Valve ends OEM Steam Deck LCD battery supply after four years
Valve has started reducing the supply of official replacement parts for the original Steam Deck LCD. The change comes just over four years after the handheld launched in February 2022.
A Steam Deck owner contacted iFixit after noticing that the official LCD battery was no longer available. According to the support response, iFixit was unlikely to receive more OEM batteries from Valve.
Source: Reddit
An iFixit representative later confirmed that the decision did not come from the repair company.
To add clarity: it’s not that we’re choosing to not stock these anymore. Unfortunately, Valve is just starting to sunset these parts. We’re looking at alternatives!
iFixit now sells an aftermarket battery
The US iFixit store currently lists a replacement Steam Deck LCD battery for $84.99. However, the product page clearly states that it is an aftermarket unit rather than an OEM Valve battery.
Steam Deck LCD Battery, Source: ifixit
The battery is one of the most important long-term replacement parts in a portable system. Many launch Steam Deck units are now more than four years old, which is when reduced capacity and other battery issues may become more common.
Parts availability also affects the LCD model’s controller daughterboards. According to the same iFixit representative, these boards were not supplied to the company and probably will not be available because they require calibration software that Valve has not released publicly.
Valve promoted repairability at launch
Valve partnered with iFixit in May 2022 to sell official parts and publish repair guides. At the time, Valve said it designed the Steam Deck to be repairable and wanted users to replace components themselves.
The decision to sunset OEM batteries this early weakens that original commitment. Third-party batteries remain available, and iFixit says it is searching for alternatives, but Steam Deck LCD owners can no longer rely on receiving a battery supplied by Valve.
Source: Reddit , TechPowerUP
