--- title: Handheld prices aren't coming back down, and the one... description: Gaming handheld prices have reset higher due to the DRAM/NAND memory crisis and are unlikely to drop back to pre-crisis levels, even on older-generation... canonical: https://daily.dev/posts/handheld-prices-aren-t-coming-back-down-and-the-one-worth-buying-now-isn-t-the-new-one-wwfynnr8n twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:site: @dailydotdev og:type: website og:site_name: daily.dev og:title: Handheld prices aren't coming back down, and the one worth buying now isn't the new one | daily.dev og:description: Gaming handheld prices have reset higher due to the DRAM/NAND memory crisis and are unlikely to drop back to pre-crisis levels, even on older-generation... og:url: https://daily.dev/posts/handheld-prices-aren-t-coming-back-down-and-the-one-worth-buying-now-isn-t-the-new-one-wwfynnr8n og:image: https://api.daily.dev/og/posts/WwFYNNr8N.png og:image:alt: Handheld prices aren't coming back down, and the one worth buying now isn't the new one og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 630 og:locale: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Handheld prices aren't coming back down, and the one worth buying now isn't the new one **[XDA Developers](https://daily.dev/sources/xda-developers)** · 5 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary Gaming handheld prices have reset higher due to the DRAM/NAND memory crisis and are unlikely to drop back to pre-crisis levels, even on older-generation devices. Because previous-gen handheld prices rose less than new-gen prices, buying a generation-old unit now offers a relatively better deal despite no absolute price drop. Most games don't require the latest chips, so the performance gap is smaller than the price gap. Buyers should watch for battery degradation and missing hardware refinements, and consider manufacturer-certified refurbished options like Valve's refurbished Steam Decks for safer secondhand purchases. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Questions this post answers ### Why are gaming handheld prices staying high instead of coming back down? Handheld prices reset higher mainly because of rising DRAM and NAND memory costs, and manufacturers have shown no intention of cutting prices once a new baseline is set. Both new and previous-generation handhelds saw price increases, so waiting for a correction back to pre-crisis pricing is not a realistic expectation. _Track pricing trends and buying advice for handhelds like this on daily.dev before your next purchase._ ### Is it worth buying a previous-generation gaming handheld instead of the newest model? Yes, because previous-generation handheld prices rose by less than new-generation prices, creating a wider relative gap even though nothing dropped in absolute terms. Most games run fine on a generation-old chip since resolution and frame rate targets haven't shifted much, though buyers should expect reduced battery life and older hardware refinements like sticks and cooling. _Compare generations before buying hardware by following handheld and gaming deals on daily.dev._ ### Where can I buy a refurbished Steam Deck safely? Valve sells refurbished Steam Decks directly through its own store, with units tested and backed by a warranty, offering a safer middle ground than local or social media listings that lack buyer protection. Checking battery health or cycle count before buying secondhand is also recommended to avoid a unit needing a replacement battery. _Stay on top of refurbished hardware options and deals with daily.dev's developer and tech coverage._ ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [Your next gaming handheld might cost double, or not exist at all](https://daily.dev/posts/your-next-gaming-handheld-might-cost-double-or-not-exist-at-all-w6ukiyaqx) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Gaming handhelds are getting too expensive, but your old one can do more than you realize](https://daily.dev/posts/gaming-handhelds-are-getting-too-expensive-but-your-old-one-can-do-more-than-you-realize-tzu6wuqmt) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [The RAMageddon hits home \| Opinion](https://daily.dev/posts/the-ramageddon-hits-home-opinion-kuqt7ihpw) · GamesIndustry.biz · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Sky-high prices risk disaster for a console market struggling to grow \| Opinion](https://daily.dev/posts/sky-high-prices-risk-disaster-for-a-console-market-struggling-to-grow-opinion-ru1opbzjo) · GamesIndustry.biz · 1 upvotes · 0 comments - [I watched the gaming industry price itself out of the market, and indie games are the real winners](https://daily.dev/posts/i-watched-the-gaming-industry-price-itself-out-of-the-market-and-indie-games-are-the-real-winners-ycorrhkw8) · XDA Developers · 2 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#tech-news](https://daily.dev/tags/tech-news), [#steam-deck](https://daily.dev/tags/steam-deck) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/handheld-prices-aren-t-coming-back-down-and-the-one-worth-buying-now-isn-t-the-new-one-wwfynnr8n) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization","name":"daily.dev","url":"https://daily.dev","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://daily.dev/apple-touch-icon.png","width":180,"height":180},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/dailydotdev","https://github.com/dailydotdev","https://www.linkedin.com/company/daily-dev-ltd"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://daily.dev/#website","url":"https://daily.dev","name":"daily.dev","publisher":{"@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization"},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://daily.dev/search?q={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","headline":"Handheld prices aren't coming back down, and the one worth buying now isn't the new one","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/handheld-prices-aren-t-coming-back-down-and-the-one-worth-buying-now-isn-t-the-new-one-wwfynnr8n","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/handheld-prices-aren-t-coming-back-down-and-the-one-worth-buying-now-isn-t-the-new-one-wwfynnr8n"},"datePublished":"2026-08-19T12:04:39.663Z","dateModified":"2026-08-19T12:12:24.207Z","description":"Gaming handheld prices have reset higher due to the DRAM/NAND memory crisis and are unlikely to drop back to pre-crisis levels, even on older-generation...","image":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/posts/2c7850d719e7fd3b57a613932136072a?_a=AQAEuop","thumbnailUrl":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/posts/2c7850d719e7fd3b57a613932136072a?_a=AQAEuop","isAccessibleForFree":true,"articleSection":"XDA Developers","inLanguage":"en","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"daily.dev","url":"https://daily.dev","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://daily.dev/apple-touch-icon.png","width":180,"height":180}},"author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"XDA Developers","logo":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/s--kCg6yyAP--/f_auto,q_auto/v1774964407/logos/xda-developers?_a=BAMAMiWQ0","url":"https://daily.dev/sources/xda-developers"},"commentCount":0,"discussionUrl":"https://daily.dev/posts/handheld-prices-aren-t-coming-back-down-and-the-one-worth-buying-now-isn-t-the-new-one-wwfynnr8n","interactionStatistic":[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":0},{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"CommentAction"},"userInteractionCount":0}],"keywords":"tech-news,steam-deck","timeRequired":"PT5M"} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://daily.dev"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"XDA Developers","item":"https://daily.dev/sources/xda-developers"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Handheld prices aren't coming back down, and the one worth buying now isn't the new one"}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/handheld-prices-aren-t-coming-back-down-and-the-one-worth-buying-now-isn-t-the-new-one-wwfynnr8n#faq","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why are gaming handheld prices staying high instead of coming back down?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Handheld prices reset higher mainly because of rising DRAM and NAND memory costs, and manufacturers have shown no intention of cutting prices once a new baseline is set. Both new and previous-generation handhelds saw price increases, so waiting for a correction back to pre-crisis pricing is not a realistic expectation. Track pricing trends and buying advice for handhelds like this on daily.dev before your next purchase."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is it worth buying a previous-generation gaming handheld instead of the newest model?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, because previous-generation handheld prices rose by less than new-generation prices, creating a wider relative gap even though nothing dropped in absolute terms. Most games run fine on a generation-old chip since resolution and frame rate targets haven't shifted much, though buyers should expect reduced battery life and older hardware refinements like sticks and cooling. 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