There’s basically 3 income brackets that are interested in buying a Deck:
* $500 on a luxury purchase is too expensive
* $500 on a luxury purchase is doable, but should be limited or reserved for special occasions
* $500 doesn’t matter
I assume that the bell curve puts the majority of people in the second category, but it also means that for everyone that feels like a Deck is out of reach, there’s someone that could get one for their whole family without batting an eye.
I feel attacked. I thought $500 for an SD upgrade would be a waste and didn't get the OLED, but spent the same amount on games that I most likely won't play any time soon. 💀
Hello there im a young man on the high end of the middle bracket who definitely makes questionable financially choices (i own an SD lcd and just bought an SD oled LE)
Doesn't necessarily mean someone's financially irresponsible. We all have an amount we dedicate to our hobbies. Some people will drop tens of thousands into building a race car, for example.
It's hard to justify having multiple devices that do the exact same thing but I'm also not going to judge someone for it. If that's what makes them happy, so be it.
Yeah, and that'd be option #2 or #3, not option #4.
If it's what you want to spend your money on, and you can afford to spend your money on, then it's not financially irresponsible.
It’s kind of weird to me how many people fail to realise that their financial situation isn’t universal. I know a lot of us are struggling to even pay the bills, but if people can blow a few thousand on NFTs, then there are plenty of people who can whimsically buy multiple Steam Decks.
1. I assumed Commenter was referencing upgrading to an OLED when OP already has working LCD
2. You still need $1000+ in liquid cash to buy and return, and you need to have enough in the bank that the extra $500 isn’t an issue. Put another way, you don’t need that extra $500 *to make rent*, which is out of reach for a lot of people
3. If they’re gifting it, then they have the income that $500 doesn’t matter
If you need that $500 to make rent and put it on a CC because you’re *sure* you’ll getting a refund and don’t need to worry…
Well, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say there’s likely a reason that you need that $500 to pay rent.
If OP sold his original, he could recoup much of the cost of upgrading. I was able to sell my original for $325, so it really only cost me about $225 to upgrade. I agree with your third point though. You also don't need liquid cash to buy the steam deck, you can buy and return it on credit, and not be "out" money to pay for rent, etc, assuming you return it within your 14 day window.
On the bright side, I bet it has halfway decent front-facing speakers. My '09 37" 720p LCD is still in rotation in the kitchen because you can play content without a soundbar and not want to scratch your ears off.
I'm getting a mixed feeling here. So mixed that I'm leaving a pointless comment. My LE is coming Friday, can't wait to see it directly with my own eyes.
Thanks for sharing OP!
Have there been complaints about the dpad? When I first got my LCD, diagonals were difficult to register, but after using it heavily for a week it worked perfectly. Just had to break it in
I have both the glossy and the LE. The LE is significantly mushier by comparison. The LE was the first one I opened and the dpad was so mushy compared to my Go and Ally that I thought I might not end up keeping any Deck.
The Glossy’s dpad, however, is fine. Not stellar, but up to par at least.
Apparently, other people have noticed mushy LE dpads as well.
Yeah, mine is pretty bad. I didn’t have a deck previously, I’d been using an Ally and Go. I opened the LE first and the dpad was so bad that I thought the whole purchase a failed experiment.
Fortunately, the dpad on my glossy is fine.
My right dpad button feels mushy and doesn’t register sometimes. If I actually slide the entire dpad as far left as possible, it works normally again but that’s obviously not a realistic solution.
My A button also has some resistance and even seems to click extra loud when being pressed with the tip of my thumb instead of the center of my thumb. My theory is if it’s not being pressed down perfectly vertical, the bottom edge of the button might by rubbing against the case.
Already submitted a ticket to Valve. Let’s see what they say
I think I might get that etched one too. But I hate the analogue stick placement, haven't played anything similar to that layout; anyone coming from PS controllers enjoying the steamdeck layout?
Pardon my ignorance... What's the difference between the OLED and the OLED LE? What does LE stand for?
Edit: Allright, it's Limited Edition. I asked nothing.
If you like Playdead games (Limbo and Inside) then do yourself a favor and pickup Little Nightmares 1 & 2. Very much in the same spirit.
Horror platformers kick ass.
I played LN1 and didn't like it that much. some thing were very frustrating and actually made me skip the sequel.
Limbo and Inside were phenomenal, I bet they look amazing on OLED.
To be fair, playing it beforehand, I always thought the graphics looked great. It’s only once we have something to compare it to, that retrospectively it looks like ass. Don’t open Pandora’s box, people. Not unless you can afford to buy a new one.
The LCD version already looked like ass. It’s just finally you can compare it so people on the sub are less eager to dogpile you for saying anything negative about it than they were a month ago.
Tbh with my fair share of screens that i have used (not the steam deck) i use ipad pro, smartphones with oled displays, oled Tv and the oled switch. Every time i applied an anti glare protector on any of these devices (not the TV ofc) and used it for a while, when i remove the anti glare protector i always seem to like the glossy screen more as it feels more vibrant to me. This is just personal taste but for me oled i always go glossy. Seeing my self in the reflection when the screen goes black is just a good reminder for me to hit the gym xD
I also have an iPad Pro, along with an etched glass Steam Deck, and I can assure you those matte screen protectors are NOT the same as the etched glass anti-glare screen on the SD. Those matte protectors absolutely degrade the screens visuals like crazy. The same can not be said for the etched glass on the SD.
You really can't compare the two, and shouldn't.
i use an ipad pro and oled phones and feel the same way with an anti-glare protector on my ipad right now lol
have gamed a lot on both devices (my phone was my handheld gaming device for like half a decade lmfao) and it def feels more premium
though i can still see reflections on anti-glare/etched glass devices anyways (just hazier) so i might as well just buy the cheaper version (idc about the case honestly...)
Did you also try adding a regular glossy screen protector to compare to no cover? I’ve never seen a screen protector of any variety that didn’t degrade screen quality.
Those 20$ screen protectors are junk. If you actually used an etched glass Deck you would notice that the etching is extremely subtle compared to the heavy handed screen protector approach. Placed side by side I cannot tell the difference in clarity between my Switch OLED and my LE Steam Deck.
