Valve Software developed classics like Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Dota, and Left 4 Dead, as well as the ubiquitous Steam platform. Steam’s hand-held gaming console, the Steam Deck, now has an OLED screen and longer battery life. The Steam Library gives you an easy-to-find overview of game compatibility for the Steam Deck, which allows you to avoid resolution, screen size, or controller issues as you move between your PC and Steam Deck.
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Now, on to the Steam Deck.
What Valve Has To Say On The Steam Deck
Valve first launched the Steam Deck in February of 2022, and according to its site, it offers ‘Powerful, portable PC gaming, designed for comfort and a console-like user experience.’
Comfortable toggles and controls
The Steam Deck console was designed and then created with extended play sessions in mind for both thumbstick and trackpad play. With well sized controls for comfortable finger feel, positioned perfectly within easy reach. The back of the console was sculpted to suit a number of hand sizes and grip preferences, offering unencumbered maneuverability.
Portability and power
Steam partnered with AMD to create Steam Deck’s custom APU, which has been optimized for the usage that handheld gaming requires, helping to improve graphics and gameplay. The APU is a Zen 2 + RDNA 2 powerhouse, which delivers ample performance to run the latest AAA games in the palms of your hands.
The Steam Deck’s Specs
The Steam Deck comes in three variants. The unit with the smallest internal memory has an LCD screen, while the two units with larger storage capacity boast OLED-quality screen resolution.
The OLED versions also have other improvements over the LCD console, according to the company’s site:
- Brighter colors, blacker blacks Steam Deck’s High Dynamic Range (HDR) OLED display was designed with gaming in mind, offering sharp color contrasts, visual clarity and a larger screen than the LCD model. The brighter colors, pure black tones and smoother motion rendition, help gamers appreciate the artistic elements of games as well as the vivid gameplay and graphics.
- More time to play Steam Deck OLED has 30-50% more battery life than the LCD variant. This is made possible by fitting a larger battery into the console’s case, the OLED display drawing less power than an LCD screen, and an updated, more energy-efficient AMD Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), all of which helps players game for longer.
- Faster downloads Steam Deck OLED comes with Wi-Fi 6E, giving users access to increased bandwidth and lower latency. Resulting in faster downloads, up to 3 times faster, and stable online play.
- Lighter, cooler A bigger fan and updated thermal properties, allow Steam Deck OLED models to runs cooler. Making handheld use even more comfortable and lighter too, with the unit weighing 30g or about 5% less than the LCD model.
Unit Comparisons
The 256GB LCD model comes with:
- 1280 x 800 LCD display
- 7″ Diagonal display size
- Up to 60Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 5
- 40Whr battery; 2-8 hours of gameplay (depending on the type of content)
- 45W Power supply with 1.5m cable
- Convenient carry case
- Steam profile bundle
The 512GB OLED variant includes features such as:
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display
- 7.4″ Diagonal display size
- Up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (depending on the type of content)
- 45W Power supply with 2.5m cable
- Carry case
- Steam profile bundle
With the largest storage capacity unit, 1TB OLED offering:
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass
- 7.4″ Diagonal display size
- Up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (depending on the type of content)
- 45W Power supply with 2.5m cable
- Carry case with removable liner
- Steam profile bundle, exclusive startup movie, and keyboard theme
Top Tips
- For gamers on a budget, Steam offers refurbished Steam Decks at discounts of up to 20%, complete with a one-year warranty.
- If new models are sold out, you will be added to a queue. Steam says that the company is constantly producing new models, meaning that times in any possible queues will be short.
- Replacement parts and repair guides will be available through iFixit, with Steam confirming that all models will have access to spare parts and software updates regardless of model or age.
- Should you have an LCD model and intend to move to an OLED unit, rest assured that all your accessories are compatible.
- Steam keeps track of the most played games on both PC and the Steam Deck. The lists are updated every 15 minutes, so be sure to see what titles are being played right now and which to join.
- Once you’ve logged onto your Steam Deck device, you will have access to your entire Steam Library of games and titles, just like you would on any other PC.
In The End
The Steam platform and Valve games have played a crucial role in developing user-friendly gameplay. The brighter colors, larger screen, and bigger storage capacity of the OLED models are sure to continue the trend.
