Valve has just added the Steam Deck OLED to its refurbished product lineup, making it possible for gamers to pick up this enhanced version at a significant discount. If you’re on the lookout for a budget-friendly way to experience the improvements of the OLED model, this could be your chance. Buying a refurbished OLED means you pay around 20% less than purchasing it brand new.
The certified refurbished collection includes both the 1TB and the 512GB models. Opt for the 1TB version, and you’re looking at a price of $519, while the 512GB variant comes in at $439. To put that into perspective, a brand-new 1TB unit would normally run you $649, and the 512GB option costs $549. That’s $120 and $110 saved, respectively. In fact, the refurbished 1TB OLED model is actually cheaper than purchasing a brand-new 512GB OLED, by about $30.
If you’re exploring all your options, it’s worth noting that the older 256GB LCD version, still sold new for $399, is the only one that comes under the refurbished OLED prices. While all refurbished LCD models—counting the 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB—are currently out of stock, it’s worth mentioning that new purchases of the 512GB and 64GB LCD variants are no longer an option.
When considering the upgrades the OLED model brings, it’s more than just a fancier display. In fact, the dramatic shift from LCD to OLED stands head and shoulders above what its name might hint at. You get a screen that boasts a higher 90Hz refresh rate, expands to a 7.4-inch size, supports HDR, and delivers up to 1000 nits of dynamic brightness—a marked improvement over the original 7-inch LCD that topped out at 60Hz and 400 nits without HDR.
Internally, there have been considerable changes as well. The battery sees an upgrade from 40Whr to 50Whr, promising between 3 to 12 hours of gameplay depending on how demanding the game is. This is better when compared to the 2-8 hour expectation with the older LCD model. Plus, the OLED version comes with faster RAM, jumping from 5500MT/s LPDDR5 to 6400 MT/s LPDDR5. Not to overlook a finer, more streamlined architecture, its AMD APU shrinks from a 7nm to a 6nm process node.
Keep in mind, these refurbished OLED models are only available in select regions like Canada, the EU, the UK, and the US. They offer peace of mind coming with the same one-year warranty that new models do. Depending on your residence, you might even be eligible for a longer warranty period.
