The Steam Deck OLED just got cheaper, but there's a catch

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Important takeaways

  • Valve has added the Steam Deck OLED to its Certified Refurbished program.
  • Refurbished Steam Deck OLED units can be purchased for at least $110 less than brand new units, depending on the model chosen.
  • While refurbished Steam Deck OLED models go through over 100 tests to ensure proper functionality, Valve says they may have “minor cosmetic blemishes.”



Valve has officially started selling refurbished models of theirs Steam Deck OLED handheld gaming computer. The company's Certified Refurbished program will allow potential buyers to get their hands on a Steam Deck OLED at a significantly cheaper price, but it doesn't guarantee the pristine physical condition of a brand new model.

The Steam Deck OLED launched in November 2023 as a hardware version of the 2022 model. As the name suggests, the Steam Deck OLED's most notable upgrade was its 7.4-inch 90Hz HDR OLED screen, considered by many to be a massive improvement over the original model's smaller 60Hz LCD screen. The Steam Deck OLED also introduced a laundry list of under-the-surface improvements, including a bigger battery, a smaller and more power-efficient chipset, improved cooling system, faster Wi-Fi, better Bluetooth module and much more.


steam deck steam's full release valve

Family

One of the best features of the Steam deck may soon go third party

Some newly discovered Valve documentation hints that one of the Steam deck's most prized features will soon be available for rival handhelds.

Unlike the LCD Steam Deck's breadth of choice between 64GB, 256GB and 512GB storage options, Valve only offers the Steam Deck OLED in 512GB and 1TB variants. This resulted in a higher entry cost of $549 for the Steam Deck OLED range, and the simultaneous discontinuation of the 64GB and 512GB LCD models led to some complaints from potential buyers. But now the Steam Deck OLED has been added to Valve's Certified Refurbished program in the US, UK, Canada and EU, meaning the handheld can be purchased for as little as $439 for the 512GB model and $519 for the 1TB model.


Steam Deck OLED Refurbished Prices

  • Steam Deck OLED 512GB: $439 ($110 cheaper than new)
  • Steam Deck OLED 1TB: $519 ($130 cheaper than new)


Much like the Certified Refurbished program for the LCD Steam Deck, those looking to pick up a Steam Deck OLED can save up to a whopping $130 depending on which refurbished model they go with. The 512GB and 1TB Steam Deck OLED variants are identical in terms of specs, with the only difference being a glossy screen on the former and an anti-reflective etched glass screen on the latter. Valve claims that each refurbished Steam Deck OLED will be subject to an “extensive investigation” involving over 100 tests to ensure it matches (or even “exceeds”) the performance standards of brand new devices. However, interested buyers should note that refurbished Steam Deck OLED models may have “minor cosmetic blemishes”.

Regardless of potential physical flaws, Valve's promises of an equivalent performance benchmark between refurbished and brand new Steam Deck OLED units is reassuring. Similar to Sony's refurb program for PS5 consoles, refurbished Steam Deck OLED owners will receive a full year's warranty should anything go wrong with their system. It's also a smart move on Valve's part to make the Steam Deck OLED available at cheaper prices just in time for the holiday season.


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