Valve's Steam Deck LCD partnership with iFixit was a big moment for handheld repairability, but it looks like parts are now being discontinued. While it's currently unknown whether every component will become unavailable, the repair site says it's looking "less likely" that it will continue to stock OEM batteries.
The Steam Deck LCD part revelation was originally unearthed by Zok-Felswyn on Reddit, with a post revealing correspondence from iFixit. According to the shared email enquiry response regarding gaming handheld batteries, the stockist says "we do not have immediate plans to stock this product."
It was originally unclear from the reply why iFixit was no longer stocking batteries, but a member of the team has since clarified, "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 Customer Support response for LCD Steam Deck batteriesfrom r/SteamDeck
As someone who fixes, repairs, and mods both old and new gadgets, I am pretty bummed out. I appreciate Valve's efforts to make Steam Deck LCD components readily available, but it appears to be winding down access just when people will need components most. I know from decades of dealing with battery tech that after four years, you'll want to start thinking about a replacement depending on usage, and a lot of players in need of a reliable replacement will be out of luck.
It's worth noting I've reached out to Valve for comment on whether it is officially discontinuing Steam Deck LCD replacement parts. The company hasn't made any announcements regarding the decision, so finding out whether the handheld maker is actually ending part support, or if there's a change internally with iFixit, is important.
Before you also get any bright ideas, just know you can't use a Steam Deck OLED battery in the LCD model. The two portables may look similar, but there are subtle design changes and specs under the hood, including capacity. That said, I do wonder if Valve is actually working on supplying a different battery than the one it supplies currently, which may have led to the supply hiccup.
If Valve is actively discontinuing Steam Deck LCD parts, though, it'll leave players at the mercy of the hard-to-navigate third-party market. It can be a nightmare narrowing down which alternatives are reliable and of acceptable quality, and that's something iFixit will also have to do to fill its stock gap.
Check out the best Steam Deck docks if you're planning to make a low-spec Steam Machine alternative.
