Valve’s Steam Deck is a robust handheld PC that may run many video games from the huge catalog of Steam video games, however you in all probability knew that already. Possibly you didn’t know that inside a number of months of its launch in early 2022, the accent scene across the Steam Deck was already filled with nice choices.
It’s true, you don’t want many add-ons in any respect to have an exquisite expertise with the Deck; it comes with a stable zip-up case and a quick energy adapter. At minimal, a high-capacity microSD card to develop its inside storage is all I’d universally suggest to most individuals.
However should you’re curious what else is on the market, I’ve included my favourite Steam Deck equipment, in addition to what the remainder of the Polygon workers is loving. This publish could also be up to date on account of availability, or when new equipment hit the market.
The Steam Deck accent starter package
Like all tech, the Steam Deck homes many fragile elements. However the one which’s most vulnerable to unintentional injury is its 7-inch glass-covered show. I extremely suggest that each Deck proprietor buys a set of tempered glass display protectors (I’ve had nothing however good experiences from amFilm, though there are a lot of gamers on this house). It might not save your Deck from catastrophic injury, however its job is to soak up scrapes and jabs as an alternative of the particular glass protecting your show (display replacements aren’t precisely low cost). When the quilt finally will get scratches, or cracks, merely take away it and apply a brand new one.
The Steam Deck comes with as much as 512 GB of SSD storage should you purchase the $649 mannequin. Though, for being Valve’s high-end mannequin, that’s not a wealth of storage, on condition that PC video games routinely are available 30-60 GB set up sizes. For individuals who purchase the $399.99 mannequin, there’s even much less onboard storage to work with: simply 64 GB. Whichever mannequin you will have, shopping for a microSD card for further sport house is nigh important. Now we have a information to the most effective microSD playing cards for Steam Deck that expands on a pair specifics relating to pace, however should you simply wish to be proven what’ll work effectively in your Deck, listed here are a few ideas.
For those who’re keen to open up your Steam Deck so as to add even sooner storage (at your personal danger), Corsair’s MP600 Mini 1 TB M.2 SSD is a comparatively cheap strategy to get quick storage. It prices $109.99 by Corsair, and also you’ll seemingly want some instruments, like this iFixit Necessities software package for $30, to open up your Steam Deck.
If you need sooner obtain speeds and a smoother on-line gameplay expertise than Wi-Fi can present, route an additional Ethernet cable out of your modem to your Steam Deck, then join it with one in all these USB to Ethernet adapters. Except you will have one laying round, you’ll additionally want a USB-A to USB-C adapter to plug it into your Deck. Word: If in case you have a dock or a USB-C hub for the Deck to attach it to a TV or monitor, which will have already got an Ethernet port.
The Steam Deck is heavier than the Nintendo Change, so nobody blames you if you wish to prop it up on a stand when you play, protecting it in view as you employ a wi-fi controller. Fortunately, there are an unlimited variety of stands at shops like Amazon, beginning as little as $5.99. You possibly can simply comply with your style and finances right here, and you must find yourself with an honest stand.
You may also head over to Etsy to take a look at some attention-grabbing designs. Word that lots of the Steam Deck stands offered on Etsy are constructed with 3D printing recordsdata which might be truly free to obtain, and you may print them your self for the price of supplies you probably have entry to an expensive 3D printer.
Lastly, should you envision going into the Steam Deck’s desktop mode to do some emulation, or to easily use the Deck as a mini laptop, it’s possible you’ll wish to seize a compact wi-fi keyboard to kind instructions on. With out it, it’s an actual ache to the touch kind and navigate on the Deck’s display (particularly you probably have huge fingers). So, do your self a favor and purchase this all-in-one, foldable keyboard that has a trackpad in-built.
If that’s too pricey, Anker makes this considerably cheaper wi-fi (and rechargeable) keyboard that’s promoting for $17.99 at Amazon. We haven’t examined this one, but it surely appears to be nice for the fundamentals, plus it’s very skinny.
Finest Steam Deck dock and dock options
If you wish to view your Steam Deck video games or different content material on a TV or a monitor, you’ll need a dock. That is one other class that’s wealthy with choices, ranging in worth and options. Not solely can docks push your video to the massive display, in addition they allow you to join peripherals through USB ports, like a detachable onerous drive, mouse, keyboard, and extra. Merely put, it may make your Steam Deck really feel extra like a house console, or a pc — no matter it’s you’re going for.
Whereas Valve wasn’t the primary firm to launch a Deck-compatible dock, its model is among the most port-rich choices. Its Deck Dock has HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C port to obtain energy from a wall adapter (it contains the identical 45 W mannequin that the Steam Deck ships with), a gigabit Ethernet port, and three USB-A 3.1 ports. The inclusion of DisplayPort units it other than most USB-C hubs, together with its elegant design. Nevertheless it comes at a big value, priced at $89.
For one thing that’s considerably extra reasonably priced, we additionally like Anker’s 341 USB-C hub, which has seven ports in whole: HDMI, USB-C in for energy, an extra USB-C port for knowledge, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and an SD/microSD card reader. Word: It lacks an Ethernet port to provide your Deck a wired connection, so that you may wish to seize this reasonably priced USB to Ethernet adapter to plug into this dock. Additionally, it has no manner of standing up your Deck, though that won’t trouble you.
Jsaux makes a really comparable choice to Valve’s official Deck Dock, albeit with a much less catchy title. It’s known as the HB0702, and it prices $54.99. Just like the Deck Dock, it has USB-C for energy, DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0, three USB-A 3.2 ports, and gigabit Ethernet help. Get this one should you don’t care whether or not you will have the official Deck Dock, however need almost similar options.
