, as PC gaming feels much more conscious of the hand held panorama. Valve has beforehand steered {that a} true Steam Deck 2 will not be round for some time, so within the meantime this seems like your finest wager.