Valve has just made an exciting move by adding the Steam Deck OLED to its certified refurbished lineup. This means gamers now have the opportunity to snag a refurbished OLED model directly from Valve, all while enjoying a substantial discount. To put it into perspective, these refurbished units are marked down by 20% compared to their brand-new versions.
For those interested in the specifics, both the 1TB and 512GB Steam Deck OLED models are available under the refurbished program. The 1TB version is attractively priced at $519, while the 512GB variant comes in at $439. If you’re wondering about the savings, buying a new 1TB unit would set you back $649, and the 512GB model would cost $549. In other words, you’re looking at a $120 and $110 saving for the 1TB and 512GB models, respectively. Interestingly, with these deals, you can actually get the 1TB OLED model for $30 less than what you’d pay for a new 512GB OLED model.
Now, if you’re considering a brand-new purchase, the only option that beats the price of the refurbished OLED versions is the older 256GB LCD model, currently priced at $399. Valve does offer certified refurbished LCD variants, but unfortunately, all three models—the 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB—are currently sold out. For those curious, the brand-new 512GB and 64GB LCD models have been phased out entirely.
It’s worth noting that the term “Steam Deck OLED” doesn’t do full justice to the improvements. This model isn’t just about switching from an LCD to an OLED screen; there’s much more under the hood. The OLED display boasts a 90Hz refresh rate, expands to a 7.4-inch size, and offers HDR support with a brightness of 400 nits, peaking at 1000 nits in HDR mode. Contrast that with the previous 7-inch LCD, which lacked HDR and had a 60Hz refresh rate with 400 nits brightness.
Internally, there’s a significant upgrade too. The battery capacity jumps from 40Whr to 50Whr, which Valve claims can provide between 3 to 12 hours of gameplay, depending on the intensity of the game. Previously, the LCD model managed 2-8 hours. Memory also sees a boost, with RAM upgrading from the earlier 5500MT/s LPDDR5 to 6400 MT/s LPDDR5. The AMD APU also enjoys a slight advancement, moving from a 7nm to a 6nm process node.
For those in select regions like Canada, Europe, the UK, and the US, these refurbished Steam Deck OLEDs are now within reach. They come with the same one-year warranty that new units have, although some countries might offer a longer warranty period.
