Steam Deck: LCD and OLED specs, SteamOS and settings

The Steam Deck is Valve’s handheld gaming PC. It runs SteamOS 3, an Arch-based Linux system, and opens your Steam library in a console-style interface called Gaming Mode. Underneath sits a full KDE Plasma desktop. Valve makes two versions: Steam Deck LCD and Steam Deck OLED.

Every spec and setting below comes from steamdeck.com and Valve’s Steam Support pages, checked on October 20, 2026. Nobody here has held a Deck for this page, so there is no verdict and no buying advice, only what Valve documents. Valve notes that product specifications are subject to change.

Steam Deck LCD and OLED: the specs

Both models share the same processor, memory size, controls and screen resolution. The display, chip process, wireless, battery and weight differ.

Both models have a microSD slot that supports SD, SDHC and SDXC cards at UHS-I. Both output video over USB-C with DisplayPort, up to 8K at 60 Hz or 4K at 120 Hz.

Steam Deck OLED

Valve’s OLED page lists what changed from the LCD model, including these items:

• The screen grows from 7.0 to 7.4 inches, the refresh rate rises from 60 Hz to 90 Hz, and peak brightness reaches 1,000 nits.
• The APU moves to 6 nm, and memory runs at 6400 MT/s.
• The battery grows from 40 Wh to 50 Wh, for 30 to 50% more battery life, and charging from 20% to 80% takes as little as 45 minutes.
• Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX HD and aptX low-latency codecs, and a third antenna for Bluetooth.
• The onboard microphones work at the same time as the 3.5 mm headphone jack.
• All rear case screws are Torx and thread into metal. Valve also says the display can be repaired without taking the rear cover off.

The comparison table on the OLED page sets the two OLED storage sizes apart. The 1 TB model adds premium anti-glare etched glass, a carrying case with a removable liner, an exclusive startup movie and an exclusive virtual keyboard theme. The 512 GB OLED lists a carrying case.

Steam Deck LCD

The LCD model keeps the original 7-inch screen at 60 Hz. Its tech specs page describes the screen as an “optically bonded IPS LCD for enhanced readability”. An older entry in Valve’s FAQ says the 512 GB LCD model adds an anti-glare etched treatment. On the tech specs page, the 64 GB and 512 GB LCD versions carry the note “available while supplies last”. The comparison table on the OLED page lists a 256 GB LCD model.

Controls on both models

• A, B, X and Y buttons, a D-pad, analog L and R triggers, L and R bumpers, and View and Menu buttons.
• Four assignable grip buttons on the back.
• Two full-size analog sticks with capacitive touch.
• Two 32.5 mm square trackpads with haptic feedback and adjustable click strength.
• A 6-axis gyro and HD haptics.

SteamOS and Gaming Mode

This section follows Valve’s software page and FAQ. The Deck boots into Gaming Mode, a controller-first version of Steam. Valve calls SteamOS “built with Steam Deck in mind and optimized for a handheld gaming experience”. It ships with Proton, a compatibility layer that runs your games without any porting work from developers.

Once you sign in, your whole Steam library appears. Cloud saves, Steam Chat, Remote Play and the full Store work on the Deck. Each Steam account on a Deck keeps its own local save data and settings, and that installed games play offline unless the game needs a connection.

Verified, Playable, Unsupported and Unknown

Valve reviews Steam games for the Deck and gives each one of four ratings. Valve’s support guide defines them:

To earn Verified, a game must pass four checks. Input means full controller support, the right button icons and an on-screen keyboard when needed. Display means the Deck’s default resolution, good defaults and legible text. Seamlessness means no compatibility warnings and a controller-friendly launcher. System Support means that a game running through Proton has all its middleware, anti-cheat included, supported by Proton.

For a Playable or Unsupported game, the Steam Deck Compatibility section on its store page shows which checks it misses. Ratings hold for both the LCD and OLED models.

Desktop Mode

To reach the desktop, press the Steam button, open Power and choose Switch to Desktop. The right trackpad moves the pointer. Valve’s basic use guide maps left-click to R2 and right-click to L2; its Desktop FAQ says a click on the right trackpad is a primary click and on the left trackpad a secondary click. Press Steam + X for the on-screen keyboard. A Return to Gaming Mode shortcut on the desktop takes you back.

