Valve recently added the Steam Deck OLED to its certified refurbished lineup, offering gamers a chance to snag this model at a significant price cut. The refurbished OLED model is now available at a 20% discount compared to its brand-new version, directly through Valve.
In terms of availability, gamers can choose between the 1TB and 512GB Steam Deck OLED models. The refurbished 1TB version is priced at $519, while the 512GB model costs $439. For perspective, a brand-new 1TB model will set you back $649, and the 512GB one goes for $549. This translates to a savings of $120 for the 1TB model and $110 for the 512GB model. Interestingly, this pricing strategy makes the refurbished 1TB model $30 cheaper than buying a brand-new 512GB OLED version.
The only new Steam Deck model that beats the refurbished OLED pricing is the older 256GB LCD variant, which sells for $399. While Valve also offers certified refurbished versions of the LCD models, including the 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB, these are unfortunately out of stock at the moment. Notably, you can no longer purchase new 512GB and 64GB LCD models.
It’s important to remember that the Steam Deck OLED is not just about the switch from LCD to OLED. This upgrade is quite substantial. The screen itself steps up to a 90Hz refresh rate and has a larger 7.4-inch display with HDR capabilities, offering brightness levels of 400 nits normally and a hefty 1000 nits at peak in HDR mode. The earlier LCD model had a 7-inch display, capped at 60Hz and 400 nits, with no HDR feature.
Internally, there are noteworthy improvements as well. Valve has upgraded the battery from 40Whr to 50Whr, claiming it can support anywhere from 3 to 12 hours of gameplay based on the game being played. The older LCD version offers a 2-8 hour battery life. There is also an improvement in RAM, moving from 5500MT/s LPDDR5 to 6400 MT/s LPDDR5, and the AMD APU benefits from a smaller process node, going down from 7nm to 6nm.
These refurbished Steam Deck OLEDs are accessible in selected regions, including Canada, the EU, the UK, and the US. Plus, they come with the assurance of a one-year warranty, the same as new units, though your country’s regulations might extend this warranty period.
