If you have a Steam Deck with an LCD screen and its battery is starting to fail, repairing it has become surprisingly expensive. The official replacement battery for the original model has gone up in price again at iFixit and now costs $179.99 for the battery alone, or $184.99 for the complete repair kit. To put this into perspective, the battery originally launched at $79.99. Just a few weeks ago, it returned after a period of limited stock at $129.99, and this new $50 increase means its price has now jumped by 125% compared to the original price. Steam Deck
Just checked on aliexpress : a 3rd party battery with hundreds of positive reviews is 29€.
Yeah, that’s the confusing bit. We’re told that the selected third party batteries are good quality, but I’m weary that they’re all just being made in the same factory.
And by that I don’t mean that I think the AliExpress battery is necessarily bad. I’m saying I think it’s the same, but ifixit has found a way to gouge by suggesting that their third party battery is different.
It’s probably made in the same factory, but there is more QA in the chain (normally/I hope) and then the batteries have multiple middlemen taking a cut with IFixit adding their profit margin on top of every middlemen costs.
AliExpress is a pile of garbage but you can find decent things there if you know where to look. I’ve gotten quite some decent items from there.
Anyone and any shop can sell there ranging from good ones to scammers.
Aliexpress is NOT a pile of garbage. Retract your words! I’m aliexpress’ number 1 defender!
No but for real, nowadays amazon is much worse.