What is steam deck shipping soon?

As of August 2021, Valve has stated that the Steam Deck is expected to start shipping in December 2021. However, the initial shipping quantities may be limited and delivery times may vary depending on where the device is being shipped. Pre-orders for the Steam Deck have already started and are currently sold out, with some customers reporting expected delivery dates as late as Q2 2022. Valve has not yet provided any further updates on the expected shipping timeline.