For installing software, Valve says the desktop is “a stock KDE Plasma experience”. Install apps with the Discover Software Center, which uses Flatpak and writes to the part of the drive that SteamOS updates leave alone. Anything you install another way, such as with pacman, “may be wiped with the next SteamOS update”. The default deck user has no password; set one with passwd if you need sudo.

To run a desktop app from Gaming Mode, open Steam on the desktop, choose Add a Game and then Add a Non-Steam Game. The app then appears in your library under the Non-Steam tab. For plugins, controller layouts and hardware changes, see our guide to Steam Deck mods. Linux mod tools can run here as well; our Deadlock Mod Manager guide covers that app’s Flatpak build on the Deck.

Storage and microSD cards

The Deck uses its built-in storage by default. You manage the internal drive and any other connected storage in Steam → Settings → Storage.

Valve’s basic use guide and FAQ cover cards. A microSD card must be formatted on the Deck before you can use it. Insert it in the slot on the bottom of the Deck and go to Steam → Settings → System → Format SD card. The Deck formats cards as ext4 with casefolding. Games on the card appear in your library straight away.

Any UHS-I card rated class 3 or better is supported. UHS-II and UHS-III cards are expected to work, but without their higher speeds. Our Steam Deck microSD card guide explains those card ratings. The Deck can also boot an operating system from a microSD card, and multi-boot is supported.

Docking and external displays

In Valve’s FAQ, docking “is more akin to plugging a USB-C hub into a PC”, and the Deck “runs at full performance in portable mode”. External GPUs are not supported.

The Dock is sold separately and fits both the LCD and OLED models. The Dock page says third-party hubs and docks are welcome too.

Settings and menu paths

These paths come from Valve’s basic use and software guides. They apply to both models unless noted.

• System updates: Steam → Settings → System → Software Updates. To opt into beta builds, use Beta Participation in the same section.
• Restart: Steam → Power → Restart. If the Deck stops responding, hold the power button for 4 seconds on LCD or 7 seconds on OLED. If that fails, hold it for 10 seconds on LCD or 16 seconds on OLED.
• Shortcuts: hold the Steam button to list every button shortcut.
• Controller test: Steam → Settings → Controller → Test Controller Inputs. Long-press B to exit.
• Per-game controls: highlight a game in your library, press A and select the gamepad icon. Select the current template and press R1 to browse Community Layouts.
• Proton version: highlight a game, press Menu, then Properties → Compatibility → Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.
• Refresh rate: LCD is capped at 60 Hz and OLED at 90 Hz. Valve warns that in-game refresh settings above those caps do not help and may drain the battery faster.
• Bluetooth: if a device does not appear, turn on Show all devices in Settings → Bluetooth.
• Charging: the Deck uses USB Power Delivery and does not support Fast Charging or Quick Charge. A Deck left on the charger for a long time may show less than 100%, by design, for battery health.

Battery storage mode

Before you store the Deck for a long time, Valve suggests battery storage mode. Shut down, hold Volume + and press power to open the BIOS. Choose Setup Utility, then Power, then Battery storage mode. To wake the Deck, connect the power supply and turn it on.

Factory reset and recovery

To clear all local data and reinstall Steam, go to Settings → System and select Factory Reset. To go back to the previous SteamOS version and keep your games and saves, power off fully, then hold the … button while you press power until the SteamOS menu appears. Valve’s recovery article also covers a full re-image of SteamOS.

Sources

• Steam Deck tech specs: OLED
• Steam Deck tech specs: LCD
• Steam Deck tech specs: Docking Station and Docking Station page
• Steam Deck OLED page
• Steam Deck software page and Deck Verified
• Steam Deck FAQ
• Steam Support: Steam Deck Basic Use and Troubleshooting Guide
• Steam Support: Steam Deck Software Info and Troubleshooting Guide
• Steam Support: Steam Deck and Steam Machine Desktop FAQ
• Steam Support: SteamOS Recovery and Troubleshooting