Steam Deck OLED
News, coverage and analysis tracking Steam Deck OLED across the outlets.
Latest coverage
IFA 2026 Preview: Berlin’s Tech Showcase Puts AI at the Center of Everything
IFA 2026 in Berlin will heavily feature Artificial Intelligence, integrating it across smart home, digital health, and consumer electronics. The event aims to showcase AI as the connective tissue for personalized and healthier daily routines, moving beyond its status as a standalone category. Gaming hardware will also be present alongside other consumer tech.
INIU P63 Review: A Compact 25,000mAh, 100W Power Bank That Fully Charges a Steam Deck
The INIU Power Bank P63 is a compact 25,000mAh portable charger capable of fully recharging a Steam Deck in approximately 2 hours and 12 minutes, nearly matching the speed of its original wall charger. It also efficiently charges smartphones and other devices, offering a versatile power solution for travel and extended use. Despite its weight, the power bank provides a good balance of capacity, performance, and portability.
Handheld prices are still soaring, but at least the Lenovo Legion Go S is now cheaper than Steam Deck
Gaming handheld prices have significantly increased in 2026, with the Steam Deck OLED now priced at $789. However, the Lenovo Legion Go S has seen a substantial discount, dropping to $635.54, making it a more affordable option compared to the Steam Deck OLED and the Xbox ROG Ally.
Here’s Your Chance To Score A 2TB Steam Machine And Controller For Just $1
Fanatical is offering a chance to win a 2TB Steam Machine and Steam Controller for just $1 through its Mystery Vault Bundle. Each bundle purchase also includes random Steam game keys, with a chance to win instant prizes like games and merchandise, or even a Steam Deck OLED or PlayStation 5.
The Game Boy Pocket is now 30 years young, and I'd thank it for today's retro handhelds
The Game Boy Pocket, celebrating its 30th anniversary, is credited with refining the handheld gaming experience and influencing modern retro handhelds. Despite lacking a backlight, its improvements over the original Game Boy, such as a better screen and slimmer design, set a precedent for quality-of-life enhancements that continue to inspire devices like the Steam Deck and Anbernic's emulators.
Steam Deck OLED at $789: Should You Still Buy One in 2026?
Valve has significantly increased the prices of the Steam Deck OLED models, with the 512GB version now costing $789 and the 1TB version $949, reflecting global component cost challenges. This article explores whether the three-year-old handheld is still worth purchasing at these new flagship prices, considering alternatives like refurbished units, the used market, and competing devices, while also discussing the broader trend of rising prices in the handheld gaming market.
Lenovo's Legion C700 cloud handheld feels like the wrong response to a worsening handheld price situation
Lenovo's new Legion C700 cloud handheld, designed for Tencent's START streaming service, is criticized as the wrong response to current handheld market conditions. The article argues that cloud streaming devices, like the Logitech G Cloud and PlayStation Portal, are not the solution to rising handheld prices, especially when compared to more versatile devices like the Ayn Odin 2 or Steam Deck. The author expresses concern that this trend could normalize streaming-only devices, which is undesirable for handheld enthusiasts.
"It's too dangerous for us to speculate": Valve don't know if Steam Machine prices will drop in the future, after admitting that "some people are going to priced out"
Valve has opened reservations for the new Steam Machine, with prices starting at £879 / $1049 / €1039 for the base 512GB model. Valve designers Lawrence Yang and Yazan Aldehayyat attribute the high cost to ongoing component shortages and pricing issues, stating that the current prices reflect manufacturing realities. They acknowledge that some consumers will be priced out but believe it still offers good value compared to other market options, while declining to speculate on future price drops due to market uncertainty.
MSI has listed the official pre-order price of its new Claw gaming handheld and I think you're going to want to sit…
MSI has listed its new Claw handheld gaming PC for pre-order at $1,799, a price point that has surprised many despite earlier leaks. This high cost is attributed to its Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor and substantial memory and storage configurations. The article also notes that other high-powered handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally X have also seen significant price increases, making the Steam Deck OLED appear more affordable by comparison.
