Valve’s Steam Deck is a strong handheld PC that may run many video games from the huge catalog of Steam video games, however you in all probability knew that already. Perhaps 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 strong zip-up case and a quick energy adapter. At minimal, a high-capacity microSD card to increase its inner storage is all I’d universally advocate 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 put up could also be up to date as a consequence of availability, or when new equipment hit the market.
The Steam Deck accent starter package
Like all tech, the Steam Deck homes many fragile parts. However the one which’s most vulnerable to unintended harm is its 7-inch glass-covered show. I extremely advocate that each Deck proprietor buys a set of tempered glass display screen protectors (I’ve had nothing however good experiences from amFilm, though there are lots of gamers on this house). It might not save your Deck from catastrophic harm, however its job is to soak up scrapes and jabs as an alternative of the particular glass protecting your show (display screen 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 in 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’ve gotten, shopping for a microSD card for further recreation house is nigh important. We have now a information to one of the best microSD playing cards for Steam Deck that expands on a pair specifics concerning velocity, however should you simply wish to be proven what’ll work nicely in your Deck, listed here are a few recommendations.
When you’re keen to open up your Steam Deck so as to add even sooner storage (at your individual danger), Corsair’s MP600 Mini 1 TB M.2 SSD is a comparatively cheap technique to get quick storage. It prices $109.99 via Corsair, and also you’ll probably want some instruments, like this iFixit Necessities software package for $30, to open up your Steam Deck.
In order for you 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 certainly one of these USB to Ethernet adapters. Except you’ve gotten one laying round, you’ll additionally want a USB-A to USB-C adapter to plug it into your Deck. Notice: When you’ve got a dock or a USB-C hub for the Deck to attach it to a TV or monitor, that 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, retaining it in view as you utilize a wi-fi controller. Fortunately, there are an enormous variety of stands at shops like Amazon, beginning as little as $5.99. You’ll be able to simply comply with your style and finances right here, and it is best to find yourself with a good stand.
You may as well head over to Etsy to take a look at some fascinating designs. Notice that lots of the Steam Deck stands offered on Etsy are constructed with 3D printing recordsdata which might be really free to obtain, and you may print them your self for the price of supplies when you have entry to a dear 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, you could wish to seize a compact wi-fi keyboard to sort instructions on. With out it, it’s an actual ache to the touch sort and navigate on the Deck’s display screen (particularly when you 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, nevertheless it appears to be nice for the fundamentals, plus it’s very skinny.
Greatest Steam Deck dock and dock alternate 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 value and options. Not solely can docks push your video to the large display screen, additionally they allow you to join peripherals by way of USB ports, like a detachable laborious drive, mouse, keyboard, and extra. Merely put, it will probably 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 likely one of 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 consists of 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. But it surely comes at a major 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, a further USB-C port for information, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and an SD/microSD card reader. Notice: It lacks an Ethernet port to provide your Deck a wired connection, so that you would possibly wish to seize this reasonably priced USB to Ethernet adapter to plug into this dock. Additionally, it has no means of standing up your Deck, though that will not trouble you.
Jsaux makes a really related choice to Valve’s official Deck Dock, albeit with a much less catchy identify. It’s referred to 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’ve gotten the official Deck Dock, however need practically similar options.
Greatest Steam Deck wall/monitor mounts
There isn’t a lot competitors on this class but, however that’s OK, because the most distinguished choice appears to be excellent. An organization referred to as Deckmate presents a VESA mount and a wall mount in its ecosystem of equipment. We propose getting Deckmate’s $53 “whole system” bundle should you’re leaping in for the primary time. It consists of greater than you could want, like a kickstand, accent mounts, and extra. However crucially, it consists of 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 that 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.]
In order for you essentially the most safe, versatile form of mount for the Steam Deck, I counsel 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 downside holding the console in place. Get one if you need a stand that’s versatile, with the power to maneuver your Deck up or down, flip it on its aspect, push it away, or pull it near you. Listed below are a few suggestions.
For one thing a lot cheaper, Monoprice’s monitor mount prices simply $39.99 at Amazon. It will possibly 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 must be a fantastic match.
Greatest Steam Deck controllers
When you 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’ve gotten a number of choices. The Deck helps a number of controllers, whether or not you’re connecting one by way of Bluetooth or by way of USB. Steam OS natively helps Xbox controllers courting again to the Xbox 360. More moderen 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 doable that you could be already personal a number of suitable controllers.
Some current third-party controllers may even work nice, together with the 8BitDo Final Wi-fi and the GuliKit KingKong Professional 2.
Greatest Steam Deck moveable batteries
There are batteries that may cost the Steam Deck simply as rapidly 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 choice that I’ve discovered is Baseus’ 20,000 mAh battery with a 65 W USB-C output velocity. It prices $50.38, and with its capability it is best to be capable to recharge the Deck’s battery a few occasions. Nevertheless, count on it to empty sooner should you’re gaming on the Deck as you’re charging it.
Anker’s Energy Financial institution 537 is barely larger, with a 24,000 mAh cell, nevertheless it has 45 W charging price. It’s pricier, costing $99.99 at Amazon. Even so, it is likely to be the higher deal in case you like the Anker model.
Greatest Steam Deck instances
There are a bunch of sentimental and laborious instances on the market that you could slip your Steam Deck into to ruggedize it, and any of these is likely to be simply wonderful for you. However we’ve actually loved the Dbrand Undertaking Killswitch, which helps you to add or take away a kickstand, along with doing a fantastic job of defending your console and including some grip.
Notice: 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, and so they found that it drastically affected the fan velocity in some Steam Deck items. Now, it makes use of a magnet-free mount that will get round this problem.
Like most choices, the Killswitch leaves easy accessibility to all of its buttons, triggers, ports, and most significantly, its fan’s airflow. But it surely’s nice that you could add or take away the included kickstand with its lock slot. The $59.95 package consists of the Killswitch case, in addition to a kickstand, plus pores and skin decals of your selecting.
It’s laborious to buy Steam Deck equipment and never encounter the model Jsaux. When you’re on the lookout for a tough case, Jsaux makes a multi-talented choice referred to as the ModCase, and its fundamental configuration prices simply $29.99. That’s a value that the majority Deck homeowners should not have any downside 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 laborious 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 robotically 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 shedding your console, there’s sufficient room in its pocket for a Bluetooth tracker, like an Apple AirTag.
Replace (Could 9): Checking pricing for accuracy.