Yes, the Steam Deck OLED is susceptible to burn-in if you really try, but it also really doesn't matter

HardwareHandheld Gaming PCsSteam DeckYes, the Steam Deck OLED is susceptible to burn-in if you really try, but it also really doesn’t matterWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Another YouTube channel has been beating on theSteam Deck OLEDand, no surprise, has found that the device’s OLED panel will burn after 1,500 hours of displaying a static image.

A month ago or so,The Phawxfound that quite a bit of burn in was possible in just 750 hours displaying a static image at max 1,000 nits HDR brightness. Now Wulff Den has done its own testing at 600 nits SDR brightness and foundburn in after 1,500 hours.

He also reports a few extra interesting details. Blue and red colours burn in fastest. What’s more, Wulff Den didn’t think the Deck had any of the usual burn-in mitigation features, such as pixel shift or bright zone or logo detection and dimming. Putting the question to Valve, it was duly confirmed that the Deck OLED indeed does not have such measures.

“Steam Deck doesn’t use any of those methods. That said, we aren’t aware of users having issue under normal use. Our hardware warranty covers issues with all Steam Deck components, including the display,” Valve said.

Of course, that warranty only covers the Deck for a year. After which, you’re on your own.

So, is this just cause for Steam Deck OLED to sprint up and down office corridors emitting blood-curdling screams of pure panic? After all, what we have here is a Steam Deck OLED with no burn-in mitigation features that duly burns in. So, an issue? Probably not.

Wulff Den used a colour pattern within the static image to tease out some of the burn in details.(Image credit: Wulff Den)

Steam Deck OLED burn in

For starters, as Wulff Den himself says the test isn’t terribly realistic. What Steam Deck user has a static image displaying at max SDR or HDR brightness for hundreds or even thousands of hours, non-stop?

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Also, the brighter you run your Deck, the faster it will burn in. And who needs to run the thing at 600 or 1,000 nits all the time? If you play at night or even inside in the day, we’d argue you probably don’t, and probably won’t.

Burn in is also not much—if any—worry unless you are planning on playing the same game all the time that also happens to have bright static UI elements.

After all, you’re not going to be sitting on the Linux or Windows desktop with its static UI elements for hundreds of hours on a Deck like you might with a desktop PC. What’s more, the burn in Wulff Den achieved was very, very mild. You’dreallyhave to go looking for it.

More on the Steam Deck(Image credit: Future)Steam Deck OLED review: Our verdict on Valve’s handheld.Best Steam Deck accessories: Get decked out.Steam Deck battery life: What’s the real battery life?Best handheld gaming PC: What’s the best travel buddy?

More on the Steam Deck

(Image credit: Future)Steam Deck OLED review: Our verdict on Valve’s handheld.Best Steam Deck accessories: Get decked out.Steam Deck battery life: What’s the real battery life?Best handheld gaming PC: What’s the best travel buddy?

(Image credit: Future)

Steam Deck set up as a PC

Steam Deck OLED review: Our verdict on Valve’s handheld.Best Steam Deck accessories: Get decked out.Steam Deck battery life: What’s the real battery life?Best handheld gaming PC: What’s the best travel buddy?

So, if your Deck has a tiny bit of burn in after two or three years, the kind of burn in you can only see if you go looking for it and would barely bother you if at all in practice, is that really the end of the world?

Plus, the Steam Deck is more modular and repairable than most devices. You could replace the screen if the burn in got to the point where it was actually bothering you. Yes, that would cost money. But you wouldn’t have a totally trashed device, while you would have the option of rectifying the problem.

All of which means we’re going to file Steam Deck OLED burn in under “not a major worry” and get back to enjoying what remains our favourite handheld gaming PC.

TOPICSHardwareValve

TOPICS

More about handheld gaming pcsAsus reveals three new Slash Travel Bags for carting around your ROG Ally—however, none of them are particularly fashion forwardSteamOS beta could be available to download to your handheld gaming PC of choice as soon as AprilLatestMSI intros cheaper ‘back connect’ Project Zero Intel motherboards for super-clean PC builds you might actually be able to affordSee more latest►

More about handheld gaming pcs

Asus reveals three new Slash Travel Bags for carting around your ROG Ally—however, none of them are particularly fashion forwardSteamOS beta could be available to download to your handheld gaming PC of choice as soon as April

Three of Asus ROG’s fourth generation Slash bags float in a blue-magenta gradient void. The backpack, sling bag, and sleeve all feature a black all-over colourway with an indent design on the bottom left corner of each bag that looks a bit like tire tracks.

Asus reveals three new Slash Travel Bags for carting around your ROG Ally—however, none of them are particularly fashion forward

Steam Deck’s loading throbber

SteamOS beta could be available to download to your handheld gaming PC of choice as soon as April

LatestMSI intros cheaper ‘back connect’ Project Zero Intel motherboards for super-clean PC builds you might actually be able to affordSee more latest►

Latest

MSI intros cheaper ‘back connect’ Project Zero Intel motherboards for super-clean PC builds you might actually be able to afford

MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WIFI PZ

MSI intros cheaper ‘back connect’ Project Zero Intel motherboards for super-clean PC builds you might actually be able to afford

See more latest►

Most PopularWe may not have a roadmap or balance patch just yet, but at least Path of Exile 2’s bugfix patch notes are funnyDeus Ex: Mankind Divided writer didn’t like the ending either: ‘Nothing is resolved’It seems like Square’s finally consistently taking the PC ports of Final Fantasy seriouslyLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii looks more like a zany RGG take on Black Flag than I dared hopeThe most important tool in Remedy’s new co-op FPS is the shower: ‘Saving water is essential’If you missed it over the holidays, this noir Half-Life 2 mod turns you into a hardboiled detective in Prohibition-era ChicagoPath of Exile 2 players are calling foul on Elon Musk’s high-level hardcore character after he streams his struggles with core game mechanicsAlan Emrich, the game designer and writer who coined the term ‘4X,’ has diedTrack down a missing person in this ‘Geoguessr-inspired detective game’ set on an alien planetOld meets new as classic MMO players worship a famous Vtuber via gifts of bones so she can max out the Prayer skillHyper Light Breaker will cost $30 and for a limited time come with a free copy of Drifter

Most Popular

We may not have a roadmap or balance patch just yet, but at least Path of Exile 2’s bugfix patch notes are funny

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided writer didn’t like the ending either: ‘Nothing is resolved’

It seems like Square’s finally consistently taking the PC ports of Final Fantasy seriously

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii looks more like a zany RGG take on Black Flag than I dared hope

The most important tool in Remedy’s new co-op FPS is the shower: ‘Saving water is essential’

If you missed it over the holidays, this noir Half-Life 2 mod turns you into a hardboiled detective in Prohibition-era Chicago

Path of Exile 2 players are calling foul on Elon Musk’s high-level hardcore character after he streams his struggles with core game mechanics

Alan Emrich, the game designer and writer who coined the term ‘4X,’ has died

Track down a missing person in this ‘Geoguessr-inspired detective game’ set on an alien planet

Old meets new as classic MMO players worship a famous Vtuber via gifts of bones so she can max out the Prayer skill

Hyper Light Breaker will cost $30 and for a limited time come with a free copy of Drifter

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals