Valve has placed select Steam Deck models on clearance - the 64 GB LCD model for $296.65 and the 512 GB LCD model for $336.75. Valve is clearing the shelves for the faster, longer-running, and more expensive OLED models.

PC-based gamers used to buy games one at a time from different vendors until companies like Valve created online game library services, such as the Steam Store. Gamers can now purchase and install most popular game titles from the Steam Store.

The Linux-based Steam Deck handheld game console (OLED model review here) suits those who buy the majority of their games from Steam because the store is nicely integrated into the system. For console gamers who have never owned a PC, the Steam Deck is similar to the Nintendo Switch in concept - a comfortable, portable gaming device with no-fuss game purchasing.

The main differences between the older LCD and newer OLED models are a brighter OLED screen with a faster refresh rate for lower blur, a faster AMD CPU, and a higher capacity battery. However, one big drawback of the OLED model is screen burn-in, a physical limitation of all OLED display panels.

Both clearance models have mostly identical key specifications. This includes a 60 Hz, 1,280 x 800 LCD display capable of 400 nits of brightness. The 512 GB LCD model adds premium anti-glare etched glass to the display and a Steam profile bundle. The system is driven by an AMD APU that includes a 4-core/8-thread Zen 2 CPU and eight compute unit (CU) GPU with 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, a decent APU when the Steam Deck LCD was released in 2022.

The AMD APU allows most casual gamers to enjoy a wide variety of modern PC games at 30 fps or higher. However, some newer games like Cyberpunk require more processor power than what the Steam Deck can provide (refer to the benchmarks in the OLED model review).

The Steam Deck 64 GB and 512 GB LCD models are on clearance sale until stocks run out. Readers who want to play Cyberpunk can buy the faster Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme (here on Amazon or here on BestBuy) or the even faster Asus ROG Ally X (here on BestBuy).