It's been a couple of weeks since Valve unveiled Steam Deck OLED, an updated iteration of its handheld gaming device. The biggest improvement was the addition of an OLED display which undoubtedly elevates the gaming experience.
Samsung Display is believed to be supplying the OLED panels for this handheld gaming device. At one point, China's BOE display manufacturer was also believed to be in contention, but Samsung's lawsuit against BOE may stop it from stealing Steam Deck OLED panel orders from Samsung.
Samsung gets to keep the Steam Deck OLED panel orders all to itsself
Valve launched the first Steam Deck over a year ago and it features a 7-inch LCD display that was supplied by BOE. Given the previous relationship between the companies and the fact that BOE tries to aggressively undercut Samsung Display on pricing, there was a possibility that Valve could source OLED panels for the new Steam Deck from this Chinese display maker.
However, Samsung filed a lawsuit with the United States International Trade Commission against BOE last month, claiming that BOE had violated laws on unfair methods of competition and that it was infringing on Samsung's patents for OLED display components and modules. The trial is expected to begin in January next year with Samsung no doubt seeking restitution for the damages it feels have been caused by this infringement.
As it stands, Samsung Display may remain the only supplier of the 7.4-inch OLED display that Valve is using for the Steam Deck OLED. With 3 million units of the new Steam Deck expected to be shipped this year, this deal will be of significant value to Samsung, and it would no doubt be happy that nobody else will be able to get a piece of that pie.
