The market already had a good number of gaming handhelds before Valve Steam Deck was released. However, with it, the competition in the market got heated up. We started to see much more powerful options coming from Asus, Lenovo, and Ayaneo.
But for what Steam Deck brings to the table, Valve’s offering still stands as a solid gaming handheld. Valve has even updated it recently, giving it an OLED panel and a minor boost. But if you were to buy it new, you would need to spend at least $349. At that price, the Asus ROG Ally with non-extreme Ryzen may seem like a better deal, at least on paper.
However, now, you can get the Valve Steam Deck for just $279, a whopping $70 lower price than what it starts at. Well, there’s a catch! The $279 price tag is for a certified refurbished model. That is, it’s not brand-new, which can make the lower price tag not worth it. But the fact that it’s refurbished from Valve makes it fully worth it.
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Refurbished Valve Steam Deck Models Go Through 100+ of Tests
It’s quite natural to be skeptical about a refurbished electronic device. But for the certified Steam Deck models, you’re getting Valve’s commitment. The company is offering the same 1-year warranty as the new retail units. What’s more important is that the company says that the refurbished units go through more than 100 tests.
These tests involve checking the controller inputs, screen, core internals, and audio system. With this, Valve promises that the refurbished units will deliver the same performance as the new counterparts. But, of course, the refurbished units won’t be as pristine as a new gaming handheld.
Instead, there will be some cosmetic blemishes on the device. But that’s not something that you can’t fix. As a matter of fact, you can easily get a protective case or wrap for the Steam Deck and hide those minor blemishes. Want to know if the gaming handheld is still worth buying? Check out the video attached below.
