Recently we had the official iFixit launch for Steam Deck replacement parts but one major bit was missing — the Battery. Now though, it seems the store pages for it are properly live and they're already out of stock.
As I was writing this the EU and UK had some stock, I refreshed and they were gone so obviously a few people were waiting ready. Originally, when the initial launch happened there were only placeholder pages for the Battery replacements and no prices. iFixit told various outlets that they didn't currently have a solution to it but it seems that's being solved.
Pictured - the full Battery Kit
So while you again can't buy it yet, we at least now have the full price required now:
- Part only: £84.99
- Kit: £89.99
- Part only: $89.99
- Kit: $94.99
- Part only: €89,95
- Kit: €94,95
Currently they're still missing the replacements for various main buttons. While they have the triggers, they do not have the D-pad, Action buttons, Steam button, Quick Access button and others missing too.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
I'm not sure I get why they might be sold out already. Wouldn't people buy a replacement battery if the existing one....needed replacing? If they already need replacing, that's seriously poor quality.
And if people are buying them pre-emptively, then again that's not a good sign of quality. To me it's a huge "stay away from this hardware" warning sign. I don't actually think the hardware is quite that terrible though, so I'm left confused.
I think early battery failures are quite rare, but there have been reports of them. My guess is the buyers are people with bad batteries who don't want to wait for a valve RMA (or they don't live in an offical steam deck country so a return would be complicted/impossible)
Third party repair shops may also be buying them to have stock on hand, afaik ifixit is the only source for offical parts.
Mountain Man Jun 7, 2022
I'm not sure I get why they might be sold out already. Wouldn't people buy a replacement battery if the existing one....needed replacing? If they already need replacing, that's seriously poor quality.
And if people are buying them pre-emptively, then again that's not a good sign of quality. To me it's a huge "stay away from this hardware" warning sign. I don't actually think the hardware is quite that terrible though, so I'm left confused.
They get it right now, probably with very limited quantity.Some repair shops maybe want to get it just because they can and so iFixit is sold out even with small demand.
I assume that Valve think there is no need for more replacement battery and prioritize new units and ifixit just get some leftovers.
Reason why battery is now and not with initial release is probably just because they don't have enough of them.
Or maybe you can be right, but sold out right now mean nothing.
Not sure what's going on really but it definitely said it had stock initially but very low, and then gone. We all know batteries don't last forever though, and considering how hard people are pushing the Steam Deck, likely harder than laptops would be pushed, I imagine playing it safe getting a spare is not a bad idea regardless.
But aren't batteries ageing, so I want a new one then and not one that sat somewhere for years?
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