Valve discontinues the most affordable Steam Deck — $399 LCD version on the way out as new starting point is $549
https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/handheld-gaming/valve-discontinues-the-most-affordable-steam-deck-usd399-lcd-version-on-the-way-out-as-new-starting-point-is-usd549
239 points · 41 comments · view on lemmy.world
41 Comments
DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca · 88 pts · 245d
Considering the higher cost comes with better specifications at least makes this different from the usual arbitrary price hike we see these days, but it's not pleasant to see a mandatory $150 increase.
halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world · 53 pts · 245d
And the $550 is the same price that model already was. That price has not changed since it launched.
psycotica0@lemmy.ca · 11 pts · 244d
Right, yeah. Seems more like they're just not making the older model at all, probably haven't been for a while, and now the stock has run out.
Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 244d
I'm pretty sure the LCD deck page literally said that when I bought my OLED several months ago
Rentlar@lemmy.ca · 28 pts · 245d
The OG Steam Deck 256GB launched at a price of US$529 so it was clearance pricing, more or less. (The 64GB launched at $399).
bdonvr@thelemmy.club · 32 pts · 244d
$399 was a sale price....
Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 23 pts · 244d
The $399 model was a steal especially if you swapped out the 64GB eMMC with a 1TB NVMe yourself. Shame the price point couldn't last.
xeekei@lemmy.zip · 12 pts · 244d
The 399 model has been 256 GB NVMe since the OLED version launched.
Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 244d
I bought my model before the OLEDs came out 3 years ago. Should've waited a little longer to get one with the nicer screen but I don't regret it.
uymai@lemmy.ca · 8 pts · 245d
Hmph, I assumed a cheaper oled model would be introduced, or maybe hold off until whatever new version they release
TheRealKuni@piefed.social · 22 pts · 245d
I suspect it will be a while before we see Steam Deck 2.0. The Steam Deck is plenty strong for what it needs to be, and the AI bubble means components are not inexpensive.
Also, for anyone who doesn’t know, if you have a gaming PC you can install Moonlight on your Deck and Apollo (or Sunshine) on your PC and stream the PC to the Deck. As long as you have WiFi 6 or 6e you should have minimal latency, and you can get significantly better graphics and battery life on the Deck. Really makes gaming in bed or on the couch even better!
DdCno1@beehaw.org · 4 pts · 244d
Steam also has a built-in streaming feature that doesn't require any additional software.
TheRealKuni@piefed.social · 1 pts · 244d
Yep! And Steam Link is fine, but Moonlight/Apollo gives you more options and, in my experience, better quality.
So for example I can tell Moonlight to have Apollo send 1440p to the Steam Deck, so that after chroma subsampling I still end up with an entirely unique pixel for each on the Deck. That alone makes things look more crisp. I can also have Apollo set up such that my PC uses Moonlight as the only display when I’m using it.
(There are far more options I haven’t really dug into.)
subignition@fedia.io · 2 pts · 244d
Does that cause problems with rendering small text?
TheRealKuni@piefed.social · 2 pts · 244d
I haven’t noticed any, but maybe? Very fine details can get combined, so it’s possible. But I’ve been playing Diablo 4 that way recently and haven’t complained.
DdCno1@beehaw.org · 1 pts · 244d
Cool info, but I'm not sure about this part. Do you mean downsampling instead? Because chroma subsampling doesn't make sense in this context.
TheRealKuni@piefed.social · 1 pts · 244d
In 4:2:2 subsampling (or lower), information is lost. It’s not much information, but if I’m streaming 1280x800 or 1280x720, each pixel is partial defined by the ones around it.
If I stream 2560x1440, when reduced to 1280x720 each pixel is the combination of those 4 subsampled pixels. Meaning each individual pixel is independent from its neighbors.
It doesn’t sound like it should mean much, and maybe I’m wrong entirely about the reason for the lower detail when streaming 1280x800, but the difference was apparent to me (at least when I tested it with Cyberpunk 2077). I could very well be wrong, I’m not an expert. There could be other causes. But either way streaming at 1440p looks better on the 1280x800 screen than streaming 1280x800. (Except with 1440p the aspect ratio means small black bars at top and bottom).
