The basic model is currently unavailable in the US store and is no longer being manufactured.
The basic model is currently unavailable in the US store and is no longer being manufactured.
The least expensive Steam Deck, the $399 LCD variant, is currently not available in the US. Additionally, according to the Steam Deck website, it will not be restocked. Under the various model listings, there is a note that states:
We will not be producing the Steam Deck LCD 256GB version anymore. Once it sells out, it will not be available again.
And indeed, it is no longer in stock on the US website.
Valve’s choice to discontinue the Steam Deck LCD is disappointing. Consequently, the most affordable Steam Deck now is the 512GB OLED variant, priced at $549, which is significantly higher than the previous entry-level option.
We have reached out to Valve for a comment, but have not yet received a response. Without an official statement from the company, we are left speculating on the reasoning behind the discontinuation of the Steam Deck LCD. Andy Hales of Windows Central indicates that increasing RAM and storage costs (thanks to AI) have made it tough to keep providing a handheld at that price range.
The handheld PC gaming market is significantly stronger than when the Steam Deck initially launched in 2022, but it’s challenging to see any of the competing options, such as Lenovo, ASUS, or GPD, filling that entry-level gap.
