valve of steam floor handheld devices have gradually become official mobile devices gaming computer since it first hit shelves last year. I got mine about two months ago and it has completely changed the way I view the game. But as is often the case with gadgets that we increasingly love, accessories complete the experience and increase the utility of the device.
The Steam Deck’s battery life isn’t great, for instance (you can admit it), so having plenty of charging and power options is a must. And since we’re dealing with computer games, storage is at a premium, no matter what style of Steam Deck you have. Below you’ll find some Steam Deck accessories that will take your gaming experience to the next level.
It took a while after the Steam Deck launch for Valve to release an official dock to connect your Steam Deck to your TV or computer monitor, but the official Docking Station has everything you need. In terms of connectivity, there’s one DisplayPort 1.4, one HDMI 2.0, power connections, one Gigabit Ethernet, and three USB 3.1 ports for connecting other devices like keyboards and mice.
Don’t want to buy the official dock? The 6-in-1 docking station from JSAUX is highly rated, looks good, and has all the necessary connections. More specifically, there’s one HDMI 2.0 port, three USB 3.0 ports, one USB-C port for power, and one Ethernet connection. There’s a 90-degree connector on the cable that goes between the base and the Steam Deck (also available on the official dock), which is a small but appreciated touch and is great to see in a less expensive alternative. You will need to provide your own power source; anything that supplies 45W of power will work. The 6-in-1 dock is not the only dock that JSAUX has in its product line, with models range from $30 to $110.
The most obvious problem with the Steam Deck is battery life. I usually have about two hours playing games like Uncharted 4 or God of War, which isn’t very good. That has led me to strategically place 45W wall adapters around the house, allowing me to play for longer periods of time. Anker’s USB-C 713 wall adapter delivers the Steam Deck’s full 45W charging speed. My favorite poop? The prongs collapse into the body of the charger to make it easier to slip into your pocket on the go.
have a quick USB-C wall charger don’t do much good without one USB-C cable long and fast enough to keep up. I picked up a pair of these 10-foot Ugreen USB-C cables and will work with chargers that deliver up to 100W of power. The cables don’t feel cheap at all, and thanks to the outer fabric, they don’t crack and fray as easily as rubber coated cables.
Wall adapters are only good for cases when you have an outlet nearby. For those times when you’re on the go, a portable charger such as Anker Power Bank 537 is ideal. It offers 45W charging to maximize the Steam Deck’s charging capacity, and comes with a 60W USB-C wall adapter to recharge the pack (or power your Steam Deck!) while on the go.
Whether you want more space to store your Steam game library or plan to run Windows from external storage on your Steam Deck, a large capacity microSD card is a must-have for any homeowner. Own any Steam Deck. I used a 512GB Evo Plus microSD card made by Samsung to run Windows 10 and didn’t have any problems.
When it comes to gaming, you never have enough storage space. If you find that performance from titles stored on microSD cards doesn’t work for you, swap out the original SSD for a Sabrent Rocket 1TB 2230 SSD. You’ll need to feel comfortable taking apart the Steam Deck its own, but iFixIt has a great guide but go through the process, step by step. You can even get the tools you need from iFixIt to make sure the process goes smoothly. Also, you’ll want to keep this one Steam Deck support page handy to format the SSD and perform the Steam Deck recovery process.
There aren’t many options available to customize the look of the Steam Deck to make it your own. Enter Dbrand, a company known for its high quality and beautiful interface for a long list of devices. Their Steam Deck interface comes in a variety of patterns and designs, and after watching the 12-minute installation video, I found the installation process to be less than intimidating.
The iVoler screen protector is affordable, easy to install, and protects your screen from scratches and even occasional drops very well. This set of two comes with a matte screen protector that will give the screen the same look as the 512GB Steam Deck comes with a matte display, reducing glare while adding an extra layer of protection.
The Steam Deck comes with a protective case that works well, but it also takes up a lot of space inside any backpack. That’s what makes this JSAUX Shoulder Bag for Steam Deck so appealing. It has enough room for the Steam Deck and all your accessories, it even has another area for more gear, maybe a Nintendo Switch or a smaller tablet.
