Gamers have long loved the Steam Deck, which has become even more well-known over the last two years. Additionally, Valve produced an improved OLED version of their portable device, improving the refresh rate and screen quality. But the Steam Deck 2 has been highly anticipated by gamers everywhere. We do have some conjectures and possible specs, despite the lack of information currently available. Now, let's talk over all we currently know about the Steam Deck 2.
The most recent modification to this page was made on March 14, 2024, when it was updated with additional information regarding Steam Deck 2 and improved readability via title and header changes..Steam Deck 2: Potential Date of Release
According to a formal statement from Valve, Steam Deck 2's release would happen gradually. The Steam Deck 2 is expected to be released by the end of 2026, based on what we now know. The anticipated 2026 release date stems from Valve's announcement, which was made in late 2023 and was obtained by Bloomberg.
The release timeframe for Steam Deck 2 is Q3-Q4 2026, according to another new report from the Chiphell forums. This story aligns with what Valve disclosed to Bloomberg about the anticipated release date of Steam Deck 2. However, we advise approaching this cautiously.
"[Steam Deck 2] will not be released for at least two or three years," said Lawrence Yang, a Valve product designer.Is it possible that Steam Deck 2 will be released in 2025? Yes, given that nothing is finalized just yet. Earlier in 2023, Valve's product designer said that the business is always considering the Steam Deck 2.
My theory is that development on a new custom APU will start as soon as AMD announces the RDNA 4 graphics architecture. It will be used on Steam Deck 2, which ought to launch about a year after the publication of AMD's RDNA 4.
Why don't they arrive sooner? Have new processors not been released yet? All of that being said, Valve has excellent reason to hold off on releasing the Steam Deck 2. The next-generation portable console is intended to help the corporation accomplish a number of goals. We'll see how they respond to it.
Steam Deck 2: Anticipated Cost
While Valve works on the upcoming update, many other enhancements are being worked on. Regarding Deck 2's pricing, we currently only have conjecture since there is no hard information available. Other than the previously discussed Chiphell leak, which said that "the price should increase quite a lot," there are no pricing leaks.
Let's take a look at the launch prices of earlier Steam Deck models before we start to predict. At $399, the first Steam Deck was released. A few years later, Valve also launched an additional $549 Steam Deck OLED. Better, more efficient AMD CPU constructed using a 6nm manufacturing technique, as opposed to the LCD variant's 7nm, is another characteristic of the updated OLED device.
The basic model of the Steam Deck 2 should cost up to $500 if it has an OLED panel. If Valve modifies the game with drastically altered internal specifications, the expense of updating the CPU shouldn't be prohibitive.
All things considered, our estimation places the price of Steam Deck 2 at $500 and $600.. It's also possible that Valve will produce it for a lot less money than we anticipate. After the release of Steam Deck 2, we could see many console variations with LCD and OLED panels being offered at pricing comparable to what we have previously said, much like how the first-generation Steam Deck is now marketed.
Rumor has it that Valve will also keep selling various less expensive Steam Deck configurations. For this reason, even with the release of the Steam Deck 2, the current generation of OLED and LCD versions could not disappear or be abandoned.
Steam Deck 2: Possible Features
One of the greatest CPU architectures available will be included in the Steam Deck 2, which will come with the next generation portable console. Here are our best guesses for Steam Deck 2's anticipated specifications.
Launched in early 2022, the initial model has an AMD Aerith APU. (accelerated processing unit) with RDNA 2 graphics integrated into a 7nm manufacturing process. AMD's RX 6000 series GPUs marked the debut of this graphics architecture in late 2020. This original Steam Deck's custom-built APU's CPU is based on the Zen 2 architecture.
A next-generation AMD APU with RDNA 4 graphics architecture may be included in the Steam Deck 2. The chip manufacturer hasn't yet made this public. Zen 5 may possibly be available by the time RDNA 4 is published in the future, bringing with it significant improvements in CPU efficiency.
According to a leak that was posted on Chiphell.com, similar remarks have been made in the past. The Lenovo Legion is one of the handhelds that uses the AMD Ryzen Z1 series processor. Compared to the CPUs seen in Valve's most recent Steam Deck, these Ryzen Z1 Series CPUs with RDNA 3 are more recent. However, the people who created the Steam Deck are excitedly awaiting something better for the Steam Deck 2.
Chiphell reportedly mentioned a Zen 4 architecture. RDNA 4 is, therefore, also "just a calculated speculation."Zen 4 with RDNA 4 or even Zen 5 with RDNA 4 might be included in the next APU.
