Wednesday, May 27th 2026 Steam Deck OLED Prices Rise by Up to $300 Amid Component Shortages by AleksandarK Wednesday, 14:46 Discuss (14 ) Valve's Steam Deck OLED handheld gaming console pricing has increased significantly due to ongoing DRAM and NAND Flash shortages affecting supply chains worldwide. The price of the 512 GB edition of the Steam Deck OLED has risen from $549 to $789, a $240 increase, while the 1 TB version has jumped from $649 to $949, a substantial $300 hike. When the Steam Deck was first launched, it included a 256 GB version with an LCD panel, but Valve discontinued that model in late 2025, removing it from their lineup entirely. The LCD version had a MSRP of $399 and was the most affordable way to enter the Steam Deck ecosystem. Now, there are no relatively inexpensive options, with the lowest-priced Steam Deck being the 512 GB OLED version at $789. This situation isn't surprising given that NAND Flash, the primary storage component, has seen prices skyrocket, with a staggering 500% increase over the six-month period ending in March. This increase is likely even higher now, as AI data center expansion has consumed much of the available storage. Like many consumer electronics manufacturers, Valve probably had a long-term agreement with storage suppliers for NAND Flash memory pricing that expired recently. Once their stock of NAND Flash purchased at previous prices was depleted, the company had to update its pricing policy on its website. The second picture is old pricing with the old LCD model still available. Considering that most gamers prefer larger SSD capacities like 512 GB and above, as noted by Lexar, they are likely to absorb these costs rather than switch to alternative handheld consoles or seek out aftermarket Steam Deck LCDs with 256 GB. Anyway, let us know in the if this now makes Steam Deck a handheld console worth getting still or not. 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Absolutely not. The Steam Deck has already been behind in terms of core hardware, and when your hardware is actively and visibly aging then depreciation of the price is to be expected. Jumping this from its somewhat reasonable pricing directly into the stratosphere makes it a non-seller. I understand that the reason for this is due to Emergent Market Conditions™, but this is one of those times where it may be better to simply not stock an item than ask an exorbitant price handed down from above. I worry that this is indicative of Valve's strategy on the Frame and Machine, when they eventually release. Those products hinge on being price competitive, especially the Machine. #2 Athena yfn_ratchetAt this price? Absolutely not. The Steam Deck has already been behind in terms of core hardware, and when your hardware is actively and visibly aging then depreciation of the price is to be expected. Jumping this from its somewhat reasonable pricing directly into the stratosphere makes it a non-seller. I understand that the reason for this is due to Emergent Market Conditions™, but this is one of those times where it may be better to simply not stock an item than ask an exorbitant price handed down from above. I worry that this is indicative of Valve's strategy on the Frame and Machine, when they eventually release. Those products hinge on being price competitive, especially the Machine.even at inflated prices, people will still buy things, just not a lot as before, so, they obviously think that demand is still there It's not like Valve has much of a choice either, I bet they had contracts, and they had to sell them For their next hardware, they don't hinge on being price competitive at all, everything is rising, so, they are, most likely, trying to get their ecosystem in high gear, so, something like the easiest way to play your Steam Library on all of Valve's gear, seamlessly #3 GodisanAtheist We're in a new era of "Buy it now cause its going to cost 50% more in a year" Companies are going to learn that you can actually keep jacking up the cost and consumers will consooom no matter what, so WTF were they doing offering sales and discounts to move units when FOMO works just as well and your margins actually grow over time... #4 yfn_ratchet GodisanAtheistWe're in a new era of "Buy it now cause its going to cost 50% more in a year" Companies are going to learn that you can actually keep jacking up the cost and consumers will consooom no matter what, so WTF were they doing offering sales and discounts to move units when FOMO works just as well and your margins actually grow over time...Indeed, I think that's been happening for a while. It's been a noted phenomenon, at least in the US, that consumer spending is stratifying into the upper class in terms of volume. People who need to worry about their budgets are spending less and less, and the ones that don't have no problem with spending more and more until they're priced out (which will take a while). The price increases are both reflective of, and causal to, that phenomenon, methinks. #5 dgianstefani TPU Proofreader 1000 for an RDNA 2 Zen 2 quad core APU in 2026, lmao. #6 zus This looks ridiculous compared to Nintendo's $50 price hike. I don't think Valve is doing this out of pure greed though, so it makes me wonder how sustainable is Switch 2's price. I think Furukawa himself said that the hike didn't even cover all costs. Maybe the NAND crisis hit the Steam Deck harder since it's a niche product, or maybe is something related to UFS storage vs SSD. Still, $50 vs $240 price hike? That's insane. #7 _roman_ 300$ sounds much more friendly as ~50% price hike, "$649 to $949". #8 Kadath zusThis looks ridiculous compared to Nintendo's $50 price hike. I don't think Valve is doing this out of pure greed though, so it makes me wonder how sustainable is Switch 2's price. I think Furukawa himself said that the hike didn't even cover all costs. Maybe the NAND crisis hit the Steam Deck harder since it's a niche product, or maybe is something related to UFS storage vs SSD. Still, $50 vs $240 price hike? That's insane.You also have to look at the difference in volume between the Switch and the Steam Deck. Valve is, sadly, forced to play a different game than Nintendo. #9 cinemaware Raising prices: Nvidia, Nintendo, Sony, Intel, etc: "pure greed!!1!" Valve: "well, akshually, hemmm, haww" #10 lunato hope they sell a barebone steam machine. I still have a couple of 16 x 2 DDR5 ram and 4TB Samsung Evo nvme in my drawer bought during last july prime day #11 Vayra86 KadathYou also have to look at the difference in volume between the Switch and the Steam Deck. Valve is, sadly, forced to play a different game than Nintendo.Volume == number of expensive chips in a market that was supposedly very much short on those chips It doesn't quite add up if the stuff truly is scarce. If its scarce, they won't make as much, but somehow you can always buy chips anyway There is simply low supply and profit maximization because of it. Its not a situation that can last, unlike what some are led to believe, because the end result is you can't move volume in the future. When supply goes up again, prices will go down. #12 Lionheart It's not even worth it at the normal price, it's a cool device but it's running outdated hardware so this is just ridiculous. #13 _JP_ GodisanAtheistWe're in a new era of "Buy it now cause its going to cost 50% more in a year" Companies are going to learn that you can actually keep jacking up the cost and consumers will consooom no matter what, so WTF were they doing offering sales and discounts to move units when FOMO works just as well and your margins actually grow over time...No...no, that has...been what they learned since at least 2016. Sharply in IT since the crypto boom and then the confinement period. By now what they will learn is if they strap the consumer, the consumer won't consume and turn angry at companies that add no value to products and options. #14 Evrsr Don't really understand this. $789 is quite a lot for 512GB even. You can still have PCs with 2-3x the iGPU for $600 or sometimes less. Sure you loose some stuff but given that it has issues running latest games, 2-3x the GPU for less money... Not sure those will also last but for now there are still options for those who want it. Add your own
