Now that the kinda-sorta mid-generation refresh of the Steam Deck is formally introduced, followers and tech YouTubers have begun poring over its specs. Nevertheless, one characteristic of the Steam Deck OLED that’s raised some eyebrows is its matte display end.

Although Valve’s successfully refreshing its whole lineup of Steam Deck handhelds on November 16, some options of the unique lineup are being carried over to newer fashions. One in all them, particularly, is the anti-glare display coating that’s current on the 1TB Steam Deck mannequin. In most respects, the Steam Deck OLED is a considerable improve to the unique, however tech reviewer Dave2D has raised considerations that the etched glass isn’t doing any favors to the brand new OLED show.

Is Steam Deck OLED’s matte display coating an enchancment?

Whereas there wasn’t an enormous distinction between etched and non-etched show finishes on the baseline LCD model of the Steam Deck, that is not the case with the OLED model, in accordance with Dave2D. As Dave2D places it, “With the anti-glare [glass finish], you lose numerous that OLED goodness,” referencing the show’s rendition of deep black tones and vivid colours.

It’s not exhausting to identify the variations between the 2 shows, however there are some caveats to bear in mind. With out the matte etching, the show is basically a mirror, reflecting something and all the pieces again on the person. The matte etching diffuses the sunshine and the reflections, making them far much less distinguished at the price of dropping some distinction and blackness.

These points shouldn’t be massively distinguished except you’re utilizing the OLED Deck beneath extraordinarily brilliant lights or in the event you’re it from an odd angle. Finally, selecting between the mid-tier reflective OLED show and the top-tier matte end will boil right down to how huge of a difficulty reflections are for you. If dropping some black depth isn’t an enormous deal, this can be a giant nothing burger ultimately.

One thing price declaring is that there’s a approach to side-step the “problem” with the matte end for many who are so inclined. Including a regular high-quality glass display protector onto the display ought to cast off many of the issues Dave2D has outlined. With that in thoughts, the 2 referenced variations of the identical OLED show could also be merely a matter of desire. Do you have to splurge on the top-tier 1 TB storage mannequin solely to dislike the matte end, you may relaxation simply understanding that the repair is only one comparatively cheap display protector utility away.