I really do like my OLED. But I think you have a couple of options:
- Wait 2-4 years for a steam deck 2
- Buy a used steam deck (the older models are cheaper and can work with your budget) 3 Get a new one
I like mine (OLED) model because of the screen, battery life, my steam library on the go, emulation (this thing can play up to switch/ps3), and modding.
If those things also appeal to you it may be worth
Another option is sell something to make up the difference/close the gap.
I’m selling my old 512gb deck for $350 to a friend so it didn’t hurt THAT much to shell out for the LE OLED