Those who were first in line to order theirSteam Deckportable gaming systems will soon be receiving the first wave of order shipments. With hype continuing to grow, select outlets are now starting to share a look at what fans can expect from the inside out.
A new, complete teardown video demonstrates how users will be able to open it up and make changes, like swapping out the SSD for a replacement. However, where many portable gaming devices eventually struggle is with their battery losing its efficacy in holding a charge, and this is where the problems may begin for futureSteam Deckusers.
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The new video shared by iFixit gives fans a complete look at the internal components of the Steam Deck and how they can be unplugged and removed. To the Steam Deck’s credit, it’s surprisingly easy to remove the majority of the system’s components. In theSteam Deck teardownvideo, IFixit had nothing but praise for the ease with which the SSD can be taken out, and was quick to point out that all connections are carefully marked, so reconnecting them shouldn’t be difficult for most users who are already familiar with disassembling things like laptops or mobile devices.
However, the battery is where things get a little sticky, literally. IFixit’s video demonstrates the removal of theSteam Deck battery, which requires a lot of careful prying and tugging to pull it out of the device. IFixit recommends using heat to soften the adhesive holding it in place, but even with a skilled hand performing the removal, it’s clear that it takes more effort than taking out of any of the other components.
Despite the fact that Valve has openly stated that the Steam Deck isn’t intended to be opened up and tinkered with or upgraded, it seems the company also knows a majority of its audience may want to do so at some point. The majority of the device appears to be fairly easy to disassemble for anyone with relevant experience, and fans may be particularly pleased to know that the thumbsticks can easily be taken out and replaced. Given thatthumbstick drifthas been a problem in numerous systems, especially the oft-compared Nintendo Switch, this should come as a relief. With any luck, though, the average user won’t need to make any changes if they don’t want to.
So far, reviews of both the Steam Deck’s performance and repair accessibility have been pretty good. The real test will come when users get their hands on the device and start loading up every game available on Steam, but with Valve working hard to verify thecompatibility between its massive game library and the Steam Deck, with any luck, users won’t run into any major hiccups.
