Valve has rolled out the Steam Deck OLED into its certified refurbished lineup, offering gamers the chance to snag this upgraded model at a significant discount. This refurbished OLED version comes at a 20% lower price than its brand-new equivalent, making it an attractive option for those eyeing a bargain.
Currently, you can pick up the 1TB OLED and the 512GB Steam Deck OLED as part of this program. The 1TB option is going for $519, while the 512GB model is priced at $439. To put that into perspective, if you went for a new 1TB device, you’d be shelling out $649, and the new 512GB would cost you $549. This means you’re saving $120 on the 1TB and $110 on the 512GB models. Interestingly, with these refurbished prices, you can get the 1TB OLED version for $30 less than if you decided on buying a new 512GB OLED model.
When it comes to new Steam Deck variants, the only model that’s priced lower than the refurbished OLEDs is the 256GB LCD version from the previous generation, which is tagged at $399. While Valve does offer certified refurbished models of the LCD Steam Deck, all three options—the 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB—are currently out of stock, and the 512GB and 64GB models aren’t available new anymore.
It’s easy to overlook just how much of an upgrade the Steam Deck OLED really is compared to its predecessor. Besides the clear switch from LCD to OLED, the new display makes a leap to a 90Hz refresh rate, boasts a larger 7.4-inch size, supports HDR, and can crank up to 1000 nits in HDR mode. The older LCD version was only 7 inches, topped out at 60Hz, lacked HDR, and maxed out at 400 nits.
There’s more happening inside, too. The battery’s been bumped up from 40Whr to 50Whr, which Valve claims can last between 3 to 12 hours of playtime, depending on the game you’re diving into. For the LCD edition, the battery life ranges from 2 to 8 hours. RAM has received an upgrade as well, jumping from 5500MT/s LPDDR5 to a faster 6400 MT/s LPDDR5. Plus, the AMD APU’s manufacturing process has improved, shrinking from 7nm to 6nm.
If you’re eyeing a refurbished Steam Deck OLED, they’re available in select regions, including Canada, the EU, the UK, and the US. These units come with the same one-year warranty that you’d get with a new one, though the warranty period might vary depending on where you live.