Source is KeplerL2, who is generally considered a reliable source for insider hardware info, particularly on AMD GPU hardware and AMD SoC for consoles.
Previously I would have personally estimated Steam Deck 2 to release mid 2026-early 2027, but the recent info about an upcoming Steam Machine made me think that maybe I should push back that estimate.
Of course even if we assume this is reliable insider info, a lot can change in couple years, so things can definitely change.
Honestly, for me I don’t really need a new steam deck. The OLED deck is almost perfect already. I don’t know that a ton more processing power is necessary for me. Whenever I’ve wanted to play a more demanding game on my deck I stream it from either my desktop gaming rig, my ps5, or from Geforce Now. (Though i know obviously not everyone is going to have those luxuries) The only thing I think I would REALLY want would be a WiFi chip that doesn’t shit the bed if it doesn’t like the router your using.
I see plenty space to upgrade on battery relates masters, more deficiente processors would certainly allow that, whilst also enabling the deck to be used in 4K screens whilst docked with an actual decent performance and graphics.
Battery doesn’t have as much of an upgrade path as people think - you add more cells / energy in the same space, and you get the cause of those Samsung phone fires. It more commonly comes from processor efficiency improvements, which is hard when that’s mostly the domain of whoever coded the Windows-based video game you’re playing.
If it helps: Look up TDP customizations for your favorite games to play on Deck.
I have an aging gaming computer (6700k, 2080ti) and as i get older the need for a massive desktop is financial shitty now and starting to feel unnecessary for me. Desktop mode in a dock feels great and most of my hardware/all of my storage is out in the garage in a rack. It’s a thin client I can game on.