Best Steam Deck Accessories (2023): Docks, Battery, Storage Leave a comment
When it comes to transportable PC gaming, the Steam Deck is the best choice for a couple of causes. It has an excellent mixture of efficiency, battery life, and affordability. Plus, on the subject of the handheld-friendly interface and variety of video games obtainable, it is arduous to beat. Valve, the corporate that makes the Steam Deck, has invested extra in repairability than most producers by giving customers details about learn how to keep their units, and promoting spare components by iFixit.
However if you wish to get much more out of your Steam Deck, you’ll have to show elsewhere. There is a gaggle of nice equipment and additions that may shield and improve your Deck, in addition to provide help to beat that ultimate boss. Even should you opted for the $400 entry-level model, there’s an entire ecosystem of ins and outs that may make your Steam Deck higher than ever. Because the Steam Deck continues to be a reasonably new gaming platform, that is removed from an exhaustive checklist of every little thing that works with it. However we’ll hold our eyes peeled for extra equipment and modifications as they flip up.
Desk of Contents
Docks
Whereas the Steam Deck is a conveyable gaming PC before everything, it may also be used to recreation on a 4K TV or at a desktop setup with a keyboard and mouse. The simplest technique to leap to the massive display screen is to attach your Deck to a dock. Moreover, should you enter the desktop mode, you can use this gaming handheld as a Linux pc, prepared for net shopping in Firefox or no matter different boring stuff you’d usually use a pc for. Plus, since all these docks use the ever present USB-C customary to attach your Deck to its peripherals, you could possibly plug in an iPad or laptop computer and get the identical performance.
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The primary-party dock possibility is a extremely nice one. Not solely is Valve’s Deck Dock compact, however it additionally features a second energy adapter you may go away at your desk. Valve appears devoted to its {hardware}, issuing firmware updates periodically to make this dock secure and safe. Whereas many docks skimp on one port or one other, this has a ton of connectivity choices: Three USB ports, two display-out choices, and wired gigabit Ethernet. If I’ve to complain about something right here it is that the $80 value is greater than most competing docks, however then once more, most of these are lacking a show port or do not embody an additional energy brick.
Additionally Nice
This steel base for this Steam Deck dock appears slick and has loads of ports. Just like the Valve-made dock, this Jsaux possibility presents three USB 3.2 ports and twin show choices, together with an Ethernet port. Although Jsaux brags about its dock’s 100-watt charging skill, you will not see elevated cost speeds, for the reason that Deck caps out at 45 watts it doesn’t matter what you plug into it. At round $50, you may get monetary savings over the plastic Valve possibility and get a trendy aluminum dock to adorn your desk.
Finest Worth
Sabrent is thought for its USB equipment, and its Steam Deck dock does the trick at lower than half the worth of the Valve possibility. Not like that dock, this has solely a single HDMI port however makes up for it by providing a USB-C output, for a complete of 4 USB ports. At $30, it is a superb worth that does not really feel too low cost or reduce corners an excessive amount of. Just like the Jsaux dock above, the max charging pace of the Deck is 45 watts, so ignore the marketed cost ranking of 95 watts right here.
Bluetooth Controllers
If you happen to’re utilizing the Steam Deck with a dock, you may’t maintain the console, so in fact you’ll want one other technique to management your video games. Fortunately, with its Bluetooth help, the Deck makes connecting peripherals a cinch.
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Whereas there are a ton of suitable Bluetooth controllers, the one made for the Xbox is the very best controller to make use of with the Steam Deck. The reason being easy: The Steam Deck acknowledges this mannequin and barely adjustments its interface to match the controller. As an example, within the nook you may see an Xbox brand telling you to return to the primary menu with that button. Moreover, the A/B/X/Y face buttons are the identical as on the Deck, making it simple to transition between the 2 management mechanisms. It is comfy, acquainted, and works reliably, with no changes required.
Transportable Batteries
The period of days-long battery life for transportable gaming is lengthy behind us, and fashionable handhelds just like the Steam Deck generally final solely a handful of hours on a single cost. Fortunately, you received’t be slamming in a fistful of AA batteries. Now we have a number of picks for giant exterior batteries you may hook as much as refill your Deck very quickly.
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We love the Nimble Champ, which is why it is our total really useful transportable charger in our separate guide for that class. It has a USB-A port for smartphones that want much less juice and a USB-C port with Energy Supply to high up higher-power units like tablets and gaming handhelds. At across the dimension of a deck of playing cards and solely 6.4 ounces, it could actually tuck away within the Steam Deck’s included case and you may barely discover it is there.
At 18 watts peak charging, nonetheless, it won’t allow you to cost and play the Deck on the identical time, particularly should you’re operating a very intense recreation like Cyberpunk 2077. The Champ is greatest used to cost up throughout breaks slightly than maintaining it hooked up for lengthy durations.
Finest for Lengthy Play Periods
This high-capacity 20,000-mAh battery is loads larger than the nimble Nimble, however should you’re a frequent long-haul flier that is the one to get. Since it could actually cost on the Deck’s 45-watt really useful price from its USB-C port, it could actually sustain with probably the most intense video games so long as it has cost left in its cells. Talking of, a easy numerical show tells you (by exhibiting a quantity between zero and 99) how a lot juice you’ve gotten left. As a bonus, its further ports can concurrently put energy into different units, for a complete of 63 watts.
Display Protectors
Wherever there’s a touchscreen, there’s gonna be a set of keys or different sharp implements ready to mar its shiny visage. Shield your Deck from scratches and dings with a custom-fit display screen protector. These may even improve your viewing expertise from a shiny and distracting one to a glare-free matte end.
