Valve has just added the Steam Deck OLED to its certified refurbished lineup, giving gamers a chance to snag this model at a significantly lower price. If you’re considering upgrading or diving into the world of handheld gaming, the refurbished OLED option is now 20% cheaper than purchasing a brand-new one.
Both the 1TB and 512GB OLED models are available under this refurbished program. The 1TB OLED is tagged at $519, while the 512GB model comes in at $439. Compare these to their fresh-off-the-shelf versions, and you’re looking at a cool $120 savings on the 1TB and $110 off the 512GB. In fact, this makes the refurbished 1TB OLED even more affordable than a brand-new 512GB OLED by a margin of $30.
Interestingly, the only new Steam Deck model that’s less expensive than the refurbished OLEDs is the 256GB LCD model, a kind of holdout from the previous generation, priced at $399. Even though Valve also offers refurbished versions of the LCD lineup, all three sizes—the 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB—are currently out of stock. Plus, you can’t purchase new 512GB or 64GB LCD models anymore.
While the name might downplay it, the OLED version is more than just a screen upgrade. The move from an LCD to OLED is accompanied by a bump to a 90Hz refresh rate on a slightly larger 7.4-inch display featuring HDR capabilities. It boasts a standard brightness of 400 nits, with peak brightness reaching 1000 nits in HDR mode. This is quite the step up from the previous LCD model, which offered a 7-inch screen, topped at 60Hz, and didn’t include HDR.
Underneath the hood, the OLED model sees substantial changes as well. Battery life gets a notable boost thanks to an upgrade from a 40Whr to a 50Whr unit. Valve mentions this can last anywhere from 3 to 12 hours, depending on your gaming habits. The LCD’s estimated battery life ranged from 2 to 8 hours. The RAM has been upgraded from 5500MT/s LPDDR5 to the slightly speedier 6400 MT/s LPDDR5, and the AMD APU now utilizes a more efficient 6nm process, down from 7nm.
If you’re in Canada, the EU, the UK, or the US, you’re in luck, as these refurbished Steam Deck OLEDs are available in these regions. They also come with the standard one-year warranty, or even longer based on where you live, matching the coverage you get with a new unit.