Since it's still early, the business may want to look at chip manufacturers other than AMD. Recently, OEMs have been releasing gaming handhelds using Intel Core Ultra () processors, such the MSI Claw.The first-ever release of AMD's RDNA 2 architecture and the first Steam Deck were released one year apart. In reference to the current, AMD debuted their new RDNA 3 architecture around the end of 2021.In spite of this, it seems that Valve will hold off until RDNA 4 launches. Thanks to improved manufacturing techniques, the next-generation processor's increased efficiency could at last satisfy Valve's requirements (Via: IGN) for the next Steam Deck 2 portable gaming system.
As soon as we think we have access to a performance jump that transcends generations, we are interested in the Steam Deck 2. We aren't looking at Steam Deck 2 just yet since we can't see that. Lawrence Yang, Valve's Product DesignerIn order to virtually double the FPS in games, the chipmaker AMD has already introduced technologies like FSR 3 AI-based frame generation. This technology should also be included in Steam Deck 2, greatly expanding its potential. Developers at Valve have further tuned AMD's FidelityFX Resolution for the Steam Deck portable game system.Steam Deck OLED already offers a number of improvements. Thus, that console would effectively be a significant sequel, known as Steam Deck 2, if it had a faster CPU. Nevertheless, Valve believes that a generational update to the Steam Deck is not realistic given the status of the processors that are now available to them.Naturally, Valve aims to create a next-generation portable device with speedier performance for consumers. The business also hopes to improve the battery life of the Steam Deck 2 to the same level.After reviewing the potent ROG Ally portable console, I can say that while having greater gaming performance is undoubtedly a big bonus, the battery life is not even close to what the Steam Deck offers. Furthermore, the Steam Deck has been built by Valve to be very effective and well suited in terms of battery life management. Likewise, it will function with Steam Deck 2.Work on the Steam Deck 2 should start as soon as Valve discovers the efficiency and performance they are looking for in the processors that chipmakers have delivered.
Steam Deck 2: Hypothesized Display Enhancements
The display on Steam Deck 2 could be OLED.. Nevertheless, Steam Deck is now available from Valve in both LCD and OLED versions. We may assume that this tendency will lead to the basic model of a future update coming with an LCD screen. A Premium OLED model could come after this.The 64GB and 512GB LCD versions of the original Steam Deck were withdrawn by the business after the release of the new OLED edition. The LCD version of the Steam Deck is now the entry-level model in the range and is the one that is now for sale. It contains 256GB of storage.
- A 900p screen resolution upgraded from 720p), which would enhance the clarity and sharpness of the gaming experience. Some handhelds like ROG Ally have a 1080p panel. Valve could also choose to upgrade Steam Deck 2 to FHD. If it is 900p, then given the 16:10 form factor, the resolution would be 1440×900.
- An OLED panel featuring inky blacks and an immersive contrast ratio. It could be slightly upgraded from the Steam Deck OLED if the resolution on Steam Deck 2 increases.
- A 90Hz refresh rate will enhance motion clarity in the ideal scenarios. The currently-out Steam Deck OLED already features this.
- Freesync/VRR support could be coming, but sadly, current models do not support it. If Steam Deck 2 has VRR support, it will look super smooth even at lower frame rates. Many latest handhelds do support this.
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, as the currently released OLED variant of Steam Deck features. The next-gen handheld could feature even better HDR if the maximum brightness increases from 1000 Nits found in the current OLED one.
Steam Deck 2: Possible Controller & Design
The Steam Deck is a modern console. But the formal unveiling was over two years ago, and it will be more than four years old by 2026. There were certain design improvements made to the OLED version, chief among them being the larger OLED screen with thinner bezels.Regarding the Steam Deck 2 design, there are no official leaks or speculations. Thus, here, we are only theorizing. I do not anticipate Valve to make significant changes, however. The device's overall footprint is thoughtfully designed and balanced.Whatever CPU is used in the new Steam Deck 2 shouldn't need any more cooling than what is already included in the device. The valve simply requires more performance with comparable power consumption, so the gadget shouldn't become much fatter.There is a little weight difference between the OLED and LCD versions. Therefore, an enhanced weight in the 600–700 gram range may be included in the new Deck. This assumption is accurate as the ergonomics of the gadget are crucial and need to stay mostly unaltered. In the Steam Deck 2, the controller itself could have improved thumbsticks.Joysticks with Hall effects have been the main attraction of some recent portable devices. It's included in both ROG Ally and MSI Claw. The easiest way to sum up how hall-effect joysticks feel in a game is "more precise, and less effort required." Potentiometer-based joysticks are used in the current generation of Steam Decks, yet it is unknown how Valve feels about an implementation based on hall effects.We can also see an improvement in the left and right controller thumbsticks of the OLED version, which have a grippier texture . Since many people have even modified their joysticks to provide greater support, this area may also get improved support.
Steam Deck 2 Limited Edition
