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Steam Deck OLED initial quick-look and Q&A Part 1

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The Steam Deck OLED was recently revealed by Valve for release on November 16th, so I've spent as much time as I possibly can tinkering with it, testing it, playing games and more since Valve sent over a review unit.

My early impression with it is one of big surprise, because it really is a genuinely huge upgrade over the original.

See my quick initial video on it arriving:

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Lots and lots of questions have been asked about it too, so I bundled up some of the early questions to do a first Q&A video as well with some demos:

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Now is the time to ask away: what do you want to know? What do you want / need tested? I'll be gathering many more questions on the GamingOnLinux YouTube and on here to answer in future.

Just like with the original model — you can expect ongoing reports on how it's doing and regular game testing.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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About the author -
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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12 comments
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Fakeman_Pretendname Nov 13, 2023
Can it still be used to snap an SD card in half?

Seriously though, looking forward to your coverage
Mohandevir Nov 13, 2023
Wake from Bluetooth :

To be enabled in Bios? Thats's where I would look first. Similar to wake on lan from pcie device.

I used to start my computer from complete shutdown, thus. It was for my Steam in-home streaming with the Steam Link app. It worked well.


Last edited by Mohandevir on 13 November 2023 at 6:28 pm UTC
acey_zero Nov 13, 2023
Do you have the front plate for the jsaux ModCase? Wondering if there are any issues with the sticks on that part.
WorMzy Nov 13, 2023
Wrong time of year to be asking, but which would be better for using in direct sunlight? The biggest problem with the LCD Deck is it's almost impossible to use when I'm sat out in the garden at the height of summer (which, to be fair, is about two weeks at the start of August in the UK). It's better than the original Switch, but I've heard tell that the OLED Switch is even worse in direct sunlight, so I've not bothered upgrading (that and beyond TOTK, I've had nothing much to play on the Switch for years...)
TheRiddick Nov 13, 2023
Price starts at like $1300AUD here in Australia... no thanks
Cheshire Nov 13, 2023
Is there Dock updated version planned?
mindedie Nov 13, 2023
Quoting: WorMzyWrong time of year to be asking, but which would be better for using in direct sunlight? The biggest problem with the LCD Deck is it's almost impossible to use when I'm sat out in the garden at the height of summer (which, to be fair, is about two weeks at the start of August in the UK). It's better than the original Switch, but I've heard tell that the OLED Switch is even worse in direct sunlight, so I've not bothered upgrading (that and beyond TOTK, I've had nothing much to play on the Switch for years...)
OLED have much better contrast compared with LCD. Should have much better visibility. Had phone, mp3/media player in past, run into few car GPS/info systems with OLED screens too, great contrast in bright light...
And OLED screens, on those portable devices, died on me within couple years. Organics not very happy with temperature changes, moisture and direct sunlight. Bad personal experience with OLED longevity, will be avoiding those for long time.
sonic2kk Nov 13, 2023
Since the power brick has been updated to accommodate the bigger battery (and 2.5m in length instead of 1.5m), is the cable removable? Even though any brick can be used, it would be nice for longevity if the cable was removable.


Last edited by sonic2kk on 13 November 2023 at 9:10 pm UTC
g000h Nov 13, 2023
If one was in the fortunate circumstance of owning both old LCD and refreshed OLED Steam Decks, I suspect a good use case for the old model would be: Permanent connection to the family TV.

The new Deck favours handheld use.
BlackBloodRum Nov 14, 2023
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