Handheld Setups for Hotel Gaming No Monitor (2026) | TAG
This article provides a guide for setting up handheld gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch 2 and Steam Deck OLED in hotel rooms without a dedicated monitor. It covers handheld-only setups, docking to hotel TVs with considerations for input lag and HDMI access, and the use of portable travel monitors for frequent travelers. The guide also discusses optimizing audio with headphones or Bluetooth speakers and managing lighting and ergonomics in hotel environments.
I've run the numbers, and if the Steam Machine does arrive this summer, this is how much it should cost
This article analyzes the potential cost of Valve's upcoming Steam Machine, estimating a starting price of around $775 for the 512GB model and $975 for the 2TB model based on current PC component prices. The analysis considers wholesale versus retail pricing and compares it to the recent price increases of the Steam Deck OLED, suggesting a final retail price for the Steam Machine could exceed $1,000.
New Intel-based handheld gaming PCs sound great but all signs point towards yet more prohibitively expensive price tags
Intel's new Panther Lake chips for handheld gaming PCs, the Arc G3 and G3 Extreme, are expected to be prohibitively expensive, following a trend of rising prices in the market. This is exacerbated by Valve's recent price increase for the Steam Deck OLED and high costs for other handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go, with upcoming MSI Claw models potentially exceeding $1,800 USD.
Why aren’t there more PC-first gamepads? Valve don’t know, but they "did see an opportunity" for the new Steam Controller
Valve designers Lawrence Yang and Steve Cardinali discuss the lack of PC-first gamepads, noting an opportunity for their new Steam Controller. While acknowledging the dominance of console controllers like the Xbox Wireless Controller and PlayStation 5 DualSense, they believe there's a market for a controller specifically designed for PC gaming, offering features beyond 'good enough'.
Steam Controller review: even without a Steam Machine mate, this is a smartly crafted gamepad that puts PCs first
The second-generation Steam Controller is a versatile and functional gamepad designed primarily for PC use, offering improvements over its predecessor with the addition of a D-pad and a second thumbstick. It features advanced inputs like dual trackpads with improved haptics and Hall Effect-style stick drift protection, making it highly customizable. While it may lack the premium feel of some high-end controllers and has compatibility limitations with non-Steam launchers, its unique PC-centric features and innovative magnetic charging make it a compelling option for PC gamers.
Lenovo Legion Go S Z1 Extreme Price Jumps to $1,579 Again
Lenovo has again increased the price of the Legion Go S with the Z1 Extreme model to $1,579, a price point that is significantly higher than competitors like the Steam Deck OLED and ROG Ally. The article argues that this premium pricing strategy is unsustainable in the competitive handheld market, where value and performance per dollar are crucial for consumers.
Call 911, Lenovo now wants nearly $3,000 for its Legion Go 2 handheld, but it might actually be discontinued
Lenovo is reportedly asking $2,849.99 for the Legion Go 2 handheld PC, nearly double its original MSRP, amidst rumors of discontinuation. The device's landing page states it is no longer available, while other Lenovo handhelds remain on sale at inflated prices. This price hike is speculated to be linked to a RAM shortage caused by AI demand, though the author suggests the handheld was already too expensive.
The Nex Playground is getting a price hike because of the memory crisis
Nex is raising the price of its Nex Playground console from $249 to $299 starting April 1, 2026, due to a global memory and storage component shortage exacerbated by AI infrastructure demand. CEO David Lee stated the company can no longer sustainably absorb the rising costs. Other companies like Valve and Nintendo are also facing pressures from the crisis, with potential impacts on their hardware pricing and supply.
The OrangePi Neo gaming handheld with Manjaro Linux is now "on ice" due to component prices
The planned release of the OrangePi Neo handheld gaming device, running Manjaro Linux, has been put on hold due to high prices of DDR5 RAM and SSDs, exacerbated by the AI surge. Project Lead Philip Müller confirmed the delay, noting that certifications are complete but a favorable market condition is awaited. This marks another setback for the device, which was already facing delays.
Fate of console pricing uncertain after Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs
The US Supreme Court has ruled against tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, potentially impacting video game hardware pricing. Companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo had previously raised prices due to these tariffs, with manufacturing largely based in China. However, ongoing shortages of RAM and hard drives driven by AI data center demand, exacerbated by a deal between OpenAI and Samsung, continue to pose challenges to hardware availability and pricing.