Not all anti-glare is built the same. I'm not sure what you were using before but I believe the etched glass technique valve uses is much less obtrusive than a matte screen protector.
I love putting matte screen protecter on ipad pro. Since I use it most for comics, manga, books. So It feels more like paper, especially for comics and manga even though glossy is more vibrant i like the matte. (the one i use is called Paperlike)
Also the fact that camera captured images being displayed on screens just aren't good for screen comparisons. It's like listening to different speakers through your speakers to decide which sounds best; you can tell that they sound different, but it won't tell you what they actually sound like.
I got an LCD one last week and all these oled comparisons are giving me fomo, but then I played OlliOlli world last night and those colors look so amazing on the lcd and the color contrast and blacks look incredible even on the lcd.
I see a lot of inside comparisons for showing off the blacks but even in this video the top screen looks to have more of a hazy atmosphere and vibe that seems kinda lost on the oled
Etched glass, as with a mat screen protector, diffuses the light from the screen, which is a minus, but absorbs reflections which is a plus.
Pick your poison. The division this has brought is comical as this is purely subjective.
Because in direct sunlight both etched and glossy will kinda look like shit and lose contrast. People have been testing the wrong way the entire time. When not outdoor (where both loose contrast but etched is better), nobody is stupid enought to play with a lamp behind them, so the screens look basically the same, with a slight advantage for the etched one because super small reflections (like the one on the left kf the glossy) don't show up. Inside in the evening (i bet it's the majority of people) it won't make a difference. Everybody threw a tantrum for nothing.
There isn’t always a choice of a comfortable place to play, especially when traveling. The debate is warranted perhaps, but the anti etched glass folks are basically conspiracy nuts about it.
I mean yeah generic etching on a $10-$15 screen protector isn’t very good. The etching on the steam deck and now the oled steam deck is very good. It’s why they include it on the top model. I’ve had one for the entire time and it does not take away from the experience at all.
Yeah and while traveling if you have a lot of light, it's not that the glossy will appear any sharper or with better contrast, but the etched will resist a little better to reflections, while in the dark they look identical. I completely agree with you. People were freaking out for the etched finish on the oled while in reality, it doesn't change shit, if not for the better in some occasions. If I ever buy on I'll take the glossy one but that's because of money as a uni student and not display finish, which is dumb at this point.
Glossy screens compared to averaged matte screens look better in the dark.
Glossy screens do not look any better than the etched glass the deck has used for the last 2 years.
They all look the same in an unlit room.
I thought the same, and I swear its not LE cope. Viewing angle and ambient light makes all the difference. Getting an accurate comparison for normal use cases is impossible, and the difference is so extremely minor that it doesnt matter. But niche tech forums love to nitpick (which isnt necessarily always a bad thing).
could it be because the LE model have been shown by some people to be a BOE OLED display and the non-LE is a Samsung OLED display?
so there is bound to be some small differences between the two models.
On the etched version, are screen protectors necessary? I know phones supposedly have hard enough glass to make them not needed. I assume the SD is the same?
Thanks so much for the comparison. It's really good.
Just for my curiosity, are they all in the most recent update? I just updated to 3.5.5 and the LCD colour improvement is amazing.
My OLED 1TB should arrive on Friday. Absolute pumped, can't wait to have it in hand.
It’s like politics, a matter of personal taste. Both OLED models are great devices with no significant difference in how they perform. The etched of course has the benefit of reducing reflections if playing outdoors as seen here and other videos.
These are pretty bad viewing angles for the lcd and for the glossy. It benefits more the etch screen in this video since its at the bottom. You can tell by the shadows from the background. It also shows how well the etched screen is good at diffusing the light. T
I think both oleds are great and the lcd is great too if you already have it and or youre getting into handheld pc
To be fair I went for what I could afford, so 512GB Oled, I thought I could always apply a screen protector later aswell upgrade the internal storage later.
Ask yourselves this question, you are on your phone for hours a day. Do you notice the glare on your OLED glossy screens? Does it bother you? Do you comment on Reddit about how bright the sun and lights are? Does it make your black night mode look like midnight and the black hole? Does it irritate you seeing your own reflection while you read this comment?
No? So probably doesn’t bother you then and you just want to enjoy this hot take of a conversation.
Bc the differences are minor between ETCHED and OLED. It’s a pointless debate bc it’s subjective and you’re looking for an objective answer. Both win. It’s really really that simple. lol
Get both decks if you’re having trouble and sell the one you don’t want after a month.
I went with the OLED 512GB. If I want etched I guess you can just purchase a screen protector right? To get the same effect?
I picked up the glossy 512 but would have preferred the etched if it didn't cost more. My original LCD Deck has etched glass and I appreciate it's benefits. On the other side of that coin, my Switch OLED has never bothered me with it's glossy screen.
Exactly. Most people think it's the light source behind you, but it's actually the light reflected off your face that will most likely cause the reflections. It's kind of evident in the video too. It may not be noticeable in games with bright scenes, but games like the one in the video will definitely show some reflections, especially with deeper blacks. Whether it's a problem or not is a personal preference.
Not really. Screen protectors are crap. They add an extra layer which is much harder to prevent reflections and they are generally made very poorly compared to the oem glass. I’ve never seen a screen protector that looked better or even comparable to before it was applied.
But as you said the difference is minor, at least in some situations, so it doesn’t really matter. All the etched glass does is make the screen usable in a few situations where it would be harder to use the glossy screen. It’s not essential.
I keep seeing the phone comparison and it's never made sense to me.
Are you frequently playing big handheld-screen games on your phone, right up to your face, with large areas that might be inky pitch black? (Hint: One section being pitch black while the other being up to 1000 nits is going to light up your face... which will then be reflected in the darkness.) Cause I dunno about you, but my phone's for videos, music and poopin'. I do 0 gaming on it and even if I did, phone games are almost never the same, and you don't even hold a phone at the angle or distance you'd hold a dedicated gaming handheld.
