The Steam Deck OLED is officially available. It’s bigger, better, faster, and we are hyped.
It’s no secret that we love new tech, especially gaming tech. So, we’re taking a closer look at the Steam Deck OLED, how it’s been improved, the best games you can play on it, and a few cheeky accessories to enhance your experience.
The Steam Deck OLED
In case you haven’t seen it before, the Steam Deck is a portable gaming console that uses your Steam account, thus providing access the same library as you have on your gaming PC. Similar in design to the Nintendo Switch, it has an integrated touch screen and responsive controls, including trackpads, thumbsticks, and a d-pad.
The Steam Deck OLED is the latest model, offering improved specs and, you guessed it, an OLED screen. The TLDR is that the Steam Deck OLED has a longer battery life, faster download speeds, feels lighter, and runs cooler. Of course, we’re all here for the tech.
Improved Features
Many of the performance improvements relate back to the fact this console now uses an OLED screen. This display is more energy efficient, so it draws less battery power, and doesn’t weigh as much as the LCD counterpart, contributing less to the overall weight. Plus, the touchscreen is more responsive with better haptics.
Faster downloads are a result of upgrading to WiFi 6E, which offers increased bandwidth and lower latency. As a result, your games download up to three times faster! Improving connectivity elsewhere, a dedicated Bluetooth antenna has been added, to support multiple controllers. Perfect for when you use the Steam Deck OLED as a hub and crack out the multiplayer faves with your mates!
For the modders out there, Torx type screws are used for the rear of the case screws. These screw into metal threads and make disassembling or reassembling possible, all without impacting structural integrity. This means you can access the internal components easier and make your own upgrades or replacements.
New Specs
Need a direct comparison of all the models? Here is a breakdown of the Steam Deck LCD and OLEDs:
Steam Deck LCD
- 256GB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 optically bonded LCD screen
- 7″ display
- Up to 60Hz refresh rate
- 7nm APU
- Wi-Fi 5
- Approximately 2-8 hrs of gameplay (40Whr battery)
- Carrying case
- Steam profile bundle
Steam Deck OLED (512GB)
- 512GB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED screen
- 7.4″ display
- Up to 90Hz refresh rate
- 6nm APU
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Approximately 3-12 hrs of gameplay (50Whr battery)
- Carrying case
- Steam profile bundle
Steam Deck OLED (1TB)
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED screen
- 7.4″ display
- Up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Premium anti-glare etched glass
- 6nm APU
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Approximately 3-12 hrs of gameplay (50Whr battery)
- Carrying case with removable liner
- Steam profile bundle
- Exclusive startup movie
- Exclusive virtual keyboard theme
Five Steam Deck Verified Games!
There are technically two categories of games that you can play on the Steam Deck: Verified and Playable. Verified means the game is fully supported, no need to mess about with settings or switch between the touchscreen and button control. Playable means you can play the game, but you are going to have to fiddle about with settings and whatnot to get it to work. There are also Unsupported and Unknown categories, but they are games you can’t play on the Steam Deck OLED.
The Steam Deck Verified list is long, comprehensive, and ever-growing. We’ve picked out just five games that have been seamlessly integrated onto this platform. You can see the full list here, or read on to check out our highlights. (Both is also good.)
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 is the hit RPG set in the Dungeons and Dragons universe that transitioned from early access to full release back in August 2023. You are an adventurer trying to fight the corruption of the Mind Flayer (or finding new and inventive ways to throw crabs at your problems). There are twelve classes and eleven races to choose from, with extensive customising options available. This rich, detailed world is just waiting to be explored.
Learn more about Baldur’s Gate 3 in our dedicated blog!
Dave the Diver
Dave the Diver is the chill life sim we never knew we needed. You play as the eponymous Dave, a diver who explores the Blue Hole waters by day and runs a thriving sushi restaurant by night. Spend your days catching fish and discovering new life – even a sea monster or two! Then, bring the catch of the day home to your restaurant to serve your eager customers. This game delivers a beautiful blend of pixel and 3D graphics, mini games, and side quests with an undeniable, surreal sense of humour.
Check out our indie showcase for Dave the Diver!
Resident Evil 4 Remake
Resident Evil 4 Remake is a remaster of the beloved 2005 game from the hit franchise. You can enjoy the same thrills and action from the original game, with beautifully enhanced graphics and modernised gameplay. All from the comfort of your own Special Edition Resident Evil gaming chair, no less. The best bit? You can pet the dog. Frankly, it is all we ever want from our games.
Read up on the history of Resident Evil in our dedicated blog.
Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter 6 balances fan favourite fighters with improved mechanics and game modes. Packed with explosive combat and different ways to fight, this game is everything you want from a good ol’ fashioned brawler. You can even create your own, highly customisable avatar in the Battle Hub and take on players from around the world. Or just kick back with some classic Capcom arcade games. Everyone needs to unwind after dominating in the battle arena.
We were very excited to see Street Fighter 6 launch, checkout our full breakdown.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales Remastered
Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales Remastered puts you in the shoes of the neighbourhood’s new friendly Spider-Man. Miles Morales has been learning from his mentor, Peter Parker, and must fill in for him to protect New York from a whole ruck of threats. There is a war for New York’s power at play and it is up to Miles to master his growing abilities to keep everyone safe.
Learn more about Spider-Man Miles Morales Remastered and the NVIDIA integration you can enjoy on your gaming PC.
Not sure if a Steam Deck is the thing for you? Check out our Ultimate Showdown between two titans of portable gaming: the Gaming Laptop vs the Steam Deck. See which device works best for you!
Best Accessories for the Steam Deck OLED
There are two main accessories you can get with the Steam Deck OLED: gaming headsets and storage expansions. Gaming headsets allow you to enjoy your immersive gaming soundscapes with the full range of notes even when on the go. Storage expansions mean you can improve on the Steam Deck’s main flaw – lack of capacity. Previously, this was limited to microSD cards, but there are 2230 form factor SSDs designed to be used with Steam Decks and other handheld consoles. We’ve picked out a couple of our favourites, but you can explore our full collections below.
Razer Blackshark V2 X Gaming Headset
Enjoy competitive sound in a comfortable package with the Razer Blackshark V2 X. This gaming headset has individually custom-tuned drivers, each producing powerful bass and rich trebles for the most immersive gaming soundscape yet. The integrated cardioid microphone has optimised speech pick up and noise cancellation, so you can communicate clearly wherever your gaming takes you. Plus, if you plug it into your gaming PC, you can even take advantage of 7.1 virtual surround sound!
WD Black SN770M 1TB 2230 NVMe SSD
Expand your Steam Deck OLED’s storage with the WD Black SN770M 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe PCIe SSD. This small form factor drive brings ultra-fast read and write speed to your handheld console, as well as providing even more room for your gaming library. It utilises PCIe Gen 4 and has read and write speeds of 5150MB/s and 4900MB/s, respectively. Plus, the 2230 size has been designed to be used with handheld consoles like the Steam Deck OLED, ensuring seamless integration when you make your upgrades.
OLED Revolution
Have you picked up a Steam Deck OLED? Let us know in the comments below what you think of the new model and how it’s improved your portable gaming.
- 8 min read
Emily Haylock
Author
Emily is a board and cosy gamer, keyboard obsessive, and content copywriter for Overclockers UK. She has been with Overclockers UK for two years, writing about everything from noblechairs to 8Pack PCs. She writes from within her desk nest with a foster pup at her feet. (What, a desk duvet is a totally normal thing!) In her downtime, she likes to play board games, farming sims, and old-school Final Fantasy. IX to be specific. It is the best, and that is a hill she will die on.
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