• 2 min read
Valve says LCD Steam Deck parts aren’t going away
Valve and iFixit say OEM parts for the LCD Steam Deck are still coming, including batteries, despite recent fears of a cutoff.
Image: Gizmodo
Valve and iFixit say rumors of the LCD Steam Deck losing replacement-part support are wrong, at least for now. The concern started with a Reddit post claiming iFixit customer service had warned that continued supply of OEM Steam Deck LCD batteries looked increasingly unlikely and that aftermarket options were being evaluated.
That sparked fresh anxiety around Valve’s older handheld, especially because the original LCD model is no longer sold. But iFixit CEO Karl Weins said on Twitter that Valve had sent over a new batch of batteries, while Valve told The Verge that iFixit would continue receiving “the same OEM parts sourced through Valve’s partners that they always have.”
Valve has reached out and is sending us a new batch of Steam Deck LCD batteries! iFixit will move heaven and earth to keep supporting these handhelds.
The battery is one of the most critical parts to replace on the original handheld. Its 40Wh lithium polymer battery will naturally lose capacity over time, and iFixit said it has an aftermarket supplier ready if Valve ever stops sending first-party replacements. Weins told The Verge he suspects Valve may simply have underestimated battery demand, though the company has not explained what caused the apparent shortage.
Owners still have reason to watch this closely. Valve discontinued the 256GB Steam Deck LCD late last year in favor of the Steam Deck OLED. When it launched in 2023, the OLED model cost more than the LCD version but added a 50Wh battery and a 7.4-inch display.
Since then, prices have climbed. Gizmodo says Valve raised prices on all remaining Steam Deck models this year, with a 1TB handheld now listed at $950. There are also currently no Certified Refurbished units in stock on Steam. That leaves LCD owners with few affordable upgrade paths, especially as rivals like the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X reach $1,000 and the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ hits $1,800.
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For now, the key point is simpler: Valve and iFixit say the original Steam Deck is still getting parts support, and a fresh batch of batteries is on the way.
Culture Editor
Maya explores gaming, streaming, and the internet as a place where people actually live. From deep-dives into creator economies to the anthropology of digital communities, she tracks platform drama and cultural shifts so you don't have to. She believes the best tech stories are fundamentally about human behavior.
via Gizmodo
