If you already have a Steam Deck, you’re likely wondering if you should upgrade to the Steam Deck OLED model. However, the answer is less clean-cut than if a Steam Deck 2 was released. Instead, the differences between the original and OLED models are more nuanced, especially since they’re both great handheld PCs.
Is it worth it to buy the Steam Deck OLED if I have the original Steam Deck?
It’s not going to be worth it to buy the Steam Deck OLED for most people who own the original model. There’s no doubt that the OLED version includes a lot of improvements over the original, but they’re all so incremental that even put together, they don’t make a compelling case at a price tag of $549-649.
Here are the specs of the original Steam Deck and the OLED version side by side:
| Original Steam Deck | Steam Deck OLED | |
| SoC: | 7 nm AMD APU | 6 nm AMD APU |
| CPU: | Zen 2, 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.4-3.5GHz | Zen 2, 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.4-3.5GHz |
| GPU: | 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6GHz | 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.6GHz |
| APU Power: | 4-15W | 4-15W |
| RAM: | 16 GB LPDD5 (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels) | 16 GB LPDD5 (6400 MT/s quad 32-bit channels) |
| Display Resolution: | 1280 x 800 | 1280 x 800 |
| Display Size: | 7″ diagonal | 7.4″ diagonal |
| Display Type: | Optically bonded IPS LCD | HDR OLED |
| Brightness: | 400 nits | 1000 nits peak (HDR), 600 nits (SDR) |
| Refresh Rate: | 60Hz | up to 90Hz |
| Bluetooth: | Version 5.0 | Version 5.3 |
| Wi-Fi: | Dual-band Wi-Fi radio, 2.4GHz and 5GHz, 2 x 2 MIMO, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Tri-band Wi-Fi 6E radio, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz 2 x 2 MIMO, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax |
| Battery: | 40 Whr, rated at 2-8 hours of gameplay | 50 Whr battery, rated at 3-12 hours of gameplay |
| Weight: | 669 grams | 640 grams |
As you can see, the differences between the original Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED are similar to the OG Switch vs. the OLED model. The two versions retain the same performance, and many of the improvements are superfluous. For example, you can run games up to 90Hz, but most users keep the framerate capped around 40Hz to save battery life.
So, our advice is if you already have a Steam Deck, save your money and hold out for the Steam Deck 2.