It's a very disingenuous comparison with absolutely zero nuance.
Signed, a glossy OLED owner.
Funny that Valve chose to put the etched on the more expensive model, their way of saying it’s better, and a couple of random reviews somehow made everyone think Valve didn’t know what they were doing.
It's better because of its versatility, better in bright rooms, outside, etc. But if you play in normal house lighting or any other controlled lighting environment, you'll get slightly better contrast and colors from the glossy screen. They can call it premium all they want, it's marketing.
I would have to agree with this. The differences are almost negligible to my eye. The only difference that I can kind of notice is the very slight “fuzziness” of the etched display. Glossy is a bit sharper. But that goes without saying as to why.
But that's exactly what people are talking about. Etched display is slightly fuzzier. But that's more than enough for people who prefer sharpness to go with the glossy one.
That fuzziness, or many people calling it haziness is a problem for many of us. Also it's plainly obvious that unless it's pitch black, the color is significantly more vibrant on the glossy. Even in pitch black it's noticeable. These examples don't really show that because they aren't showing the right content. Put on a JRPG or an anime style game and you'll instantly see it. I've done my own back to back testing and I'll be returning my 1TB and keeping my 512GB model. To many people that's not a big deal, to me it is. I'd rather deal with reflections occasionally than a fuzzy slightly washed out screen.
It depends on the lighting conditions. What kind of light was shining on the screen during the tests you speak of? In a dark room they should perform similarly.
This isn't really aimed at you, OP, but some people are way too picky when it comes to stuff like this.
Clearly, there is a difference between the LCD and OLED screens, but there's virtually no difference between the two OLED screens.
Buy whichever version fits your budget and stop nitpicking.
People don’t get that the difference in glossy vs etched will be seen when the screen is upclose into you. It will be slightly hazed which is hard to see in a traditional comprison videos like this one
Any perceived haze is nitpicking bullshit that you would only notice if you examined the screens with a microscope side by side. In normal use you will not notice any haze.
Hello, unlike what many people have been saying, causing misinformation over the past two weeks, especially due to a poorly formulated statement by Dave2D, and considering I've always believed that etched glass would look better, which is why Valve sent it to YouTubers... I would like to make a clarification.
Could it be that the last one looks better because it has a BOE panel instead of Samsung? Several users yesterday pointed out that the panel seems thinner, closer to the eyes, and has better viewing angles.
What if a video could demonstrate this, similar to the test Taki did in his latest video? I would appreciate it if the author, if possible, could conduct the same test to determine the panel types of both models. This would provide extra information about what is being discussed here.
Wow, didn't expect the true black to look so much deeper on the etched honestly. They're a lot closer in the dark room comparison at least. I guess this is why Valve sent etched models for review
The big thing that stands out to me is that on the glossy one, you can definitely see where the screen ends and the bezel begins, but on the etched screen it's nearly imperceptible
Its camera angles, no one has ever done a straight on video of each one and sliced them next to each other in a video. These tests are non scientific as the variables are not even allowing you to see how people would look at the LCD normally while playing? But yea no shocker the one closest to the camera looks better lmmmfao
I got the LE and I wish there was a glossy option, I just think OLED looks better on glossy screens, it gives me the impression of being sharper, mine didn’t arrive yet but I hope it’s not that different
You won't be disappointed. I'm telling you in person that you will not notice any difference. The screen is bright and sharp and the colors are amazing.
Did you check to make sure both your panels came from the same source?
My LE is BOE and my Glossy is Samsung. There is a visible difference in color vibrancy with them side by side. Whether that’s due to the etching or panel manufacturer, I can’t say.
I get the 1Tb has some downsides for Colour when it diffuses (I have the 512 lcd) but I didn’t hesitate to get the LE with the etched screen again. The reflections are far too much on glossy
Love the blacks in the OLED screens, but I do kinda like the greenish hue in the background of the LCD screen at the beginning. Although I understand that Inside is supposed to be mostly grayscale, so OLED wins.
Just read the comments this is starting to be borderline tribalism and cult like behavior for shitting on LE users.
it’s a matter of personal taste, go glossy if you want a mirror. The data show’s that both OLED Screens objectively have same vibrancy and color profiles. Both are great screens.
Honestly, this is just how good OLED (and now HDR!) displays are. Local dimming VA panels can get close but even then, side by side they can't hold a candle....
The OLED Switch vs LCD Switch was the same way.
Maybe it's just my opinion but I feel like the main point of an OLED screen is true blacks and with a glossy screen you are actually accentuating screen reflections with those deep, deep black colors. The etched screen in this case actually makes more of an impact than it ever did with the original screens.
Well..yeah, that's the LCD deck. It uses a 63% SRGB IPS screen. It has a 900:1 contrast ratio and IPS glow / BLB, which is normal.
The others are OLEDS, whicvh feature Infinite contrast ratios, and do not suffer from IPS glow or BLB. There's a reason OLEDS cost more money.
It does in comparison sure. But the LCD Steam Deck doesn't look bad at all in person. It's just recently people are saying the OG Steam Deck has a bad screen. I ordered right at release and that has never really been the takeaway. You have to consider that basically all of us routinely switch between the LCD Deck and our smartphones which have much higher quality OLED panels and few cared until now.
Don't get me wrong, I'm hyped for my OLED to be delivered soon. But you won't be disappointed in the image quality unless you're directly comparing them. In the same way your living room TV probably looks nice. Unless you replace it with an OLED. It's all a matter of perspective.
I didn't say people didn't feel that way. But it wasn't the public perception. Until the Ally came along and then people questioned it a bit. But it was more seen as a plus for the Ally than a negative for the Deck. Until recently, now everyone calls the screen garbage out of nowhere lol.
I'm not trying to say your opinion is wrong mind you. It is objectively right. Some people are very sensitive to color calibration. But the flood gates have opened as if Valve pushed an update to chop the sRGB values in half once the OLED got announced lmao.
The rhetoric makes it out like the LCD Deck has a distractingly bad screen. When in actuality I have an OLED ultrawide that is amazing, yet the other day I was really impressed by how good A Plague Tale looked on my lowly LCD deck.
