Steamdeck OLED Review - UPDATED Screen & MORE - Worth it in 2025?

Summary

The video review delves into the Steam Deck OLED's features compared to the LCD version, emphasizing the improved OLED screen as the primary selling point. While the size, weight, battery life, and trackpad upgrades are noticeable, they aren't groundbreaking. The OLED screen delivers vibrant colors and deep blacks, offering a significant gaming experience upgrade. Other internal tweaks like quieter fans and slightly improved battery life add to the overall value, but the OLED screen remains the standout. For those already owning the LCD version, upgrading might not be essential unless you’re seeking an enhanced display experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Steam Deck OLED offers significant improvements over the LCD version, particularly the OLED screen, which enhances gaming visuals with deeper blacks and more vibrant colors.
• 😀 The OLED version has a slightly larger screen (7.4 inches vs. 7 inches), but the difference is not major enough to be a huge selling point.
• 😀 The trackpads have been improved, making them more responsive, which is especially useful when in desktop mode or using games that rely on them.
• 😀 The touchscreen is much better on the OLED version, offering greater sensitivity and responsiveness, improving the experience for games that rely on touch input.
• 😀 Fans are quieter on the OLED model, which is a noticeable improvement over the loud fans on the LCD version, particularly when playing graphically demanding games.
• 😀 The battery life of the OLED Steam Deck is slightly improved, offering up to 3 hours of gameplay on graphically intensive titles, but it's still not a major upgrade and may not significantly impact most users who are near outlets.
• 😀 The OLED version features a 90 Hz refresh rate, but the difference is not noticeable unless playing lower-resolution games like Cult of the Lamb or Dave the Diver.
• 😀 While there are several internal upgrades in the OLED version (quieter fans, better touchscreen, more responsive trackpads), the most significant change is the OLED screen itself.
• 😀 The OLED model weighs slightly less than the LCD version, but the difference is minimal and unlikely to be a deciding factor for most users.
• 😀 If you're upgrading from the LCD version, the OLED is definitely an improvement, but it's not a game-changer for everyone. If you love the LCD version, you might not feel like you’re missing out on much.
• 😀 The Steam Deck OLED feels like a '1.5 upgrade' rather than a major overhaul, with improvements across the board, but no drastic changes in performance or graphics capabilities.

Q & A

What was the primary reason the reviewer was hesitant to buy the Steam Deck OLED?

The reviewer was hesitant to buy the Steam Deck OLED because they were waiting for a potential announcement of the Steam Deck 2. They had a feeling that as soon as they purchased it, a new version would be announced.

What are some key physical differences between the Steam Deck LCD and the Steam Deck OLED?

The Steam Deck OLED has a slightly bigger 7.4-inch screen compared to the 7-inch screen on the LCD version, along with a few design changes such as a bit more black around the thumbsticks and more responsive trackpads. The OLED version is also a bit lighter and has quieter fans.

How does the screen size of the Steam Deck OLED compare to the LCD model?

The Steam Deck OLED screen is slightly larger at 7.4 inches compared to the 7-inch screen on the LCD model. However, the difference is subtle, and while it provides a bit more room from the bezels, it's not a huge selling point on its own.

What improvement has been made to the Steam Deck OLED's trackpads?

The trackpads on the Steam Deck OLED have become more responsive, which enhances the experience when using desktop mode or setting up emulators. The improvement makes the trackpads feel much more refined and usable compared to the LCD model.

What is the significance of the OLED screen on the Steam Deck OLED?

The OLED screen is the standout feature of the Steam Deck OLED. It offers deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and greater brightness compared to the LCD screen on the original Steam Deck. Once users experience OLED, it is difficult to go back to traditional LCD screens.

How does the battery life of the Steam Deck OLED compare to the LCD model?

The Steam Deck OLED offers a slight improvement in battery life, extending the usage from around 2 hours on graphically intensive games like Cyberpunk to about 3 hours. However, the overall improvement is modest, and most users will still likely need to keep the device plugged in during long gaming sessions.

How has the fan noise changed between the Steam Deck LCD and the Steam Deck OLED?

The fans on the Steam Deck OLED are significantly quieter compared to the LCD version, especially during graphically demanding games. This is a noticeable improvement for users who play in quiet environments or during late-night sessions when fan noise could be disruptive.

Is the performance of the Steam Deck OLED significantly better than the LCD model?

The performance of the Steam Deck OLED is quite similar to the LCD model. Both versions have the same CPU and a slightly improved RAM speed in the OLED version. However, the major upgrade is in the OLED screen, not in performance or graphical capabilities.

How does the screen refresh rate of the Steam Deck OLED compare to the LCD model?

The Steam Deck OLED features a 90 Hz refresh rate, which is an improvement over the LCD model. However, this refresh rate is only noticeable on certain types of games, such as lower-res indie titles like Cult of the Lamb or Dave the Diver. It doesn't make a significant impact on graphically demanding games like Cyberpunk.

Would the reviewer recommend upgrading from a Steam Deck LCD to the Steam Deck OLED?

The reviewer suggests that if you already own the Steam Deck LCD and have the financial means, the OLED is a nice upgrade, mainly for the screen. However, if money is tight or you don't need the OLED experience, the improvements aren't drastic enough to warrant an immediate upgrade.