Finest Steam Deck wall/monitor mounts
There isn’t a lot competitors on this class but, however that’s OK, because the most distinguished possibility appears to be excellent. An organization known as Deckmate presents a VESA mount and a wall mount in its ecosystem of equipment. We recommend getting Deckmate’s $53 “total system” bundle should you’re leaping in for the primary time. It contains greater than it’s possible you’ll want, like a kickstand, accent mounts, and extra. However crucially, it contains screws that don’t come within the a-la-carte wall or monitor mounting bundles.
Again to Deckmate, the wall mount is self-explanatory; it’s a mount which you could safe to your wall by two screws, or simply by its robust 3M VHB adhesive. Then the Deckmate’s grip lets it snap onto the wall. As for the monitor mount, you’re getting a mount that may be screwed into any VESA-compliant stand. You then simply snap the Deck onto it.
[Editor’s note: If you have access to a 3D printer, Jsaux’s ModCase is compatible with 3D-printed parts, including a VESA mount and a wall mount. However, because you can’t purchase those accessories yet, we’re not including it here. Find more on the ModCase at the bottom of this post.]
If you need essentially the most safe, versatile type of mount for the Steam Deck, I recommend getting a monitor arm that may connect to a desk (that is the place Deckmate’s VESA mount comes into play). These are rated to carry up screens which might be a lot heavier than the Steam Deck, so most fashions should not have any drawback holding the console in place. Get one in order for you a stand that’s versatile, with the flexibility to maneuver your Deck up or down, flip it on its aspect, push it away, or pull it near you. Listed here are a few suggestions.
For one thing a lot cheaper, Monoprice’s monitor mount prices simply $39.99 at Amazon. It could actually solely help as much as 27-inch screens as much as 14.3 kilos (Amazon’s helps 32-inch screens as much as 25 kilos), but when all that you just’re mounting is a Steam Deck, then it ought to be an awesome match.
Finest Steam Deck controllers
For those who don’t wish to use the Steam Deck’s built-in controls, or should you simply need a controller to make use of whereas it’s docked or on a stand, you will have a number of choices. The Deck helps a number of controllers, whether or not you’re connecting one through Bluetooth or through USB. Steam OS natively helps Xbox controllers relationship again to the Xbox 360. Newer controllers, just like the PS4’s DualShock 4, the PS5’s DualSense, and even Nintendo’s Change Professional Controller are all formally supported throughout the Steam interface, so it’s attainable that you could be already personal a number of appropriate controllers.
Some latest third-party controllers may also work nice, together with the 8BitDo Final Wi-fi and the GuliKit KingKong Professional 2.
Finest Steam Deck moveable batteries
There are batteries that may cost the Steam Deck simply as shortly because the 45W wall charger included with every console. Nevertheless, very like the Steam Deck itself, they stretch the definitions of being moveable. They’re additionally not low cost. Probably the most reasonably priced but highly effective possibility that I’ve discovered is Baseus’ 20,000 mAh battery with a 65 W USB-C output pace. It prices $50.38, and with its capability you must be capable to recharge the Deck’s battery a few occasions. Nevertheless, anticipate it to empty sooner should you’re gaming on the Deck as you’re charging it.
Anker’s Energy Financial institution 537 is barely greater, with a 24,000 mAh cell, but it surely has 45 W charging charge. It’s pricier, costing $99.99 at Amazon. Even so, it may be the higher deal in case you favor the Anker model.
Finest Steam Deck circumstances
There are a bunch of sentimental and onerous circumstances on the market which you could slip your Steam Deck into to ruggedize it, and any of these may be simply tremendous for you. However we’ve actually loved the Dbrand Undertaking Killswitch, which helps you to add or take away a kickstand, along with doing an awesome job of defending your console and including some grip.
Word: I wish to plug the investigative digging by The Verge’s Sean Hollister and my Polygon colleague Alice Newcome-Beill, which turned up a giant flaw with the Killswitch that Dbrand addressed in time for the discharge. Beforehand, its kickstand design hooked up magnetically, they usually found that it drastically affected the fan pace in some Steam Deck items. Now, it makes use of a magnet-free mount that will get round this subject.
Like most choices, the Killswitch leaves easy accessibility to all of its buttons, triggers, ports, and most significantly, its fan’s airflow. Nevertheless it’s nice which you could add or take away the included kickstand with its lock slot. The $59.95 package contains the Killswitch case, in addition to a kickstand, plus pores and skin decals of your selecting.
It’s onerous to buy Steam Deck equipment and never encounter the model Jsaux. For those who’re in search of a tough case, Jsaux makes a multi-talented possibility known as the ModCase, and its primary configuration prices simply $29.99. That’s a worth that almost all Deck house owners should not have any drawback forking over, particularly for this a lot versatility.
It comes with a protecting and grippy case that snaps across the Steam Deck, together with 4 different equipment: a journey cowl to guard the face of the Deck when it’s not in use, a watch-like strap to safe a battery or onerous drive to its again, a kickstand for hands-free use, and a protecting cowl for Valve’s official Deck docking station.
Spigen’s Rugged Armor Professional is a semi-hard case with a pocket, which routinely makes it higher than Valve’s case that ships with each Deck. Moreover, it secures the Deck inside with a strap, and should you’re apprehensive about dropping your console, there’s sufficient room in its pocket for a Bluetooth tracker, like an Apple AirTag.
Replace (Could 9): Checking pricing for accuracy.