Valve is giving budget-conscious buyers a new option to consider when they’re in the market for a Steam Deck — a “certified refurbished” unit.
These refurb units have been tested and inspected by Valve itself, ensuring that while they were previously used, they’re in perfect working order to find a new home—and for less than the usual MSRP.
Steaming out the prices
Valve promises that every refurb unit “has been thoroughly tested to the same high standards as our retail units.” When a unit is sent back to Valve for refurbishment, it’s given a factory reset, software update, and then combed over for any faults. These checks and balances ensure that each of the refurb units “meet or even exceed the performance standards of new retail units,” as Valve states.
The only caveat that buyers should take note of is that a unit they get “may have minor cosmetic blemishes,” which is to be expected when buying any piece of refurbished tech. That said, if one has the know-how and time, they can swap out certain components, such as the system’s shell, thumbsticks and buttons, to give it a completely all-new/custom look, despite being previously owned.
On the other hand, there are a few bonuses to admire. This includes the same one-year warranty as a new unit, a refurbished power supply, as well as a carrying case and Quick Start guide.
So, what savings can one expect from going the pre-owned route? According to Valve’s page, a refurbished 64GB Steam Deck is being sold for USD $319.00, which is a cool $80 less than a brand-new model. The 256GB variant costs $419 ($110 less) and the 512GB variant is only $519 ($230.)
Therefore, no matter which refurb model you pick up, you’ll be saving quite a bit. There’s only one catch—finding one in stock.
At the time of publication, all three variants are currently out of stock. Valve mentions in its FAQ that quantities will fluctuate as supply is obtained. Therefore, check back often to see if you can nab one.
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