Valve’s Steam Deck handheld has slowly become a full-fledged portable gaming PC since it first hit store shelves last year. I got mine about two months ago and it has completely changed the way I think about games. But for the gadgets we’ve come to love more and more, accessories often round out the experience and add to the usefulness of the device.
For example, the Steam Deck doesn’t have great battery life (it’s okay to admit that), so there must be multiple charging and power options. Since we’re dealing with PC gaming, storage space is at a premium no matter what model of Steam Deck you have. Below you’ll find some Steam Deck accessories that can take your gaming experience to the next level.
It took a while after Steam Deck for Valve released the official dock for connecting Steam Deck to a TV or computer monitor, but the official dock has everything you need. As far as connectivity goes, there’s a DisplayPort 1.4 port, an HDMI 2.0 port, power connections, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and three USB 3.1 ports for connecting other devices like a keyboard and mouse.
Don’t want to buy an official dock? JSAUX’s 6-in-1 dock gets high marks, looks great and has all the essential connections. More specifically, there’s an HDMI 2.0 port, three USB 3.0 ports, a USB-C port for power delivery, and an Ethernet connection. There’s a 90 degree connector on the cable between the dock and the Steam Deck (also present on the official dock), it’s a small but welcome connector, nice to see in a cheaper alternative arrive. You will need to provide your own power supply; anything that provides 45W will work. The 6-in-1 dock isn’t the only dock in JSAUX’s line, with models ranging from $30 to $110.
The most obvious problem with Steam Deck is its battery life. I usually get about two hours into games like Uncharted 4 or God of War, which isn’t great. This allowed me to strategically place 45W wall adapters around the house so I could play for longer periods of time. Anker’s 713 USB-C Wall Adapter offers the Steam Deck’s full 45W charging speed. my favorite part? The prongs fold into the body of the charger for easy storage in your bag when you’re on the go.
Having a fast USB-C wall charger won’t do you much good if you don’t have a USB-C cable long enough and fast enough to keep up. I picked up a pair of 10-foot Ugreen USB-C cables that work with chargers that deliver up to 100W. These cables aren’t cheap at all, and thanks to the fabric exterior, they won’t break and fray as easily as rubber-coated cables.
The wall adapter should only be used if there is an outlet nearby. When you’re on the go, a portable charger like the Anker 537 Power Bank is ideal. It offers 45W charging to maximize your Steam Deck’s charging speed, and comes with a 60W USB-C wall adapter for charging your battery pack (or powering your Steam Deck!) on the go.
Whether you want more space for your Steam game library, or plan to run Windows from external storage on the Steam Deck, a high-capacity microSD card is a must for any Steam Deck owner. I’ve been using this 512GB Evo Plus microSD card made by Samsung to run Windows 10 with absolutely no issues.
When it comes to gaming, there’s never enough storage space. If you find that the performance of games stored on microSD cards isn’t for you, replace the stock SSD with the Sabrent Rocket 1TB 2230 SSD. You’ll need to feel comfortable taking apart the Steam Deck, but iFixIt has a great guide that walks you through the process step by step. You can even get the tools you need from iFixIt to keep things going smoothly. Additionally, you will need to have this Steam Deck support page handy in order to format the SSD and go through the Steam Deck recovery process.
There aren’t many options available to customize the look of your Steam deck to make it your own. Enter Dbrand, a company known for its high quality and good looks for its long line of devices. Their Steam Deck skins come in a variety of patterns and designs, and after watching the 12-minute installation video, the installation process isn’t that scary.
iVoler’s screen protectors are affordable, easy to install, and do a great job of protecting your screen from scratches and even the occasional drop. The two-piece comes with a matte screen protector that makes the display look identical to the 512GB Steam Deck with the matte display, helping to reduce glare while adding an extra layer of protection.
The Steam Deck comes with a case that does its job, but it also takes up a lot of room in any backpack. That’s why the JSAUX Shoulder Bag for Steam Deck is so attractive. It has plenty of room for the Steam Deck and all your accessories, and there’s even another area for more devices, whether it’s a Nintendo Switch or a smaller tablet.