The brand new Steam Deck OLED is right here, however whereas the glowing display screen is the eponymous function, there’s an entire lot else occurring beneath the hood. Valve has made certain the chassis is equivalent to the unique LCD model, which implies all of your translucent covers will nonetheless be appropriate, however issues are very completely different inside.
For a begin, it appears an entire lot extra skilled. It is nearly just like the distinction between some easy beige field workplace machine and a correct gaming PC. That is most blatant within the upgraded fan, which appears like one ripped straight out of a gaming laptop computer, and helps make this new model far quieter than the usual Deck.
However the mainboard across the new 6nm Sephiroth APU appears much more easy, too. Although you’ll be able to see many of the reminiscence chips are on a special facet in comparison with the LCD model, doubtlessly as a result of there’s more room on the reverse because the OLED panel is thinner and cooler.
One different factor that’s fairly apparent is the brand new WiFi 6E module. That is the large silver chip on the left hand facet by the SSD (in its little sleeping bag). You may as well see the discrete WiFi and Bluetooth antennae hooked up to it—Valve says this makes it much more easy to attach a number of Bluetooth recreation controllers if you’re taking part in docked.
There’s additionally the larger 50Wh battery, which is outwardly just a little thicker than the 40Wh battery of the LCD model. Although, in all honesty, it appears like you could possibly most likely squeeze that greater battery contained in the older Steam Deck. Most likely.
Although Valve’s Lawrence Yang has mentioned to me: “Due to all these modifications and enhancements, the elements usually are not swappable with the Steam Deck LCD unit. We’ll nonetheless promote, and make out there all Steam Deck LCD inside elements for repairs and replacements. However for essentially the most half, as a result of we modified a lot inside, there’s not as a lot forwards and backwards swapping that is going to be potential.”
Which means you are not going to have the ability to get one of many new OLED modules into your outdated Deck… not less than not simply. “I am certain folks will attempt it, but it surely’s most likely not going to go effectively,” says Yang.