Valve simply introduced the Steam Deck OLED, which is an up to date mannequin of the unique Steam Deck that includes a brand new OLED display. In contrast to the earlier mannequin, Valve is simply promoting two variations of the Steam Deck OLED, one with 512GB of storage and one other with 1TB of storage for $550 and $650, respectively.
Though the OLED display is the star of the present, Valve is making some upgrades elsewhere, too. The brand new design is now primarily based on a 6nm APU, versus the 7nm APU within the earlier mannequin, and it helps Wi-Fi 6E. The earlier mannequin solely supported Wi-Fi 5.
The bump in wi-fi connectivity permits the OLED mannequin to have downloads as much as thrice sooner than the unique Steam Deck, in response to Valve. The 6nm chip is similar because the earlier mannequin when it comes to efficiency, providing 4 Zen 2 CPU cores and eight RDNA2 GPU cores, nevertheless it’s way more environment friendly. Valve says the brand new design has upwards of 50% higher battery life than the unique Steam Deck. Mixed with a bigger 50Whr battery, Valve says you may rise up to 12 hours of battery life relying on what video games you’re enjoying.
As for the show, it’s nonetheless utilizing the 1280 x 800 decision as the unique Steam Deck, however with OLED now on the helm, it helps HDR, as properly. It’s barely bigger, too, clocking in at 7.four inches diagonally.
With the brand new OLED mannequin, Valve is lowering the worth of the unique Steam Deck. The 64GB mannequin is now $350, the 256GB mannequin is $400, and the 512GB mannequin is $450. The 64GB and 512GB fashions are being phased out, in order that they’ll solely be obtainable whereas provides final.
Each fashions of the Steam Deck OLED go on sale on November 16 at 10 a.m. PT. At the moment, Valve may also launch a restricted version mannequin of the 1TB model that comes with stark pink contrasts on the vents, energy button, and thumb sticks, together with a barely clear backplate.
Though Deck followers have been ready for the Steam Deck 2, that is extra of a Steam Deck 1.5. You shouldn’t anticipate big efficiency positive factors over the unique mannequin, however with a lift to battery life, higher Wi-Fi, and a nicer display, it’s nonetheless a transparent improve over the unique mannequin.
It fixes one of many key problems with the unique Steam Deck, too. The display isn’t superb, which is an space the place gadgets just like the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go have an edge over Valve’s handheld. The OLED mannequin would possibly change that, however we’ll simply have to attend till it’s lastly right here to know for positive.
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