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Why I Don't Recommend Valve's Gaming Handheld Anymore
IGN • • technology
Key Points:
- The Steam Deck, a popular handheld gaming PC since 2022, has become difficult to recommend due to significant price increases, with new models costing between $789 and $949.
- Refurbished Steam Decks are often out of stock, and used units on platforms like eBay are priced around $450-$500 with uncertain reliability.
- The rise in hardware costs is attributed to a global RAM shortage driven by demand for AI datacenters, affecting prices across gaming devices including the PS5 and Steam Deck.
- Asus has managed to keep its Xbox Ally handhelds' prices stable, with the base model at $599 and the more powerful Ally X at $999, offering comparable or better performance than the Steam Deck.
- Given the current market, the Xbox Ally is considered the best budget handheld option, providing similar gaming performance to the Steam Deck at a lower price point, though future price stability remains uncertain.
