Valve’s Steam Deck OLED price jump

Valve announced a new price list for the Steam Deck OLED that adds $240 to the 512 GB model and $300 to the 1 TB version. The revised MSRP now reads $789 for the 512 GB unit and $949 for the 1 TB unit. The change came without a formal press release; the information was first shared by the YouTube channel Moore’s Law Is Dead (MLID), which has a reputation for calling out pricing moves it deems unreasonable.

How the new numbers stack up against the competition

Device	CPU / GPU	RAM	Storage	MSRP (USD)
Steam Deck OLED – 512 GB	AMD Zen 2 + RDNA 2 (custom APU)	16 GB LPDDR5	512 GB NVMe	$789
Steam Deck OLED – 1 TB	Same as above	16 GB LPDDR5	1 TB NVMe	$949
Asus ROG Ally X	AMD Z1 Extreme (Zen 4 + RDNA 3)	24 GB LPDDR5	1 TB NVMe	$999.99 (Best Buy)
Asus ROG Ally (base)	AMD Z1 Extreme	16 GB LPDDR5	512 GB NVMe	$599 (Amazon)

The ROG Ally X carries 50 % more RAM, a newer Zen 4‑based APU, and a comparable storage configuration, yet its price is only about $50 higher than the Steam Deck OLED 1 TB model. The base Ally, with identical RAM and storage to the 512 GB Deck, is $190 cheaper. From a pure spec‑for‑price perspective, Valve’s handheld now looks under‑spec for its cost.

Valve’s justification vs. the market reality

Valve attributes the hike to “rising memory and storage costs” and “global logistical challenges.” Those factors have indeed pressured the industry; DRAM prices have been volatile, and NAND flash has seen supply squeezes. However, other OEMs have managed to keep price growth modest. Asus, for example, continues to ship the Ally line at roughly the same MSRP as a year ago, despite the same component pressures.

MLID points out two practical implications:

1. Margin pressure – If Valve cannot absorb higher component costs, the company may be forced to accept slimmer margins, which could affect future firmware updates or support.
2. Signal for the Steam Machine – Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine, announced in late 2025, was promised as a “budget‑friendly” console. The leaker argues that a $700 target is unrealistic when the handheld already costs $949 for the top configuration.

What this means for buyers

• Current Deck owners – Those who bought the OLED before the price change are effectively insulated from the hike. Existing inventory will likely sell out quickly, as the new price makes the unit less attractive to price‑sensitive gamers.
• Prospective buyers – If you were waiting for a price drop, the timing is now the opposite. You may want to consider the base 64 GB LCD model, which Valve has placed on clearance for under $300, or look at the Asus ROG Ally series, which offers more RAM for a similar or lower price.
• Steam Machine prospects – The price pressure on the Deck suggests Valve may need to revisit its cost assumptions for the Steam Machine. A sub‑$700 console will require aggressive component sourcing or a stripped‑down spec sheet.

Bottom line

Valve’s decision to raise the Steam Deck OLED price puts the handheld in a tighter spot against the Asus ROG Ally X, which offers a newer CPU, more RAM, and similar storage for roughly the same money. While global supply issues are real, the market has shown that manufacturers can still keep price hikes modest. For now, the Deck remains a solid handheld, but the new pricing may push budget‑focused gamers toward alternative Windows‑based devices or older Deck configurations.

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Sources: Moore’s Law Is Dead YouTube channel, Best Buy listing for Asus ROG Ally X, Amazon listing for Asus ROG Ally.