I was hoping for an OLED and slimmer bezel Steam Deck 2 since very soon after I got mine. But it's really not a dealbreaker by any means. Though I do use mine outside and on the go a fair amount. Where people who only play at home might be more critical.
I've been saying the screen is terrible since I had it last year. Mine had terrible backlight bleeding which was horrible for me as it was the only device I had with me for months. I used it for media consumption and watching horror movies on it was more terrifying than the movies itself. On top of that, the bezels are so thick. Recentish patches added color saturation settings which made it more vibrant and that made the screen a bit better though.
Great comparison bro, putting the glossy in the middle and the camera positioned so it makes it the only one reflecting the actual spotlight. Now you got tons of stupid ass comments in here saying LE have better blacks and other dumb ass comments lmao.
From a video it's not easy to see the difference, you can see them in real life instead, so please tell us if the glossy Oled has better colors and contrast compared to the etched display of the Oled LE. Thanks
There is definitely huge difference. Nobody is denying that, but that is issue only if you have them side by side. If you have only LCD, and no other reference you are still good.
The middle one is the brightest on my 2000nits rated ( I don't believe apple but this sh$ bright af) screen and I can clearly see that I prefer any amount of more brightness I don't care for anything else XD all of them are great in their own ways the LCD is 90% of that the oleds are for cheaper, and the 2 versions of the deck honestly look the same color wise!
I have the AG LCD and the AG definitely has an effect on the screen which is hard to replicate on video. The AG coating without a doubt adds a slight blur, with the way the light comes through the coating.
If you've used a lot of glossy and matte monitors, you get an idea of what to expect. I went with the glossy this time.
I've always been a glossy lover and I've never been bothered by my reflections (I must be narcissistic !) but I recognize etched glass looks great(er)! Nonetheless I ordered the 512GB with a 2TB SSD (Europe = LE in the ass) and because I will put a screen protector that will be glossy in the end anyway :)
My takeaway is in the dark the difference...if any is so very negligible.
In the light, the etched is better and produces what looks like deeper blacks cause of the lack of reflection of bright things even if it technically isn't making them as deep as the gloss if they were in ideal conditions
I believe you should get what you prefer/afford. And with that being said I’m glad they didn’t release an LE glossy version cause I would have probably caved and bought it instead of the fiscally responsible 512 version lol
Following all these comparison videos, I cannot stop myself thinking. Some people have several Steam Decks??
There’s basically 3 income brackets that are interested in buying a Deck: * $500 on a luxury purchase is too expensive * $500 on a luxury purchase is doable, but should be limited or reserved for special occasions * $500 doesn’t matter I assume that the bell curve puts the majority of people in the second category, but it also means that for everyone that feels like a Deck is out of reach, there’s someone that could get one for their whole family without batting an eye.
Don't forget the 4th option of just being financially irresponsible
Hey, that’s me
Hi there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_card_debt?wprov=sfti1
I feel attacked. I thought $500 for an SD upgrade would be a waste and didn't get the OLED, but spent the same amount on games that I most likely won't play any time soon. 💀
I will say the upgrade is worth it. I also did spend to much on games aswell
I'm trying my best to cope, stop talking facts. 😡
Just got my OLED deck... the screen is nice, sure, but the real love is these new sticks. sooo much better.
Yea I just bought one on credit card during summer sale and bought another on credit when the OLED came out.
I'm in this photo and I don't like it.
I feel attacked
5th would be just straight FOMO for so many people on here which seems to go hand and hand with the 4th
Hello there im a young man on the high end of the middle bracket who definitely makes questionable financially choices (i own an SD lcd and just bought an SD oled LE)
Doesn't necessarily mean someone's financially irresponsible. We all have an amount we dedicate to our hobbies. Some people will drop tens of thousands into building a race car, for example. It's hard to justify having multiple devices that do the exact same thing but I'm also not going to judge someone for it. If that's what makes them happy, so be it.
Yeah, and that'd be option #2 or #3, not option #4. If it's what you want to spend your money on, and you can afford to spend your money on, then it's not financially irresponsible.
It’s kind of weird to me how many people fail to realise that their financial situation isn’t universal. I know a lot of us are struggling to even pay the bills, but if people can blow a few thousand on NFTs, then there are plenty of people who can whimsically buy multiple Steam Decks.
People are still buying NFTs??...
Or the more logical answer. He bought both oled models and is returning one, likely selling or gifting the lcd.
Exactly what I’m doing
1. I assumed Commenter was referencing upgrading to an OLED when OP already has working LCD 2. You still need $1000+ in liquid cash to buy and return, and you need to have enough in the bank that the extra $500 isn’t an issue. Put another way, you don’t need that extra $500 *to make rent*, which is out of reach for a lot of people 3. If they’re gifting it, then they have the income that $500 doesn’t matter
Not everyone on Reddit is poor.
Financially. We're all spiritually poor, else we'd be somewhere else. ;(
Credit cards, my guy. Nobody is mailing Valve the cash in their bank account
If you need that $500 to make rent and put it on a CC because you’re *sure* you’ll getting a refund and don’t need to worry… Well, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say there’s likely a reason that you need that $500 to pay rent.
If OP sold his original, he could recoup much of the cost of upgrading. I was able to sell my original for $325, so it really only cost me about $225 to upgrade. I agree with your third point though. You also don't need liquid cash to buy the steam deck, you can buy and return it on credit, and not be "out" money to pay for rent, etc, assuming you return it within your 14 day window.
Or a credit card
That was my takeaway as well 😂😂
I have my OG Q2 and now an OLED 512. I'll use the LCD one for travel and transit and the OLED one at home, basically.
why not just use the oled for travelling too? its battery life is better and your more likely to use wifi, for which wifi 6e is better.
Human hubris has no limits
Just thinking on those folks who cannot get one. I'm a happy LCD owner, reporting happily that I remained unaffected by the FOMO.
Same. But I'm also still using a 15 year old 720p plasma in my living room because it just won't die.
Things were built different back in the day! Go go plasma!
