Valve Now Sells Less Expensive Certified Refurbished Steam Decks

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If you’ve got been ready for a value drop earlier than shopping for a Steam Deck, do not maintain your breath. Since hitting cabinets in 2022, Valve’s hybrid console has offered over three million models, so its value hasn’t been scaring away prospects. 

However, that does not imply you possibly can’t nonetheless purchase one at a extra inexpensive value, as a result of Valve is now providing licensed refurbished Steam Decks on its on-line retailer. Even higher, these refurbished consoles are considerably discounted from the retail value of their brand-new counterparts.

The new refurbished fashions out there from Steam are available in all three sizes. The 64 GB console is priced at $319, the 256 GB at $419, and the 512 GB at $519. The reductions get bigger because the storage sizes do: costs for brand-new Steam Decks in 64, 256, and 512 GB variants are $399, $529, and $649, respectively. 

That comes out to an ample low cost of $130 for the 512 GB Steam Deck. Even although they’re pre-owned, Valve resets and extensively checks the refurbished models earlier than making them out there on the market, so that you’re not likely getting much less on the much-lower value level.

One of the most important, most frequent criticisms of the Steam Deck is its restricted battery capability, with many reviewers and players reporting that the console can solely final for round 90 minutes of gameplay (various primarily based on the chosen recreation). Considering batteries are one of many first parts of many gadgets to point out its age, you would not be incorrect to be involved in regards to the battery lifetime of a refurbished Steam Deck. 

However, Valve states that it rigorously checks every machine earlier than certifying it and inserting it on the market, together with assessing battery well being “to ensure proper functionality and longevity.” Additionally, every refurbished machine is given a complete manufacturing unit reset, and its software program is up to date to the newest OS. 

Valve says that every Steam Deck is put via over 100 checks at certainly one of its services, together with for its display screen, audio system, all controller inputs, and different inside {hardware}. The firm even goes as far to say that “all refurbished units meet or even exceed the performance standards of new retail units.” If every part Valve guarantees is true, then the one distinction between a refurbished Steam Deck and a brand new one is the opportunity of some mild beauty wear-and-tear. Refurbished Steam Decks can even include a carrying case and Quick Start information.

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If beauty blemishes are the one factor that offers away that your Steam Deck is refurbished, it ought to run precisely like a brand-new one off the shelf. The 256 GB and 512 GB fashions use SSD storage, and all three fashions have 16 GB RAM. The Steam Deck makes use of an AMD processor, with a CPU able to as much as 446 gigaflops and a GPU able to as much as 1.6 teraflops. 

All of that shows on a 7-inch, 1280×800 decision display screen with 400 nits brightness, and a 60Hz refresh price. As properly, a well-recognized Steam controller format is current across the handheld, alongside two touchpads on both aspect of the hand held, USB-C connectivity, Bluetooth, and extra.

While the hybrid console considerably resembles and works like a Nintendo Switch, its energy is extra according to eighth era dwelling consoles just like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. These are very spectacular specs for a handheld console, and are not even that unhealthy for a house console expertise both. 

Just understand that, by many accounts, its battery life doesn’t reside as much as the formidable 2-8 hours of gameplay that Valve guarantees. If you possibly can reside with that and need to purchase a Steam Deck, there’s actually no good motive to not save a couple of bucks and go along with certainly one of their licensed refurbished fashions — whereas provides final.