Best Steam Deck Accessories (2023): Docks, Battery, Storage
When it comes to portable PC gaming, the Steam Deck is the top choice for a few reasons. It has a great mix of performance, battery life, and affordability. Plus, when it comes to the handheld-friendly interface and number of games available, it’s hard to beat. Valve, the company that makes the Steam Deck, has invested more in repairability than most manufacturers by giving users information about how to maintain their devices, and selling spare parts through iFixit.
But if you want to get even more out of your Steam Deck, you may have to turn elsewhere. There’s a gaggle of great accessories and additions that can protect and upgrade your Deck, as well as help you beat that final boss. Even if you opted for the $400 entry-level version, there’s a whole ecosystem of bits and bobs that will make your Steam Deck better than ever. As the Steam Deck is still a fairly new gaming platform, this is far from an exhaustive list of everything that works with it. But we’ll keep our eyes peeled for more accessories and modifications as they turn up.
Table of Contents
Docks
While the Steam Deck is a portable gaming PC first and foremost, it can also be used to game on a 4K TV or at a desktop setup with a keyboard and mouse. The easiest way to leap to the big screen is to connect your Deck to a dock. Furthermore, if you enter the desktop mode, you’ll be able to use this gaming handheld as a Linux computer, ready for web browsing in Firefox or whatever other boring stuff you’d normally use a computer for. Plus, since all these docks use the ubiquitous USB-C standard to connect your Deck to its peripherals, you could plug in an iPad or laptop and get the same functionality.
Best Overall
The first-party dock option is a really great one. Not only is Valve’s Deck Dock compact, but it also includes a second power adapter you can leave at your desk. Valve seems dedicated to its hardware, issuing firmware updates periodically to make this dock stable and secure. While many docks skimp on one port or another, this has a ton of connectivity options: Three USB ports, two display-out options, and wired gigabit Ethernet. If I have to complain about anything here it’s that the $80 price is higher than most competing docks, but then again, most of those are missing a display port or don’t include an extra power brick.
Also Great
This metal base for this Steam Deck dock looks slick and has plenty of ports. Like the Valve-made dock, this Jsaux option offers three USB 3.2 ports and twin display options, along with an Ethernet port. Even though Jsaux brags about its dock’s 100-watt charging ability, you won’t see increased charge speeds, since the Deck caps out at 45 watts no matter what you plug into it. At around $50, you’ll save money over the plastic Valve option and get a stylish aluminum dock to adorn your desk.
Best Value
Sabrent is known for its USB accessories, and its Steam Deck dock does the trick at less than half the price of the Valve option. Unlike that dock, this has only a single HDMI port but makes up for it by offering a USB-C output, for a total of four USB ports. At $30, this is a very good value that doesn’t feel too cheap or cut corners too much. Like the Jsaux dock above, the max charging speed of the Deck is 45 watts, so ignore the advertised charge rating of 95 watts here.
Bluetooth Controllers
If you’re using the Steam Deck with a dock, you can’t hold the console, so of course you’ll need another way to control your games. Thankfully, with its Bluetooth support, the Deck makes connecting peripherals a cinch.
Best Overall
While there are a ton of compatible Bluetooth controllers, the one made for the Xbox is the best controller to use with the Steam Deck. The reason is simple: The Steam Deck recognizes this model and slightly changes its interface to match the controller. For instance, in the corner you’ll see an Xbox logo telling you to go back to the main menu with that button. Furthermore, the A/B/X/Y face buttons are the same as on the Deck, making it easy to transition between the two control mechanisms. It’s comfortable, familiar, and works reliably, with no adjustments required.
Portable Batteries
The era of days-long battery life for portable gaming is long behind us, and modern handhelds like the Steam Deck sometimes last only a handful of hours on a single charge. Thankfully, you won’t be slamming in a fistful of AA batteries. We have several picks for big external batteries you can hook up to refill your Deck in no time.
Best Overall
We love the Nimble Champ, which is why it’s our overall recommended portable charger in our separate guide for that category. It has a USB-A port for smartphones that need less juice and a USB-C port with Power Delivery to top up higher-power devices like tablets and gaming handhelds. At around the size of a deck of cards and only 6.4 ounces, it can…
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