When it comes to transportable PC gaming, the Steam Deck is the best choice for just a few causes. It has an incredible mixture of efficiency, battery life, and affordability. Plus, on the subject of the handheld-friendly interface and variety of video games accessible, it is exhausting to beat. Valve, the corporate that makes the Steam Deck, has invested extra in repairability than most producers by giving customers details about the best way to preserve their gadgets, and promoting spare components via iFixit.

But if you wish to get much more out of your Steam Deck, you’ll have to show elsewhere. There’s a gaggle of nice equipment and additions that may shield and improve your Deck, in addition to assist you beat that ultimate boss. Even when you opted for the $400 entry-level model, there’s a complete ecosystem of ins and outs that may make your Steam Deck higher than ever. As the Steam Deck remains to be a reasonably new gaming platform, that is removed from an exhaustive record of all the pieces that works with it. But we’ll maintain our eyes peeled for extra equipment and modifications as they flip up.

Table of Contents

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Docks

While the Steam Deck is a transportable gaming PC in the beginning, it may also be used to sport on a 4K TV or at a desktop setup with a keyboard and mouse. The best approach to leap to the large display screen is to attach your Deck to a dock. Furthermore, when you enter the desktop mode, you’ll use this gaming handheld as a Linux laptop, prepared for internet searching 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 normal to attach your Deck to its peripherals, you possibly can plug in an iPad or laptop computer and get the identical performance.

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The first-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’ll be able to depart at your desk. Valve appears devoted to its {hardware}, issuing firmware updates periodically to make this dock secure and safe. While 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 larger than most competing docks, however then once more, most of these are lacking a show port or do not embrace an additional energy brick.

Also Great

This metallic base for this Steam Deck dock appears slick and has loads of ports. Like the Valve-made dock, this Jsaux possibility affords three USB 3.2 ports and twin show choices, together with an Ethernet port. Even although Jsaux brags about its dock’s 100-watt charging capability, you will not see elevated cost speeds, because the Deck caps out at 45 watts it doesn’t matter what you plug into it. At round $50, you may lower your expenses over the plastic Valve possibility and get a trendy aluminum dock to adorn your desk.

Best Value

Sabrent is understood for its USB equipment, and its Steam Deck dock does the trick at lower than half the worth of the Valve possibility. Unlike 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, this can be a excellent worth that does not really feel too low-cost or lower corners an excessive amount of. Like the Jsaux dock above, the max charging pace of the Deck is 45 watts, so ignore the marketed cost score of 95 watts right here.

Bluetooth Controllers

If you’re utilizing the Steam Deck with a dock, you’ll be able to’t maintain the console, so in fact you’ll want one other approach to management your video games. Thankfully, with its Bluetooth help, the Deck makes connecting peripherals a cinch.

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While there are a ton of appropriate Bluetooth controllers, the one made for the Xbox is the most effective controller to make use of with the Steam Deck. The purpose is straightforward: The Steam Deck acknowledges this mannequin and barely adjustments its interface to match the controller. For occasion, within the nook you may see an Xbox brand telling you to return to the principle menu with that button. Furthermore, 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’s snug, acquainted, and works reliably, with no changes required.

Portable Batteries

The period of days-long battery life for transportable gaming is lengthy behind us, and trendy handhelds just like the Steam Deck typically final solely a handful of hours on a single cost. Thankfully, you gained’t be slamming in a fistful of AA batteries. We have a number of picks for giant exterior batteries you’ll be able to hook as much as refill your Deck very quickly.

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We love the Nimble Champ, which is why it is our general beneficial 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 Power Delivery to prime up higher-power gadgets like tablets and gaming handhelds. At across the dimension of a deck of playing cards and solely 6.4 ounces, it could possibly 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 when you’re operating a very intense sport like Cyberpunk 2077. The Champ is greatest used to cost up throughout breaks relatively than maintaining it hooked up for lengthy intervals.

