Latest Steam Deck Teardown Shows Difficulty with Battery Reparability

ign.com:

Tech teardown specialist iFixit has uploaded a new video taking apart the Steam Deck. While this is not the first teardown we have seen on Valve's portable gaming PC, the latest teardown provides better context on the reparability of the Steam Deck.

One of the biggest takeaways from iFixit's video was that replacing the battery on the Steam Deck will be difficult, noting that battery replacements for the handheld are "rough."

But should you feel the need to replace the battery, iFixit suggests users drain the battery "below 25%" before you disassemble the Steam Deck to prevent any thermal runaway while also using "plenty of heat to soften the adhesive" and to pry the battery out from the bottom edge.

iFixit also noted that accessing the Steam Deck's M.2 storage was not tricky, praising Valve for adding the option for those interested in replacing the SSD. The SSD is held with only one screw and is sleeved with a thin little shield to help "prevent interference between the SSD and the wireless communication hardware," as iFixit notes.

Aside from the challenges that come from replacing the battery, iFixit awarded Valve's Steam Deck with a seven out of ten in repairability. Unsurprising given, Valve has been open about making it easy for users to buy replaceable (and compatible) parts, even if they don't want you to open up your Steam Deck.

iFixit found replacing the Steam Deck's battery to be "rough." | Image: iFixit

Alongside publishing its own teardown video, iFixit also announced today that it had been named one of the authorized sellers of Steam Deck replacement parts. Valve further noted that the iFixit has also been named an authorized seller for replacement parts for its Index virtual reality headset.

The Steam Deck