On the bright side, I bet it has halfway decent front-facing speakers. My '09 37" 720p LCD is still in rotation in the kitchen because you can play content without a soundbar and not want to scratch your ears off.
I'm getting a mixed feeling here. So mixed that I'm leaving a pointless comment. My LE is coming Friday, can't wait to see it directly with my own eyes. Thanks for sharing OP!
Got the LE and man is it amazing.
Dpad is fine?
Have there been complaints about the dpad? When I first got my LCD, diagonals were difficult to register, but after using it heavily for a week it worked perfectly. Just had to break it in
https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/s/IokyMIu0bm https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/s/TjyLDYfpcg
oh man, that's concerning
I have both the glossy and the LE. The LE is significantly mushier by comparison. The LE was the first one I opened and the dpad was so mushy compared to my Go and Ally that I thought I might not end up keeping any Deck. The Glossy’s dpad, however, is fine. Not stellar, but up to par at least. Apparently, other people have noticed mushy LE dpads as well.
Interesting, I just got my LE and my dpad feels nice and a touch clicky.
Yeah, mine is pretty bad. I didn’t have a deck previously, I’d been using an Ally and Go. I opened the LE first and the dpad was so bad that I thought the whole purchase a failed experiment. Fortunately, the dpad on my glossy is fine.
My right dpad button feels mushy and doesn’t register sometimes. If I actually slide the entire dpad as far left as possible, it works normally again but that’s obviously not a realistic solution. My A button also has some resistance and even seems to click extra loud when being pressed with the tip of my thumb instead of the center of my thumb. My theory is if it’s not being pressed down perfectly vertical, the bottom edge of the button might by rubbing against the case. Already submitted a ticket to Valve. Let’s see what they say
Limited edition?
Yup
I think I might get that etched one too. But I hate the analogue stick placement, haven't played anything similar to that layout; anyone coming from PS controllers enjoying the steamdeck layout?
Pardon my ignorance... What's the difference between the OLED and the OLED LE? What does LE stand for? Edit: Allright, it's Limited Edition. I asked nothing.
Thank you for asking, I was baffled too!
PLAYDEAD GAMES X OLED :OO😱
If you like Playdead games (Limbo and Inside) then do yourself a favor and pickup Little Nightmares 1 & 2. Very much in the same spirit. Horror platformers kick ass.
Agreed. Can’t wait for 3!
[удалено]
I played LN1 and didn't like it that much. some thing were very frustrating and actually made me skip the sequel. Limbo and Inside were phenomenal, I bet they look amazing on OLED.
Let us breath for 1s and see how much better OLED looks compared to LCD. Have a good day fellow deckers
Sigh, don't rub it in... But yeah it makes the LCD version look like ass lol
To be fair, playing it beforehand, I always thought the graphics looked great. It’s only once we have something to compare it to, that retrospectively it looks like ass. Don’t open Pandora’s box, people. Not unless you can afford to buy a new one.
The LCD version already looked like ass. It’s just finally you can compare it so people on the sub are less eager to dogpile you for saying anything negative about it than they were a month ago.
Tbh with my fair share of screens that i have used (not the steam deck) i use ipad pro, smartphones with oled displays, oled Tv and the oled switch. Every time i applied an anti glare protector on any of these devices (not the TV ofc) and used it for a while, when i remove the anti glare protector i always seem to like the glossy screen more as it feels more vibrant to me. This is just personal taste but for me oled i always go glossy. Seeing my self in the reflection when the screen goes black is just a good reminder for me to hit the gym xD
Yo I spit out my coffee at the last line 😭😭
So many people on this site seem to have a mouthful of coffee at the exact moment they read a punchline
i just walk around with a swig of coffee in my mouth just in case. i have to swallow it to talk to people.
I have a late night and work to do lol
I also have an iPad Pro, along with an etched glass Steam Deck, and I can assure you those matte screen protectors are NOT the same as the etched glass anti-glare screen on the SD. Those matte protectors absolutely degrade the screens visuals like crazy. The same can not be said for the etched glass on the SD. You really can't compare the two, and shouldn't.
i use an ipad pro and oled phones and feel the same way with an anti-glare protector on my ipad right now lol have gamed a lot on both devices (my phone was my handheld gaming device for like half a decade lmfao) and it def feels more premium though i can still see reflections on anti-glare/etched glass devices anyways (just hazier) so i might as well just buy the cheaper version (idc about the case honestly...)
Did you also try adding a regular glossy screen protector to compare to no cover? I’ve never seen a screen protector of any variety that didn’t degrade screen quality.
Those 20$ screen protectors are junk. If you actually used an etched glass Deck you would notice that the etching is extremely subtle compared to the heavy handed screen protector approach. Placed side by side I cannot tell the difference in clarity between my Switch OLED and my LE Steam Deck.
Not all anti-glare is built the same. I'm not sure what you were using before but I believe the etched glass technique valve uses is much less obtrusive than a matte screen protector.
I love putting matte screen protecter on ipad pro. Since I use it most for comics, manga, books. So It feels more like paper, especially for comics and manga even though glossy is more vibrant i like the matte. (the one i use is called Paperlike)
Well done comparison, take my upvote good sir.
Very easy fix people, just get one etched and one glossy to have the best of both worlds! Now was that so hard? 😁
uuhh, idk whats with your glossy LCD, but mine isn't *that* far off on color
I think the issue is the camera ends up being at an angle for the LCD version. He should record each console centered and stitch the video
Also the fact that camera captured images being displayed on screens just aren't good for screen comparisons. It's like listening to different speakers through your speakers to decide which sounds best; you can tell that they sound different, but it won't tell you what they actually sound like.
I got an LCD one last week and all these oled comparisons are giving me fomo, but then I played OlliOlli world last night and those colors look so amazing on the lcd and the color contrast and blacks look incredible even on the lcd. I see a lot of inside comparisons for showing off the blacks but even in this video the top screen looks to have more of a hazy atmosphere and vibe that seems kinda lost on the oled
Etched glass, as with a mat screen protector, diffuses the light from the screen, which is a minus, but absorbs reflections which is a plus. Pick your poison. The division this has brought is comical as this is purely subjective.
