Disclaimer: I think the OLED model is amazing and I think everyone who doesn’t have a Deck should get one!
This post is for people who have the LCD model and thinking (or struggling) about upgrading (probably many people)
Back when the SD was first announced, I was very excited, and the day it was available for reservation, I clicked as fast as I could, yet I still needed to wait a few months after the Feb 2022 release and received it finally in Aug 2022 after an excruciating wait.
I was over the moon. I unboxed it, fell in love with it, played with it for a few months. But then something strange happened. It sat for a few months unused. ( I also have a gaming PC, XBox, Switch OLED and endless other handhelds etc.)
The announcement of the SD OLED got me excited. My first inclination was to upgrade, get the “Limited Edition” that FOMO is real!
Reading these hyperbolic statements and posts “The Steam Deck is a MASSIVE upgrade!”
I’m sure it’s an upgrade, but I need to remind myself my SD LCD is barely a year old.
Curiously enough, the OLED discussion has made me realize I never plugged my deck into my OLED TV. Coupled with an XBOX controller it’s been great.
For those struggling regarding the necessity of the upgrade, I suggest spending more time with the Deck. I almost forgot how I first felt when I got this machine. It really is fantastic. That being said, I’ll probably upgrade come Steam Deck 2.
We don’t necessarily have to be that “I don’t want to play with you anymore” Toy Story meme dude.
Anyway, that’s just my 2 cents.
TL:DR: These devices are barely a year old for most people. It’s not obsolete. We all probably felt like a kid at Christmas when we first unboxed it. Don’t chase that feeling for the wrong reasons with the OLED. Eventually you’ll feel FOMO for the next thing around the corner, when when SD2 inevitably drops. It’s okay to feel grateful for stuff you already own!
Personally just purchased the reduced price 64GB LCD Steam Deck.
I don’t care about the OLED model because it’s out of my price range and an LCD SteamDeck is better than no Steam Deck.
As someone who bought a 512GB for wild multi-booting dreams that never happened, I wish I went with 64GB. It’s so easy to load a hundred indie games on the Steam Deck and then get caught in decision paralysis/bargain hunting every night. So much for working down my backlog…