Steam Deck OLED gets huge price increase amid RAM shortage

Source: Mashable Tech

Price Increase Details

Valve announced a significant price hike for the OLED version after months of being out of stock. The device is back, but at much higher prices:

• 512 GB model: $549 → $789
• 1 TB model: $649 → $949

These increases are among the steepest seen for gaming hardware, driven by the ongoing global memory shortage (often dubbed “RAMageddon”).

Comparison with Other Console Price Hikes

• PlayStation 5: Recent hikes of $150–$200 above launch price.
• Nintendo Switch 2: $50 price increase earlier this month.
• Dell XPS laptops: Nearly $700 increase on some models due to the same RAM shortage.

While Valve’s adjustments are larger than the PS5 and Switch 2 hikes, they are still smaller than Dell’s recent jump.

Refurbished Options

• Refurbished 512 GB OLED: $629
• Refurbished 1 TB OLED: $759
• Refurbished LCD Steam Deck (64 GB): $279 (discontinued LCD model with lower‑quality display)

Market Context

Before the AI‑driven surge in memory costs, hardware prices typically declined over time. Now, many game consoles are cheapest at launch, marking a reversal of the usual pricing trend.