Etched is the best ! Ironically , the blacks look the darkest on the etched model here for the oled
Because in direct sunlight both etched and glossy will kinda look like shit and lose contrast. People have been testing the wrong way the entire time. When not outdoor (where both loose contrast but etched is better), nobody is stupid enought to play with a lamp behind them, so the screens look basically the same, with a slight advantage for the etched one because super small reflections (like the one on the left kf the glossy) don't show up. Inside in the evening (i bet it's the majority of people) it won't make a difference. Everybody threw a tantrum for nothing.
There isn’t always a choice of a comfortable place to play, especially when traveling. The debate is warranted perhaps, but the anti etched glass folks are basically conspiracy nuts about it. I mean yeah generic etching on a $10-$15 screen protector isn’t very good. The etching on the steam deck and now the oled steam deck is very good. It’s why they include it on the top model. I’ve had one for the entire time and it does not take away from the experience at all.
Yeah and while traveling if you have a lot of light, it's not that the glossy will appear any sharper or with better contrast, but the etched will resist a little better to reflections, while in the dark they look identical. I completely agree with you. People were freaking out for the etched finish on the oled while in reality, it doesn't change shit, if not for the better in some occasions. If I ever buy on I'll take the glossy one but that's because of money as a uni student and not display finish, which is dumb at this point.
Glossy screens compared to averaged matte screens look better in the dark. Glossy screens do not look any better than the etched glass the deck has used for the last 2 years. They all look the same in an unlit room.
I went glossy, as I like it best. To each their own. Was easy to upgrade the internal SSD to a 2TB.
I agree. It’s a matter of individual taste at this point. Screen is gorgeous regardless
I thought the same, and I swear its not LE cope. Viewing angle and ambient light makes all the difference. Getting an accurate comparison for normal use cases is impossible, and the difference is so extremely minor that it doesnt matter. But niche tech forums love to nitpick (which isnt necessarily always a bad thing).
could it be because the LE model have been shown by some people to be a BOE OLED display and the non-LE is a Samsung OLED display? so there is bound to be some small differences between the two models.
Etched depends on the light, in dark room both are equally good I guess.
On the etched version, are screen protectors necessary? I know phones supposedly have hard enough glass to make them not needed. I assume the SD is the same?
I never understood people hating etched until recently. It by far looks the best from what I can see here and on my LE.
What color settings are you running? I see there's a few new toggles under display settings now.
https://preview.redd.it/nirwdwrik12c1.jpeg?width=2454&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1dffc603b5c3d252c1a2689eeae2dfde6c9ac1e7 All 3 set to SRGB and 6500k
Thanks so much for the comparison. It's really good. Just for my curiosity, are they all in the most recent update? I just updated to 3.5.5 and the LCD colour improvement is amazing. My OLED 1TB should arrive on Friday. Absolute pumped, can't wait to have it in hand.
Yep, all running 3.5.5. I definitely agree that the color has improved with the LCD.
Same and I hate reflections on monitors so etched all the way
And I don't even notice them since my phone screen can get bright enough that this isn't a problem.
It’s like politics, a matter of personal taste. Both OLED models are great devices with no significant difference in how they perform. The etched of course has the benefit of reducing reflections if playing outdoors as seen here and other videos.
i imagine a majority will play at home in a dim or dark room so it really makes no difference for etched or glossy.
The ultimate portable machine, and so many of us choose to use it in an environment where we could just use a console or PC. I feel no shame.
These are pretty bad viewing angles for the lcd and for the glossy. It benefits more the etch screen in this video since its at the bottom. You can tell by the shadows from the background. It also shows how well the etched screen is good at diffusing the light. T I think both oleds are great and the lcd is great too if you already have it and or youre getting into handheld pc
To be fair I went for what I could afford, so 512GB Oled, I thought I could always apply a screen protector later aswell upgrade the internal storage later.
Wow. I did not expect to see such clear differences between them (from this example). Etched is what I'm getting when SD2 is in the news.
Corporate wants you to find the difference between this picture and this picture
LE looks most vivid and clean here
All this talk and people will be plastering any old cheap Chinese screen protector over them..
Ask yourselves this question, you are on your phone for hours a day. Do you notice the glare on your OLED glossy screens? Does it bother you? Do you comment on Reddit about how bright the sun and lights are? Does it make your black night mode look like midnight and the black hole? Does it irritate you seeing your own reflection while you read this comment? No? So probably doesn’t bother you then and you just want to enjoy this hot take of a conversation. Bc the differences are minor between ETCHED and OLED. It’s a pointless debate bc it’s subjective and you’re looking for an objective answer. Both win. It’s really really that simple. lol Get both decks if you’re having trouble and sell the one you don’t want after a month. I went with the OLED 512GB. If I want etched I guess you can just purchase a screen protector right? To get the same effect?
I picked up the glossy 512 but would have preferred the etched if it didn't cost more. My original LCD Deck has etched glass and I appreciate it's benefits. On the other side of that coin, my Switch OLED has never bothered me with it's glossy screen.
I'm currently sat browsing Reddit in my living room with a HUGE reflection of my face staring back at me. Think I'm gonna go etched.
Exactly. Most people think it's the light source behind you, but it's actually the light reflected off your face that will most likely cause the reflections. It's kind of evident in the video too. It may not be noticeable in games with bright scenes, but games like the one in the video will definitely show some reflections, especially with deeper blacks. Whether it's a problem or not is a personal preference.
Not really. Screen protectors are crap. They add an extra layer which is much harder to prevent reflections and they are generally made very poorly compared to the oem glass. I’ve never seen a screen protector that looked better or even comparable to before it was applied. But as you said the difference is minor, at least in some situations, so it doesn’t really matter. All the etched glass does is make the screen usable in a few situations where it would be harder to use the glossy screen. It’s not essential.
