this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2023
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Steam Deck

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I just bought the 256GB Deck at the beginning of this month and it arrived on the 10th for $529. On the 13th they announced the OLED Deck and dropped the price of the 256GB Deck to $399.

I wrote to Steam customer service and asked if I could return the deck and purchase the OLED model for $30 more and they wrote back with two options:

  1. return the deck, get a refund, and then buy the OLED model

  2. keep the deck I own and get $130 in my Steam Wallet.

I'm not sure which option to choose. On the one hand, $130 is a nice chunk of change to buy some games. On the other hand, a brand new, bigger, and nicer deck is worth waiting a couple weeks and $30.

Any advice?

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[–] jordanlund 26 points 1 year ago

If it were me, I'd be opting for the OLED.

You were OK spending the money before, you should be OK now.

It's not just the OLED, it's the battery/weight improvements as well.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

If you're not in a hurry, get the OLED.

[–] LEDZeppelin 10 points 1 year ago

Get the OLED Deck. Watch the GamersNexus tear down video and you will realize why

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Go for the OLED. Hands down. The battery life is better. The weak points (bumper buttons) are improved. The cooling is better/quieter. The APU is sort of better. I've heard the screen looks much better. The screen is slightly larger.

I'm happy with my SD (512GB with the anti glare glass screen), but I've had it for over a year now. If I had the option of sending it back and paying another $175 to get the oled I'd do it immediately. I'm not sad about it or anything, but if the option was there, I'd definitely take it.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Get the OLED. You'll drive everybody crazy with the pretty screen, and you get A BIGGER BATTERY.

[–] semperverus 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

The only thing putting me off of the oled model... is the oled.

Oled objectively looks better - for 1 to 3 years.

My wife's name is burned into the top of my phone's screen, which is oled.

If they offered an improved LCD model with a higher color accuracy panel, refresh rate, and VRR/HDR like the oled panel, and all the other improvements, i would instantly be all over it.

[–] JackiesFridge 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

How techy are you? I was eyeing up this screen and may give it a shot in the new year.

Edit: odd Boost doesn't show my linked text. Just in case - https://deckhd.com/

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Boost puts an exclamation point at the beginning of the link that shouldn't be there. It's a bug. Delete it and it will work.

ETA: I checked the link, and 87% sRGB coverage isn't very good. I'd want to see it in real life before buying one.

[–] semperverus 2 points 1 year ago

A friend of mine got the Deck HD and it looks good. I couldn't tell too much of a difference between it and the stock screen's color gamut but it was good regardless. The only thing I noticed off about it was that the pixels around the edge of the bezels seem to be underneath it a smidge, giving a weird effect of the edges getting cut off if you look at it at a weird angle.

I'm fairly techy, though I've been trying to move away from a lot of it.

[–] c10l 1 points 1 year ago

On my previous 5 years old phone the OLED looks as good as it did when it was new.

My LG OLED TV of 4 years looks as good as it did when new.

I had a PS Vita for about 4 years and the OLED was good as new when I sold it.

I’m not questioning your experience but OLED can last a lot longer than 1-3 years if it’s of good quality and the software has features to help preserve the pixels.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

No wrong choice here. Hardware improvements in all arease but (mostly) performance, or a bunch of games.

I'd pick the OLED myself but my game library is also plenty big.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I'd get the OLED. I wouldn't be able to stop thinking that there's a newer, better version out there that I could've had. Especially if you have already have games to play on the deck in your library.

[–] breadsmasher 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What sort of advice are you looking for? Buy the OLED for the reasons you gave. Get a partial refund and get games.

Flip a coin?

[–] MostRegularPeople 1 points 1 year ago

Right? That's the question. I guess the advice I'm looking for is

"The old deck is fine and will last you a couple years at least. Get games."

Or

"Hell yeah that be deck is worth it, had better hardware, and will last longer. Take the trade in."

But yeah I'll probably end up flipping a coin.

[–] ekZepp 3 points 1 year ago

Return and get the oled. Remember that you also get more storage x the same price.

[–] BakonGuy 3 points 1 year ago

If you don't get the OLED now you'll probably be kicking yourself in the future wishing you had.

[–] PeachMan 2 points 1 year ago

I think either choice is fine. But I would take the free upgrade if I were you.

[–] r036 1 points 1 year ago

I just bought my steam deck a month ago. I should give this a try. What email did you use or how did you get in contact with them?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Oled. Oled oled.