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It is arduous to beat this equipment of two display screen protectors for under $10. They arrive in matte or clear tempered glass and have every little thing that you must get a clear set up. What made these stand out was the inclusion of a snap-on alignment information that made it simple to get the display screen protector onto the console. Plus, these kits additionally put screen-cleaning wipes and a microfiber fabric within the field, so it is a cinch to eradicate fingerprints and dirt earlier than laying down that candy layer of scratch-resistant glass.
Circumstances
The Steam Deck features a carrying case, which is fairly candy to get as a standard-issue accent. However what in regards to the day-to-day bumps and bruises a handheld console runs into? These circumstances wrap the Deck in a layer of rubber, allow you to snap on a plastic shell to guard the entrance of the system, and even present methods to connect different equipment.
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This dear accent envelops your Steam Deck in a blanket of grippy textured rubber and retains it from getting broken through the jostles and jolts of journey. There is a $60 primary model, however I would advocate you go for the $75 model, which comes with the must-have rugged clip-on journey cowl. Each Killswitch features a sturdy kickstand (with storage for SD playing cards), which may be eliminated and changed with a “common” attachment level for equipment like batteries or USB-C exterior drives.
With the Deck bundled up on this spectacular case, most of its buttons are protected with no hole between the triggers and the entrance clamshell. It feels greater than sturdy sufficient to chuck it in your backpack with out fear. Included customary with every equipment is a entrance vinyl pores and skin that covers the final uncovered a part of the Deck, in your alternative of a wide range of patterns and colours. The $75 model comes with two analog stick toppers that add a bit further chunk underneath your thumbs, together with a extra aggressive texture.
Finest Worth
If $75 looks as if loads to pay for a Steam Deck case (and it’s), the Jsaux may give you a really comparable expertise for lower than half the worth. The ModCase works in a similar way, with a tough plastic entrance cowl and a rubber again that wraps across the edges. It features a weirdly gummy stand for the system, a removable kickstand, and a mounting resolution for exterior equipment, which you strap on with a watchband-like little bit of elastic. Jsaux additionally sells an exterior fan for further cooling and a USB docking resolution that slots on the again of the ModCase.
I will not say that this has the fit-and-finish or top quality supplies of the Dbrand Killswitch, however for under $30 it is shut sufficient for most individuals and has extra equipment within the field.
Storage Upgrades
If you happen to’re like me, you’re a cheapskate who grabbed the $399 64-GB bare-bones Steam Deck. Proper out of the field, you’ve received two choices so as to add extra storage—and with some AAA video games taking over dozens and dozens of your valuable gigabytes, you’re gonna want it.
Simple Set up
Each Steam Deck has a handy microSD card slot, so including further area takes solely seconds. This Excessive card is rated for high-speed reads and writes and has 256 GB of storage—sufficient to suit a bunch of indie video games or a handful of large AAA titles.
Phrase to the clever: Watch out which manufacturers you purchase nowadays. There are loads of iffy, low-quality SD playing cards that would corrupt your knowledge or might really maintain a fraction of the marketed capability. If you happen to see a deal from an organization you do not know, it is most likely too good to be true.
Inner Storage Improve
If you happen to’re useful with a screwdriver and software program, upgrading the Steam Deck’s inside solid-state drive to at least one with an even bigger capability does not take an excessive amount of effort. I changed mine by first cloning its contents over to the brand new drive via an external enclosure and utilizing the Deck’s Linux terminal. IFixIt has a unbelievable information that may take you step-by-step by eradicating the rear housing, taking off a steel protect over the primary circuit board, and unscrewing the tiny 2230-size SSD chip. If you wish to begin from scratch together with your Deck’s new drive, you may reimage the system utilizing a USB-C drive.
Because the 2230 dimension continues to be unusual, it may be arduous discovering high-quality replacements for the Steam Deck’s SSD. This Sabrent drive is among the hottest choices, and it comes with a good guarantee and has good critiques. Plus, it is one of many solely fashions with the large 2-TB capability. Like with SD playing cards, there are some much less respected manufacturers promoting these tiny drives, so make certain you are getting one with good critiques and an affordable guarantee, and possibly skip any OEM-labeled models. (These are often supposed for pc producers, not finish customers.)
Customization
If a wrap-around case isn’t sufficient for you, there are much more methods to make your Steam Deck your individual. You possibly can stick on a vinyl wrap or bust out the screwdrivers for a full exterior shell swap. Let’s trick out your Deck.
Simple Set up
Dbrand is thought for its thick vinyl in some actually bonkers patterns. The Steam Deck will get the complete wrap therapy, with precision-cut, adhesive-backed materials prepared to put in. A few of the choices are flat colours, however others have a unbelievable holofoil look to them. Beginning at $30 every, it is a nice technique to shield the Deck from scratches whereas giving it a brand new outfit that Valve won’t have chosen to ship from the manufacturing unit. Dbrand skins allow you to change the look of your console with out voiding your guarantee.
For the Hardcore
If a vinyl pores and skin does not provide you with sufficient of a {custom} look, how about a wholly new shell? Jsaux has engineered a collection of latest components that the DIY-minded can set up to get a radically totally different look. These shells are available in clear, smoky, and purple finishes (that final one offers off sturdy late-’90s Nintendo Atomic Purple vibes), and you may get kits that change the front panel ($36), the back panel ($27), or the whole shell ($50).
A complete-shell swap is a critical modification and might take hours, even when Jsaux gives outstanding instructions and good instruments within the field. I opted for an easier rear housing swap, which may be carried out throughout an SSD improve. These substitute rear shells have customizable rear buttons with totally different shapes and heights, so you may fine-tune your Deck’s responsiveness when you’re swapping its pores and skin.