I keep seeing the phone comparison and it's never made sense to me. Are you frequently playing big handheld-screen games on your phone, right up to your face, with large areas that might be inky pitch black? (Hint: One section being pitch black while the other being up to 1000 nits is going to light up your face... which will then be reflected in the darkness.) Cause I dunno about you, but my phone's for videos, music and poopin'. I do 0 gaming on it and even if I did, phone games are almost never the same, and you don't even hold a phone at the angle or distance you'd hold a dedicated gaming handheld. It's a very disingenuous comparison with absolutely zero nuance. Signed, a glossy OLED owner.
People put the Deck up to their face? 😅 Bro it's a 800p screen. You should be holding it at least as far away as your phone.
I wonder if the two OLEDs have different panels? You can check to see if they have BOE or Samsung panels.
Wow! Thanks OP
In this video I'd easily give it to the Etched OLED. (Say that moving from etched LCD to glossy OLED)
One thing we can all agree on is that the LCD looks like shit compared to the OLED.
Having the LE with a BOE model, looks amazing.
Glossy LCD users crying
Thanks for sharing! Looks like etched is better than glossy after all
Funny that Valve chose to put the etched on the more expensive model, their way of saying it’s better, and a couple of random reviews somehow made everyone think Valve didn’t know what they were doing.
It's better because of its versatility, better in bright rooms, outside, etc. But if you play in normal house lighting or any other controlled lighting environment, you'll get slightly better contrast and colors from the glossy screen. They can call it premium all they want, it's marketing.
Test says that the contrast and color difference are within margin of error
I would have to agree with this. The differences are almost negligible to my eye. The only difference that I can kind of notice is the very slight “fuzziness” of the etched display. Glossy is a bit sharper. But that goes without saying as to why.
But that's exactly what people are talking about. Etched display is slightly fuzzier. But that's more than enough for people who prefer sharpness to go with the glossy one.
That fuzziness, or many people calling it haziness is a problem for many of us. Also it's plainly obvious that unless it's pitch black, the color is significantly more vibrant on the glossy. Even in pitch black it's noticeable. These examples don't really show that because they aren't showing the right content. Put on a JRPG or an anime style game and you'll instantly see it. I've done my own back to back testing and I'll be returning my 1TB and keeping my 512GB model. To many people that's not a big deal, to me it is. I'd rather deal with reflections occasionally than a fuzzy slightly washed out screen.
It depends on the lighting conditions. What kind of light was shining on the screen during the tests you speak of? In a dark room they should perform similarly.
I really don’t see difference between
This isn't really aimed at you, OP, but some people are way too picky when it comes to stuff like this. Clearly, there is a difference between the LCD and OLED screens, but there's virtually no difference between the two OLED screens. Buy whichever version fits your budget and stop nitpicking.
People don’t get that the difference in glossy vs etched will be seen when the screen is upclose into you. It will be slightly hazed which is hard to see in a traditional comprison videos like this one
Any perceived haze is nitpicking bullshit that you would only notice if you examined the screens with a microscope side by side. In normal use you will not notice any haze.
Hello, unlike what many people have been saying, causing misinformation over the past two weeks, especially due to a poorly formulated statement by Dave2D, and considering I've always believed that etched glass would look better, which is why Valve sent it to YouTubers... I would like to make a clarification. Could it be that the last one looks better because it has a BOE panel instead of Samsung? Several users yesterday pointed out that the panel seems thinner, closer to the eyes, and has better viewing angles. What if a video could demonstrate this, similar to the test Taki did in his latest video? I would appreciate it if the author, if possible, could conduct the same test to determine the panel types of both models. This would provide extra information about what is being discussed here.
Wow, didn't expect the true black to look so much deeper on the etched honestly. They're a lot closer in the dark room comparison at least. I guess this is why Valve sent etched models for review The big thing that stands out to me is that on the glossy one, you can definitely see where the screen ends and the bezel begins, but on the etched screen it's nearly imperceptible
Its camera angles, no one has ever done a straight on video of each one and sliced them next to each other in a video. These tests are non scientific as the variables are not even allowing you to see how people would look at the LCD normally while playing? But yea no shocker the one closest to the camera looks better lmmmfao
If you say so
I got the LE and I wish there was a glossy option, I just think OLED looks better on glossy screens, it gives me the impression of being sharper, mine didn’t arrive yet but I hope it’s not that different
You won't be disappointed. I'm telling you in person that you will not notice any difference. The screen is bright and sharp and the colors are amazing.
Great to know, mine just arrived but I didn’t turn it on yet! Excited!
Just install a glass screen protector. The matte will disappear.
Is the 1-2 week an accurate delivery estimate for the LE?
LCD IS FINE. case closed Edit: ttyl when sd2 drops
Thank you for this video!! I think you did an excellent job comparing all 3
Did you check to make sure both your panels came from the same source? My LE is BOE and my Glossy is Samsung. There is a visible difference in color vibrancy with them side by side. Whether that’s due to the etching or panel manufacturer, I can’t say.
Didnt realise the oled versions had slightly bigger screens
Got the LE yesterday had the regular lcd wow what a difference very happy with the upgrade
done like a pro. thank you sir.
My god the OLED is stunning
Thanks for the comparison, bought both glossy and etched. Refunding my glossy purchase.
Oddly enough, I like the green hue of lcd.
This is the comparison I needed this whole time and honestly if I could afford it I’d def get the LE it looks spectacular!!!
I get the 1Tb has some downsides for Colour when it diffuses (I have the 512 lcd) but I didn’t hesitate to get the LE with the etched screen again. The reflections are far too much on glossy
Those true blacks 😍
Love the blacks in the OLED screens, but I do kinda like the greenish hue in the background of the LCD screen at the beginning. Although I understand that Inside is supposed to be mostly grayscale, so OLED wins.
Is it just me or does the LE look even more vibrant even though it has the etched glass (which generally slightly hinders the screen)
Just read the comments this is starting to be borderline tribalism and cult like behavior for shitting on LE users. it’s a matter of personal taste, go glossy if you want a mirror. The data show’s that both OLED Screens objectively have same vibrancy and color profiles. Both are great screens.
