Shock! Valve has introduced a brand new Steam Deck and — double shock — we’ve already reviewed it. It won’t seem like an enormous change from the skin, however the Steam Deck OLED is a radical mid-cycle refresh of a machine that’s not even two years previous. On the similar time, Valve can also be adjusting the configuration of its entry-level mannequin, making it a much more compelling choice. Apologies to anybody who actually purchased a Steam Deck yesterday.
At an occasion held for press previous to the system's launch, Greg Coomer, a product designer at Valve, known as the brand new mannequin "the definitive model of the Steam Deck." He defined that the system comprises many issues the corporate wished to incorporate on the LCD mannequin's launch however wasn't in a position to, together with some additions primarily based on group suggestions.
As its identify suggests, probably the most noticeable improve to the Steam Deck OLED is the show. The unique Steam Deck had a 7-inch 800p LCD operating at 60Hz. The brand new mannequin squeezes a 7.4-inch OLED display into the identical house, considerably shrinking the bezels across the show. The brand new panel runs on the similar decision, however with a refresh price of as much as 90Hz. It’s additionally HDR, protecting 110 p.c of the P3 shade house with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits — the previous mannequin maxed out at round 400 nits. Like all OLED screens, it has pure blacks and near-instantaneous response instances. As earlier than, anti-glare etched glass is accessible, however solely on the premium mannequin.
The Steam Deck OLED has a die-shrunk model of the identical customized APU discovered within the authentic Steam Deck. The brand new APU is produced on a 6nm course of, relatively than the older 7nm course of. Producers usually use die-shrinks to both enhance efficiency or effectivity, and Valve has chosen the latter. The max frequency of each the GPU and CPU are equivalent between the LCD and OLED fashions, so for builders tuning their video games for Steam Decks, they solely have a single efficiency goal.
In live performance with the more-efficient processor, there’s additionally a 25 p.c bigger battery with a 50Whr capability, in comparison with the unique’s 40Whr. Based on Valve, these modifications mixed lead to a 30-50 p.c enhance in longevity between the 2 generations — the official battery life declare is "three to 12 hours." In our evaluation, we measured a playtime enhance of 62 p.c when enjoying Hades on the OLED mannequin versus our 18-month-old authentic. (Batteries degrade over time, which explains why our positive aspects had been extra pronounced.)
The brand new internals make the Steam Deck OLED marginally lighter, and in addition cooler to the contact when enjoying video games, aided by a barely bigger fan. Different enhancements embrace help for each Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, along with a brand new antenna array that may give a greater expertise when utilizing each on the similar time. There’s additionally a reworked energy provide (it has a brand now!) with an extended 2.5m cable that may cost the OLED mannequin from 20 to 80 p.c in “as little as 45 minutes.” The thumbsticks have additionally been made 1mm taller, and the contact pads' haptics are barely sharper.
The Steam Deck OLED begins at $549, and can substitute all however the entry-level mannequin within the vary. The quick actuality is a little bit of a large number and a bit difficult, however this, Valve says, would be the Steam Deck line-up transferring ahead:
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256GB Steam Deck LCD ($399)
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512GB Steam Deck OLED ($549)
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1TB Steam Deck OLED ($649)
Because of the modifications, the 64GB LCD Steam Deck (beforehand offered at $399) will drop to $349, and the 512GB LCD (beforehand $649) will drop to $499. As soon as Valve sells via its stock of each, these strains will probably be discontinued. Valve says it’ll proceed to help all LCD fashions with software program updates.
So, the long-term lineup begins on the similar $399 value, which will get you the previous LCD Steam Deck, however with 256GB of storage as a substitute of 64GB. The brand new step-up mannequin prices $20 extra at $549, however comes with an OLED show and the enhancements outlined above, plus double the storage. The vary nonetheless tops out at $649, however you’re getting much more in your cash: All the {hardware} enhancements, 1TB of storage as a substitute of 512GB and an improved carry case that may come out right into a slimmer shell that’s smaller and simpler to slot in a bag. As talked about, it additionally has the identical anti-glare etched glass because the outgoing 512GB LCD mannequin.
Lastly, there’s additionally a Restricted Version model of the 1TB mannequin, with a translucent shell and a custom-made carry case, which will probably be offered at $679. We think about shares is not going to final very lengthy, because it seems fairly rad:
Whereas there are not any concrete updates on future {hardware} developments, Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais famous that, as long as curiosity in handheld gaming stays excessive, the corporate has "plans for successive generations of handhelds." For now, Griffais defined, it's vital to Valve that builders don't have to "break up their consideration" between completely different efficiency targets.
When requested concerning the potential for future {hardware} — like a return of the Steam Machine or an up to date Steam Controller — there have been no agency updates, however there does appear to be one thing occurring. Griffais agreed that enabling the Steam Deck to work as a hybrid front room console was a "aspect objective" of the staff, and famous that every thing Valve does to enhance SteamOS will profit different units. Coomer added that Valve continues to be working internally on "a bunch of controllers and prototypes." If SteamOS is getting used on bigger shows, the staff would need to increase that have with higher enter choices. "We don't have any bulletins on that entrance, but it surely's why we're constructing prototypes and fascinated by the long run there," Coomer stated.
The Steam Deck OLED will probably be out there to order on November 16th at 1PM ET. Valve expects models to start delivery as quickly as orders begin to roll in. The up to date pricing on the present LCD fashions is already in impact.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-steam-deck-oled-arrives-november-16-with-an-improved-screen-and-longer-battery-life-180032945.html?src=rss