Best for Long Play Sessions

This high-capacity 20,000-mAh battery is loads greater than the nimble Nimble, however when you’re a frequent long-haul flier that is the one to get. Since it could possibly cost on the Deck’s 45-watt beneficial fee from its USB-C port, it could possibly sustain with probably the most intense video games so long as it has cost left in its cells. Speaking of, a easy numerical show tells you (by displaying a quantity between zero and 99) how a lot juice you could have left. As a bonus, its additional ports can concurrently put energy into different gadgets, for a complete of 63 watts.

Screen Protectors

Wherever there’s a touchscreen, there’s gonna be a set of keys or different sharp implements ready to mar its shiny visage. Protect 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’s exhausting to beat this equipment of two display screen protectors for under $10. They are available matte or clear tempered glass and have all the pieces it is advisable to 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.

Cases

The Steam Deck features a carrying case, which is fairly candy to get as a standard-issue accent. But what concerning the day-to-day bumps and bruises a handheld console runs into? These instances wrap the Deck in a layer of rubber, allow you to snap on a plastic shell to guard the entrance of the machine, 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 throughout the jostles and jolts of journey. There’s a $60 primary model, however I’d advocate you go for the $75 model, which comes with the must-have rugged clip-on journey cowl. Every Killswitch features a sturdy kickstand (with storage for SD playing cards), which will be eliminated and changed with a “universal” 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 normal with every equipment is a entrance vinyl pores and skin that covers the final uncovered a part of the Deck, in your selection of a wide range of patterns and colours. The $75 model comes with two analog stick toppers that add just a little additional chunk below your thumbs, together with a extra aggressive texture.

Best Value

If $75 looks like loads to pay for a Steam Deck case (and it’s), the Jsaux may give you a really related expertise for lower than half the worth. The ModCase works similarly, with a tough plastic entrance cowl and a rubber again that wraps across the edges. It features a weirdly gummy stand for the machine, 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 additional 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’re like me, you’re a cheapskate who grabbed the $399 64-GB bare-bones Steam Deck. Right out of the field, you’ve received two choices so as to add extra storage—and with some AAA video games taking on dozens and dozens of your valuable gigabytes, you’re gonna want it.

Easy Installation

Every Steam Deck has a handy microSD card slot, so including additional house takes solely seconds. This Extreme 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 huge AAA titles.

Word to the smart: Be cautious which manufacturers you purchase as of late. There are loads of iffy, low-quality SD playing cards that would corrupt your knowledge or might truly maintain a fraction of the marketed capability. If you see a deal from an organization you do not know, it is most likely too good to be true.

Internal Storage Upgrade

If you are helpful with a screwdriver and software program, upgrading the Steam Deck’s inner solid-state drive to 1 with a much bigger capability would 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 via eradicating the rear housing, taking off a metallic defend over the principle circuit board, and unscrewing the tiny 2230-size SSD chip. If you need to begin from scratch together with your Deck’s new drive, you’ll be able to reimage the system utilizing a USB-C drive.

Since the 2230 dimension remains to be unusual, it may be exhausting discovering high-quality replacements for the Steam Deck’s SSD. This Sabrent drive is likely one of the hottest choices, and it comes with an honest guarantee and has good critiques. Plus, it is one of many solely fashions with the big 2-TB capability. Like with SD playing cards, there are some much less respected manufacturers promoting these tiny drives, so make sure you are getting one with good critiques and an affordable guarantee, and possibly skip any OEM-labeled models. (These are normally meant for laptop 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 personal. You can stick on a vinyl wrap or bust out the screwdrivers for a full exterior shell swap. Let’s trick out your Deck.

Easy Installation

Dbrand is understood 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. Some of the choices are flat colours, however others have a unbelievable holofoil look to them. Starting at $30 every, this can be a nice approach 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 would not offer you sufficient of a {custom} look, how about a wholly new shell? Jsaux has engineered a collection of recent components that the DIY-minded can set up to get a radically totally different look. These shells are available 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 offers outstanding instructions and good instruments within the field. I opted for an easier rear housing swap, which will be achieved throughout an SSD improve. These substitute rear shells have customizable rear buttons with totally different shapes and heights, so you’ll be able to fine-tune your Deck’s responsiveness when you’re swapping its pores and skin.