Everything I learned about importing the Steam Deck OLED 1TB to NZ

The 2026 handheld landscape

It is now February 2026, and the Steam Deck OLED (1TB) remains the gold standard for handheld gaming. Despite the arrival of newer competitors, I still see this device topping the [us trends](https://www.comgateway.com/trends/) lists because of its software optimization and incredible screen. However, for those of us living in New Zealand, Valve still hasn't made the device officially available in our local retail stores. This means we have to look toward the US market to get our hands on one.

Estimate Shipping For Steam Deck OLED (1TB)

Price(US $) *

Weight(KG) *

Ship To Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin (French part) Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten (Dutch part) Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands

Email

Create an account with your email & receive 15% OFF shipping coupon!

Get a Quote

More about shipping to New Zealand

Why the 1TB OLED remains top tier

I find the 1TB model specifically compelling because of the etched glass anti-glare screen and the massive storage capacity required for modern 2026 titles. We have seen a surge in demand globally, mirroring the import trends in regions like India, because the US retail price remains the most stable and reliable. My experience has shown that buying directly from a US store often results in a better warranty experience and ensures you get the genuine 1TB OLED variant rather than a modified lower-tier model.

My US buying strategy

Since Steam does not ship directly to NZ addresses, I used a [tax-free us address](https://www.comgateway.com) to bypass state taxes. This is a crucial step to keep costs down. If you find that US retailers are rejecting your NZ credit card, I recommend using a [BuyForMe service](https://www.comgateway.com/faq/category/buy-for-me/) where a local agent handles the purchase on your behalf. This [proxy shopping](https://www.comgateway.com/faq/category/buy-for-me/) method has saved me from many order cancellations.

Shipping estimates and logistics

When I planned my shipment, I had to be very specific about the parcel data. To help you prepare for your own import, I have compiled these estimates based on the standard Steam Deck OLED 1TB retail packaging.

I always suggest using a [shipping calculator](https://www.comgateway.com/calculator/) before you hit the checkout button. This helps me [estimate shipping cost](https://www.comgateway.com/calculator/) so there are no surprises when the package arrives at the warehouse.

Handling lithium batteries and customs

Because the Steam Deck contains a high-capacity lithium battery, we must follow specific [international shipping service](https://www.comgateway.com/international-shipping/) regulations. My [freight forwarder](https://www.comgateway.com/freight-forwarder/) ensures the package is labeled correctly under UN3481 (Lithium-ion batteries contained in equipment). This is vital because incorrect labeling can lead to significant delays or even the package being returned to the sender.

Calculating the total cost to NZ

For my fellow Kiwis, remember that New Zealand Customs requires GST to be paid on items imported from overseas. When I use a [parcel forwarding service](https://www.comgateway.com/freight-forwarder/), I make sure to factor in the 15% GST based on the total value of the Steam Deck plus the shipping cost. Using a [step-by-step guide](https://www.comgateway.com/how_it_works/) on [how it works](https://www.comgateway.com/how_it_works/) makes the process much more manageable. I found that using [comGateway](https://www.comgateway.com) to [forward packages](https://www.comgateway.com/freight-forwarder/) is the most efficient way to bridge the gap between US retailers and my doorstep in Auckland.

If you are looking for other tech gadgets, you should also check our guide on the latest 2026 laptop trends. By using a reliable [international shipping](https://www.comgateway.com/international-shipping/) partner, we can access the best gaming hardware in the world without waiting for a local release that might never happen.