Maybe it’s not worth it to them and I can understand that. Maybe they just spent too much money on things like a new SSD, shell swap, fan upgrades, a DeckHD screen, and Hall Effect sticks and are a little salty about it. Maybe they are just genuinely more than happy with their current SD and that’s great too. But all these posts about people saying the new SD isn’t that big of a change and that’s it’s not worth it seem like people just trying to soothe their own crushed spirits.
Valve updated nearly every inch of this device and it’s objectively better than the original in almost every single way. The lengthy list of improvements is seriously impressive, even down to the longer length power cord, and they kept it at the exact same price to boot. The OLED SD has more refreshes than a new iPhone series and I can’t wrap my head around how anyone can think it’s not a significant upgrade.
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Given that they revised the device from user feedback, I think it’s really great. They addressed a lot of what user has complained.
While I won’t get the revision version (or at least any time soon), I think it’s a step in good direction. Maybe I’ll get it if something unfortunate happens to my Steam Deck but right now I’m happy with what I got.
I’ve had my Deck only 12 months and I am absolutely upgrading.
It’s the best gadget I’ve ever bought. By a mile. And I’ve had ALL kinds of gadgets!
My daughter asked me yesterday what my favorite digital device is - my phone, laptop, PC, or Kindle? I just stared at her…she had a wry little smile…and she said “or your Steam Deck?!”
Duh - Steam Deck.
It’s not making the OG obsolete so this upgrade is optional in most OG SD owner’s minds. It s it better? Of course, but is it worth the difference in money and hassle of getting a new unit? Depends on the end user’s usage of the SD.
It’s not that it’s not better, of course it’s better. Is it “better” enough for most people to spend another $700+ on it when they just spent $700+ on the original one within the last 12 months? Probably not.
Now if Valve had some kind of upgrade or trade in program, I feel like that would change manny peoples minds.
It’s a nice upgrade, but it’s not worth selling my current deck at a loss (payed $650 for mine, now I’d be lucky to get $450 back) and wait on my new order to ship. Maybe it would be worth it if there was a trade in program, but my current deck works just fine and I’m not super picky about my screens.
The OLED deck …
- … has about the same FPS. It doesnt make games run better.
- … has the same low 720p resolution.
- … has the same haptics
- … has the same size and almost same weight
- … is compatible with the exact same games. It doesnt make 3rd party launchers magically work or fixes anti-cheat games not working.
- … is simply not worth 200-300€ to upgrade
- You sell your LCD deck at a loss
- And then have to buy the expensive deck version (OLED)
- You are looking at 200-300€ at least for the upgrade
Just wait for ACTUAL UPGRADES:
- Much smaller form factor - the deck is a CHUNKY boy
- Other handhelds are smaller AND much faster
- Much faster APU with 50-100% more fps
- USB-C at the bottom + proper docking station like the switch
- All deck docks are AWFUL. Having to fumble around with a cable… just because Valve didnt put a USBC at the bottom like all the other consoles … dumb !
THOSE would be worth 300€
There are definitely improvements, but not worth spending another $700, especially if like me you have upgraded your SD with custom shells, a 2TB SSD etc. and have also bought a battery pack.
I would essentially be paying that money for improved wifi, bluetooth, screen and that’s about it. Not worth $700.
Maybe it’s not worth it to them
Most people’s comments on anything is their personal opinion of whatever thing it is. I’m not typically going around giving other people’s opinions on games I’ve played, for example. If I am, I’d also be stating that it’s not my personal opinion.
When people say Steam Deck 1.5 isn’t worth, it’s almost certainly implied that it’s not worth it to them.
It is definitely better. I just cannot justify replacing a perfectly good device, with effectively the same performance, that I’ve only had for about a year.
Great to get all the people who were sitting on the fence or unhappy with some of the specifications to buy into the system. Also shows what kind of base specifications a SD2 should have in ~2025 or so.
The OLED SD has more refreshes than a new iPhone series and I can’t wrap my head around how anyone can think it’s not a significant upgrade.
A new iPhone generally adds a new feature or something similar, the OLED Deck doesn’t. The new screen is obviously an upgrade, but the performance boost at best maybe let’s you turn up one setting, and everything else is really just a QoL upgrade. Not having VRR is a bit of a disappointment personally.
If you don’t have one then it’s obviously the one to go for, but it’s really not hard to see why it’s not necessarily a must-have for folks already with one.
Even if literally the only change was the addition of the OLED screen, it’d be worth the upgrade.
Either these people don’t see just how mediocre the LCD display is on the current Steam Deck, or they somehow don’t understand how insanely gorgeous an HDR OLED display is in comparison.
All the other little improvements and efficiencies are little bonuses. Icing on the cake.
Honestly if you’ve already got a SD and are looking to spend $700 on a slightly upgraded model you’d be better served using that money on a handheld that is actually more powerful, like the Ally or the Legion Go…
That’s what we mean by it’s not worth it to us. 💁
The thing that makes me really drool are the torx screws with metal posts.
If I were 100% sure the OLED would not suffer burnins with some emulators (some games create temporary ones even on the og LCD) I would be reallllly tempted.
Ofc it’s better, but if you already have a deck, I don’t think it’s worth it to buy the oled. Not without a meaningful performance upgrade. I will wait for the SD2 probably at the end of next year or early 2025
Valve said 2-3 years for SD2 but they’ll probably do it sooner. Still though, that’s going to put it at mid-2025 at best, late 2026 at the long end.