The Playdate gets a price bump, but you can snag a refurbished unit for less

Panic's Playdate is a unique gaming handheld in a sea of devices from brands such as Nintendo, Anbernic, Retroid, Lenovo, Asus, etc. The yellow crank-toting handheld was released in 2022 for $199, and has kept that price tag since then. Unfortunately, that price will go up later this month.

The manufacturer has revealed that the Playdate will be getting a price bump from $199 to $229, starting on March 25. According to an official statement released by Panic, the increase in price is due to a change in the factory that produces the handheld. Apparently, the new factory informed them that producing the Playdate will cost a bit more compared to the old factory, hence the upward price review.

While the device itself will cost more, there's no mention of a price increase for accessories such as cases, USB cables, or the official charger that was launched late last year. There's still a few days left before the price change takes effect, so now is a good time to pick up the device if you have been unsure about purchasing it.

It has also been announced that there will be refurbished units of the Playdate available on March 25. These refurbished units will be sold for $179 a piece, but there will be very limited stock available. Panic says the refurbished units will include those that have been fully refreshed at its factory as well as those that have minor cosmetic issues. However, they work perfectly and come with a six-month limited warranty.

Whether you are buying a new unit now or waiting for a refurbished unit, you also need to pick up a couple of games at discounted prices as there's an ongoing sale. The sale ends today, March 20, so you have to hurry.