Valve recently added the Steam Deck OLED to their certified refurbished lineup, offering gaming enthusiasts a chance to grab these upgraded devices at a steep discount. These pre-owned OLED versions are being sold at a 20% reduction compared to their brand-new counterparts, making them an enticing option for buyers on a budget.
Among the refurbished models available are the 1TB OLED and the 512GB OLED Steam Deck versions. The 1TB model is listed at $519, while the 512GB variant comes in at $439. In contrast, purchasing the new 1TB unit sets you back $649, and the 512GB version costs $549. This means a tidy $120 savings for the 1TB model and a $110 cut for the 512GB model. Interestingly, the refurbished 1TB OLED is actually $30 cheaper than buying a brand-new 512GB OLED.
The only other new Steam Deck that offers a lower price than these refurbished OLED versions is the older 256GB LCD model, selling for $399. Valve also offers refurbished versions of the LCD Steam Deck, but unfortunately, they’re currently sold out across all three models: the 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB versions. New purchases of the 512GB and 64GB LCD models are no longer an option.
When considering the Steam Deck OLED, it’s easy to overlook just how significant the upgrade is. Aside from featuring an OLED screen, it boasts a 90Hz refresh rate, a 7.4-inch display with HDR support, and brightness levels ranging from 400 nits to an impressive 1000 nits in HDR mode. This is a marked improvement over the older 7-inch LCD model, which lacked HDR support and was limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and 400 nits of brightness.
The internal components saw enhancements too. The battery capacity increased from 40 Whr to 50 Whr, potentially providing between 3 and 12 hours of game time based on the game you’re playing—Valve reports the older LCD version offers a 2-8 hour lifespan. RAM received a boost as well, moving from 5500MT/s LPDDR5 to the faster 6400 MT/s LPDDR5, and the AMD APU got an upgrade with a process node shrink from 7nm to 6nm.
These refurbished Steam Deck OLEDs are available in select regions, including Canada, the EU, the UK, and the US. They also carry a one-year warranty similar to the new units, though this could vary depending on the country you’re in.
