At this point, the handheld gaming market is more mature than it was when Valve introduced its Steam Deck a couple of years ago. It’s a more competitive landscape now than it was in early 2022, and as we know, competition breeds better pricing for consumers. This is on display with several handheld gaming consoles selling for below MSRP right now.
We haven’t spent any hands-on time with the Claw so we can’t offer first-hand experience on its features and performance. That said, you’re looking at a system with an 7-inch display with a 1920×1080 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. It’s also powered by Intel’s Arc graphics (integrated onto the Core Ultra 135H chip).
Here’s a look at what’s available and the savings compared to a new unit…
- Refurbished Steam Deck (64GB eMMC): $279 (save $70)
- Refurbished Steam Deck (256GB SSD): $319 (save $80)
- Refurbished Steam Deck (512GB SSD): $359 (save $90)
The savings get bigger the further up you move in the storage chain, culminating in a $90 discount for the 512GB SSD model. Note that these are certified refurbished that carry the same one-year warranty as a brand new model.
“Each certified refurbished Steam Deck has been thoroughly tested to the same high standards as our retail units. Every device goes through a complete factory reset, software update, and an extensive examination involving over 100 tests at one of Valve’s facilities. Among the tests are all controller inputs, the audio system, the screen, and internals. Battery health is also assessed to ensure proper functionality and longevity,” Valve explains.
Valve also notes that its refurbished units may have “minor cosmetic blemishes,” but are functionally sound.