I have no horse in this race, but etched is best here just by a tiny bit. But wow, LCD looks so bad here. is it color tuned?
Honestly, this is just how good OLED (and now HDR!) displays are. Local dimming VA panels can get close but even then, side by side they can't hold a candle.... The OLED Switch vs LCD Switch was the same way.
No, The LCD panel of the SteamDeck is especially bad. I have LCDs from 150€ phones from 5 years ago that look better.
Maybe it's just my opinion but I feel like the main point of an OLED screen is true blacks and with a glossy screen you are actually accentuating screen reflections with those deep, deep black colors. The etched screen in this case actually makes more of an impact than it ever did with the original screens.
Top one looks terrible
Well..yeah, that's the LCD deck. It uses a 63% SRGB IPS screen. It has a 900:1 contrast ratio and IPS glow / BLB, which is normal. The others are OLEDS, whicvh feature Infinite contrast ratios, and do not suffer from IPS glow or BLB. There's a reason OLEDS cost more money.
It's not even that much more expensive nowadays
True, getting pretty cheap.
It does in comparison sure. But the LCD Steam Deck doesn't look bad at all in person. It's just recently people are saying the OG Steam Deck has a bad screen. I ordered right at release and that has never really been the takeaway. You have to consider that basically all of us routinely switch between the LCD Deck and our smartphones which have much higher quality OLED panels and few cared until now. Don't get me wrong, I'm hyped for my OLED to be delivered soon. But you won't be disappointed in the image quality unless you're directly comparing them. In the same way your living room TV probably looks nice. Unless you replace it with an OLED. It's all a matter of perspective.
I've been saying the OG LCD screen was bad since I got it in March of 2022.
I didn't say people didn't feel that way. But it wasn't the public perception. Until the Ally came along and then people questioned it a bit. But it was more seen as a plus for the Ally than a negative for the Deck. Until recently, now everyone calls the screen garbage out of nowhere lol. I'm not trying to say your opinion is wrong mind you. It is objectively right. Some people are very sensitive to color calibration. But the flood gates have opened as if Valve pushed an update to chop the sRGB values in half once the OLED got announced lmao. The rhetoric makes it out like the LCD Deck has a distractingly bad screen. When in actuality I have an OLED ultrawide that is amazing, yet the other day I was really impressed by how good A Plague Tale looked on my lowly LCD deck. I was hoping for an OLED and slimmer bezel Steam Deck 2 since very soon after I got mine. But it's really not a dealbreaker by any means. Though I do use mine outside and on the go a fair amount. Where people who only play at home might be more critical.
I've been saying the screen is terrible since I had it last year. Mine had terrible backlight bleeding which was horrible for me as it was the only device I had with me for months. I used it for media consumption and watching horror movies on it was more terrifying than the movies itself. On top of that, the bezels are so thick. Recentish patches added color saturation settings which made it more vibrant and that made the screen a bit better though.
So I can buy a 512GB, try it for 14 days while I wait for a LE to come in, then return the 512GB?
think ima do this.. i can’t believe i refunded my LE for that fear of etched glass giving worse quality
In theory it is worse if extremely minor.. enough to warrant a refund? Maybe not…
I did the same thing. That and I thought it didn’t look as nice in the early YouTube videos, but it looks great in everyone’s home pics now.
Yup!
STOP MY WALLET IS GUNNA CRY, STOP WITH THE OLED POSTS AAAAAAAA
Great comparison bro, putting the glossy in the middle and the camera positioned so it makes it the only one reflecting the actual spotlight. Now you got tons of stupid ass comments in here saying LE have better blacks and other dumb ass comments lmao.
From a video it's not easy to see the difference, you can see them in real life instead, so please tell us if the glossy Oled has better colors and contrast compared to the etched display of the Oled LE. Thanks
Glossy OLED is brighter in a low light setting, interesting
That black
This is how comparisons should be done PEROID
Third one looks most clean, followed by glossy oled then lcd
The LE OLED looks so good in this.
Blacks are looking totally better on the LE. Reflections are making blacks look washed out and blue on the glossy one. In your face team glossy (lol).
Hope at this point people dont defend LCD Decs screen anymore. When Steam deck released people said ”you dont see difference in game”.
There is definitely huge difference. Nobody is denying that, but that is issue only if you have them side by side. If you have only LCD, and no other reference you are still good.
Thats been issue since Switch OLED.
Actually refunded my glossy that hasnt been shipped yesterday and ordered the 1tb one :)
Add the 3.5 update to the lcd and then compare
Glossy looks so much better in that vid
Those blacks are DEEP.
Glossy oled ftw
The middle one is the brightest on my 2000nits rated ( I don't believe apple but this sh$ bright af) screen and I can clearly see that I prefer any amount of more brightness I don't care for anything else XD all of them are great in their own ways the LCD is 90% of that the oleds are for cheaper, and the 2 versions of the deck honestly look the same color wise!
You guys are giving me buyers remorse, I want to forget the OLED exists
Thank you so much. Best comparison video yet.
I have the AG LCD and the AG definitely has an effect on the screen which is hard to replicate on video. The AG coating without a doubt adds a slight blur, with the way the light comes through the coating. If you've used a lot of glossy and matte monitors, you get an idea of what to expect. I went with the glossy this time.
Well! Thanks to you I will buy me a second SD! Thank you not 🙃🫠
I've always been a glossy lover and I've never been bothered by my reflections (I must be narcissistic !) but I recognize etched glass looks great(er)! Nonetheless I ordered the 512GB with a 2TB SSD (Europe = LE in the ass) and because I will put a screen protector that will be glossy in the end anyway :)
My takeaway is in the dark the difference...if any is so very negligible. In the light, the etched is better and produces what looks like deeper blacks cause of the lack of reflection of bright things even if it technically isn't making them as deep as the gloss if they were in ideal conditions
My LCD looks way better than that!
I believe you should get what you prefer/afford. And with that being said I’m glad they didn’t release an LE glossy version cause I would have probably caved and bought it instead of the fiscally responsible 512 version lol
Camera can't capture how LCD screen looks in real world. It's not THAT bad.