Before the release of the Valve Steam Deck, there were already a large number of portable gaming devices on the market. However, with its appearance, competition on the market intensified. We've started to see much more powerful options from Asus, Lenovo and Ayaneo.
But with what the Steam Deck offers, Valve's offering is still a solid gaming handheld. Recently, Valve even updated it, giving it an OLED panel and a slight increase in power. But if you want to buy it new, you will have to spend at least $349. At that price, the Asus ROG Ally with non-extreme Ryzen might seem like a better deal, at least on paper.
However, you can get Valve's steam deck right now for only $279, which is as much as $70 cheaper than its original price. But there is a trick here! The $279 price is for a certified refurbished model. This means that it is not brand new, which may make the lower price not worth it. But the fact that it's a remaster from Valve makes it totally worth it.
Restored models Valve Steam Deck pass 100 tests
It's natural to be skeptical of refurbished electronic devices. But for certified Steam Deck models, you get a warranty from Valve. The company offers the same 1-year warranty as new retail devices. More importantly, the company claims that refurbished devices pass over 100 tests.
These tests include checking the controller inputs, screen, internal components and audio system. Thus, Valve promises that refurbished devices will have the same performance as their new counterparts. But, of course, refurbished devices won't be as flawless as new gaming PDAs.
Instead, the device may have some cosmetic defects. But it's not something you can't fix. In fact, you can easily purchase a Steam Deck protective case or wrap and hide these minor blemishes. Want to know if you should buy a gaming pocket device? Watch the video below:
