A White-colored Steam Deck has emerged, yet our primary desire remains to be the arrival of the Steam Deck 2.
There won't be a Steam Deck 2 this year. Team Valve already confirmed it in a recent chat. Instead of hinting at new hardware, the PC game retail titan did its best Pawn Stars impression on Monday, telling eager handheld fans, "The best I can offer is a white Steam Deck OLED." However, anyone hoping to outsmart the scalpers should be aware that once these are gone, Valve won't be making any more.
Valve announced the upcoming white Steam Deck OLED limited edition on their Twitter page. This device shares the same OLED technology as the one Valve released last year, but it comes in a sportier, off-white color with gray buttons and thumbsticks. Priced at $680, it's the same as the previous 1 TB translucent plastic Steam Deck OLED. But it does come with a white carrying case and microfiber cleaning cloth as added bonuses. The power button still retains its orange accent as the only pop of color.
These white Steam Decks will be available starting November 18 at 6 p.m. ET, 3 p.m. PT. They'll be available in the US, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Valve mentioned having "limited quantities" of white Steam Decks for all regions. To avoid resellers flooding eBay with marked-up white Steam Decks, Valve is limiting purchases to one per account. However, eligible accounts must have made a previous purchase on Steam before November. But we can't see that stopping resellers from replicating their scheme, just like their limited edition 30th anniversary PlayStation 5 Pro.
The standard 1 TB Steam Deck goes for $650. If you're looking to save that extra $30, investing it in a skin or dock is perfectly reasonable. Valve's handheld is still king in its price range. More powerful handhelds using Windows, like the Lenovo Legion Go and the Asus ROG Ally X, cost hundreds of dollars more. They provide more power but also more complex compatibility issues. If you're after smooth functioning, the Steam Deck remains the crown jewel of PC handhelds.
I've been loving my Steam Deck as much as any gamer who'd rather not sit at their desk. I spent an entire sick day this week moaning about my aching limbs and lost myself in Metaphor: ReFantazio on that 7.4-inch OLED screen. The new white model does look appealing, but white plastic will inevitably scuff and get dirty. Alternatively, you could customize your Steam Deck with decals or stickers from companies like DBrand.
I must admit, I'm a bit underwhelmed by this white model given its reported cracking issues with the older translucent plastic model. A Steam Deck design inspired by Portal's turrets with red face buttons or trackpads would've been more enticing. Perhaps Valve is reserving its energy for the inevitable Steam Deck 2. Valve designer Lawrence Yang told Reviews.org that the company isn't planning any yearly releases but is seeking a real "generational leap" in computing power without compromising battery life. With the rumors of the AMD Ryzen Z2, the next-gen chip that powers the Ally and Legion Go, a generational leap might be just around the corner.
The upcoming white Steam Deck OLED is a testament to Valve's commitment to innovate in the tech field, showcasing their use of advanced OLED technology. Despite the limited availability of this device, its release hints at exciting possibilities for the future of technology in the handheld gaming market.
Valve's announcement of the AMD Ryzen Z2, the next-generation chip, has sparked speculations about a potential Steam Deck 2, which could bring a significant leap in computing power without sacrificing battery life, shaping the future of portable gaming devices.
