Valve has just stepped up its game by adding the Steam Deck OLED to its certified refurbished program. For those looking to snag a deal, this means you can now get your hands on a refurbished OLED version of the Steam Deck directly from Valve and enjoy a substantial discount. These refurbished models come in at a cool 20% less than their fresh-out-of-the-box counterparts.
Available in 1TB and 512GB options, the refurbished Steam Deck OLED models are quite a bargain. The 1TB version is going for $519, while the 512GB is priced at $439. To put that into perspective, if you were to buy them new, the 1TB model would cost you $649 and the 512GB one $549. So, you’re looking at savings of $120 and $110 respectively. In fact, the refurbished 1TB OLED model is actually $30 cheaper than buying a brand new 512GB OLED one.
If you’re on a tight budget, the only new Steam Deck that beats these refurbished prices is the older 256GB LCD version, which sells for $399. Although Valve does offer refurbished models of the LCD Steam Deck, including the 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB versions, all of them are currently out of stock. Moreover, it seems the 512GB and 64GB LCD models are no longer available as new.
Now, let’s not underestimate the impact of the OLED upgrade in the Steam Deck lineup. Switching from an LCD to an OLED screen is a big jump. This new display boasts a 90Hz refresh rate, stretches to a 7.4-inch size with HDR support, and can hit up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness in HDR mode—all improvements over the previous 7-inch LCD model which topped out at 60Hz and lacked HDR.
Looking inside, there’s been a battery upgrade from a 40Whr to a 50Whr unit, which Valve claims will power the OLED Deck for 3 to 12 hours, depending on what you’re playing. That’s a nice step up from the 2 to 8 hours advertised for the LCD version. The RAM also gets a boost, moving from 5500MT/s LPDDR5 to faster 6400 MT/s LPDDR5, and the AMD APU now features a smaller 6nm process node down from 7nm.
For those interested, these refurbished Steam Deck OLEDs are available in select regions, including Canada, the EU, the UK, and the US. They come with a one-year warranty, just like the new models, although this might vary depending on your country’s policies.
In essence, Valve has offered gamers a fantastic opportunity to upgrade without the hefty price tag, making the Steam Deck OLED more accessible than ever before.
