FCC certification information indicates that Valve will launch a new model of Steam Deck
As early as last month, Valve sought certification from the Korean National Radio Research Agency for a device bearing the model number 1030. Drawing from speculative grounds, enthusiasts discerned that the Valve Index and Steam Deck bear the model numbers 1007 and 1010, respectively. Hence, there remained ambiguity regarding whether the device with the 1030 model number heralded a new gaming handheld, a VR headset, or a novel product blending attributes of both.
However, a recent certification by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States elucidated that the 1030 model device is an augmented version of the Steam Deck. Furthermore, Quectel, the manufacturer of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules for the 1010 model Steam Deck, unveiled pertinent details about the 1030 device. From the captured screenshot below, it is evident that Quectel has updated its FCC certification, facilitating Valve’s distribution of the Steam Deck incorporated with the FC66E module.
Delving into Quectel’s website, the FC66E module is discerned to endorse Wi-Fi 6E (6 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.2. For context, the currently available Steam Deck merely supports 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities. In essence, although the 1030 model Steam Deck has been certified in Korea exclusively for 5 GHz Wi-Fi, the aforementioned intel substantiates Valve’s intent to bolster the network functionalities of the Steam Deck.
While it’s tempting to conjecture that the 1030 model device signifies a second generation of the Steam Deck, Valve has reiterated on numerous occasions that it harbors no intentions of unveiling a successor to the Steam Deck prior to 2025. Intriguingly, Quectel’s updated certification intimates that the new device circumvents a comprehensive radiation testing regimen, suggesting Valve’s earnest aspiration for a prompt launch of the 1030 model Steam Deck. In summation, the 1030 model device embodies a Steam Deck integrated with the FC66E module, although, as of now, there remains no irrefutable evidence to categorize it solely as a minor iterative upgrade.
