Hey!
Since the OLED was released for the first time i was really informing myself about the deck. I already have a switch and a PS5, but was always kind of jealous about the steam library. I could also use my iPad Pro for gaming, but that’s not a great experience either.
A desktop PC is not worth it for me because im also travelling a lot and have my PS5 for that when im at home, I thought i could get another handheld, as the switch is really lackluster in my opinion.
As I don’t want to spend too much, the initial deck is now on sale with the 64gb for just 360€ and i would upgrade it with an SD card or change the SSD. Is that a viable option still? Or is the OLED so much better that it’s basically an obsolete option now?
Really going back and forth with this for a few days. Can anyone give me some guidance or advice?
This is going to become an incredible old argument - so I’m going to do this reply justice so I can cut and paste or link it later.
LCD vs OLED
Let’s start this off by saying they are both incredible devices - outside of QOL issues an extreme minor pipeline performance possibilities? They are - at the core - the same device.
At the time of writing, the LCD models being discontinued represent an INCREDIBLE power to price ratio. You can’t touch this value/ROI proposition. Period.
I will continue to NOT recommend the 64GB sku unless your first step is to replace the SSD. If you don’t plan to change the SSD out immediately? Get a bigger model (of either type).
LCD has been through several iterations - all the kinks in the hardware are out. Things people reporting about the OLED - dead pixels, Dpad issues, stuck buttons … blah blah blah are “early adopter problems” and they will get ironed out. The LCD already has all this ironed out and what you’re getting with that unit is 18 months of consumer feedback, know-how and remediation. You’re getting a Rev.3 or 4 unit - not a Rev.1 unit.
The LCD may inevitably prove superior for extreme low brightness scenarios. I’ve seen reports of ghosting with the OLED which certain games featuring high contrast using low brightness settings. Software fixable? Maybe. But the LCD - while offering an always on screen - may end up being better for those that will only be playing certain games in very low brightness settings.
LCD has a pipeline of aftermarket internals - like the excellent Guilikit joysticks. iFix it is loaded with parts. OLED will gain parity at some point - but who knows when. LCD offers more diverse options in this respect - at least at the time of writing.
All this said? The OLED is pretty much an improvement of everything across the board (even core performance may see a single-digit bump in performance in certain situations). Better screen, better display options, HDR, better battery life, lighter weight, better bumpers, optimized thermal pipelines - the list goes on and on.
But, at the time of writing, there is nothing you can’t run on the LCD that you can run on the OLED. This isn’t Series S versus Series X. This isn’t PS4 vs PS5. Not even PS4 vs PS4 Pro.
If you HAVE an LCD already? You really need to have a heart to heart with your wallet and the Exchequer of the Treasury (aka … my wife) and see if the upgrade makes financial sense to you.
If you are getting your first Steam Deck? You need a heart to heart with the same entities - but this is about getting the best version for a bit more cash.
Can you afford it? Do it. The LCD advantages I mentioned above still hold true - but if money isn’t the issue? You will kick yourself in the head if you buy the LCD and then see an OLED in the wild at a Peter Piper next time your kid has a birthday and all the parents are huddled in the quietest corner of the restaurant looking for respite.
You’re going to catch a lot of flak from the people who need justification that their oled purchase was justifiable, lol. Good write-up though