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
  • Estebiu@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    302·
    2 months ago

    Just checked on aliexpress : a 3rd party battery with hundreds of positive reviews is 29€.

    • cannedheat@lemmy.mlEnglish
      23·
      2 months ago

      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.

      • Croquette@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        2·
        2 months ago

        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.

      • Rolivers@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        2·
        2 months ago

        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.

        • Estebiu@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          1·
          2 months ago

          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.

  • Donjuanme@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    2 months ago

    Ugh,

    Yay.

    Hopefully it is a popular enough product that 3rd party manufacturers will step in… But who am I kidding… I’ll just keep it plugged in and use the steam machine as much as possible

    Having read the article, 3rd party batteries are the same price as the original battery used to be. A shame the oled batteries aren’t compatible with the LCD units.

  • CerebralHawks@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    81·
    2 months ago

    At what point do we stop glazing tech companies and draw the line in the sand and say this crap won’t be tolerated anymore?

    Unfortunately I think the glazing is led by influencers who aren’t affected by the price increases. And they figure — likely, correctly — that if they don’t give the company good coverage, they’ll be scooped, and forgotten. But, that’s where you start. With the fanboys. The loudest supporters.

    The alternative is, these things just keep going up until the line is drawn and enough people hold it. And sure, it’s fine if you bought at the lower price… until you need a new one.