Now that I think about it, I might be able to turn off the subsampling in the stream. Might be a good way to test it if I can.
Agent_Karyo@piefed.world · 2 pts · 243d
I am more into the encoding side, not streaming, but a 1440p source on a 800p screen will always look better than a 800p source.
TheRealKuni@piefed.social · 1 pts · 243d
Thank you for letting me know I’m not crazy! 😅
kandykarter@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 244d
And if you DON'T have a steam deck but have a decent smartphone, a razer kishi or similar provides a great comparable budget setup. I use moonlight and a Kishi 2 with my Pixel 6 and it's a great couch/bed experience over wifi.
TheRealKuni@piefed.social · 1 pts · 244d
I use it with my Xbox to have 4K PC gaming on my TV downstairs. Ethernet means lower latency between the Xbox and PC than between the Xbox and its own controller. 🤣 It’s pretty remarkable.
saigot@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 244d
The new generation of consoles is probably coming in the next 2 years or so, I imagine that they will refresh soon after that since new consoles tend to bump up minimum game specs.
Bakkoda@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 244d
IMO next major sale they do a decent discount on the low end OLED and even if they sell at minimal profits that's ecosystem lock-in and a boost for Linux in the household.
PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 244d
By the sound of it, it was minimal profit at base price, and while things should get cheaper to manufacture and sell over time, hardware prices are rapidly increasing. I wouldn't be suprised if they need to increase their prices to break even, going forward - esspecially given that if its too cheap, buisness or industry customers might start buying it.
massive_bereavement@fedia.io · 6 pts · 244d
Question to those that use it: Don't you get your arms and/or neck tired playing? I only used smaller handheld consoles in the past and I can't imagine myself holding this around for an hour.
xeekei@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 244d
No, it's very comfortable to hold actually. My Switch Lite feels cramped by comparison.
gusgalarnyk@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 244d
I am almost always resting my arms when I'm playing on the steam deck. It's not mandatory but it's just more comfortable in general.
PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 244d
Its harder on the back-neck than something like a GBA, but compared to the switch, it isn't night-and-day. With basically anything larger than a phone, you're probably going to be resting it on your knees or a table anyway.
pycorax@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 244d
Definitely much heavier than something like a Switch. It's not something I would use while standing on a train like I would with the Switch. I only ever play with it seated and have it laying on top of my bag on my lap.
I would love it if they had one similar to the Switch Lite's size but that seems pretty impossible with the current chipset.
cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 244d
I love it how it is. It's comfortable to hold and use. After long sessions on the switch my hands would hurt because of how bad the ergonomics are.
MimicJar@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 244d
I plop on my couch and put a throw pillow on my lap and put the Steam Deck on the pillow. So I'm not really holding it. My arms do still get tired, but only after playing for hours at which point I should probably take a break anyway.
SpicyTaint@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 244d
Fizz@lemmy.nz · 3 pts · 243d
I only notice the weight when i drop it on my face. Otherwise it just feels like a phone.
massive_bereavement@fedia.io · 3 pts · 243d
I dropped smaller consoles on my face to build up tolerance, so probably I'll be ok. :)
Rooster326@programming.dev · 3 pts · 244d
They don't get tired but I have inadvertently given myself Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. Numb Pinky, and Ring Finger from leaning too much on my elbows playing. Think Funny Bone except it happens without an injury, and it doesn't go away immediately.
Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 244d
I played for like 8 hours straight yesterday, yes my arms and fingers hurt a bit but are fine today.
kittenzrulz123@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 244d
I held it and tbh its not as big as people think it is, they imagine a huge massive handheld (and so did I tbh) but in reality its not even the same size as a full sized controller
Decq@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 243d
As long as I can rest my elbows somewhere it's fine for hours. And because it's bigger I get way less cramps in my fingers than for example the switch. That one I couldn't use for longer than an hour.
ripcord@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 244d
No
Quexotic@sh.itjust.works · -1 pts · 244d
Huh. Guess I'm not getting a steam deck. Bummer.
bonenode@piefed.social · 8 pts · 244d
als@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 244d
You should be able to find secondhand LCD models for less than retail price.
Gladaed@feddit.org · 0 pts · 244d
If you haven't bought one yet you wouldn't. They were on clearance for a while.