The best Steam Deck accessories

Valve’s Steam Deck is a powerful portable PC that can run many games from Steam’s extensive catalog of games, but you probably already know that. What you might not have known was that within months of its launch in early 2022, the accessory scene around Steam Deck was already full of great options.

Granted, you don’t need a lot of extras to have a great Deck experience; it comes with a sturdy zipper case and a fast power adapter. At a minimum, a high-capacity microSD card for internal storage expansion is all I would recommend for most people in general.

But if you’re curious what else is out there, I’ve included my favorite Steam Deck accessories, as well as what the rest of the Polygon staff love. This post may be updated due to availability or when new accessories hit the market.

Steam Deck Accessory Starter Set

Like any technology, Steam Deck contains many delicate components. But the one most prone to accidental damage is the 7-inch glass display. I highly recommend the purchase to any Deck owner set tempered glass screen protectors (I’ve had nothing but good experiences with amFilm, although there are plenty of players in this space.) It may not save your deck from catastrophic damage, but its job is to absorb scratches and stabs instead of actual glass covering your display (screen replacements aren’t exactly cheap). When the cover finally gets scratched or cracked, just take it off and put on a new one.

The Steam Deck comes with up to 512GB of SSD storage if you buy the $649 model. Although, as a high-end model from Valve, it’s not a wealth of storage considering PC games typically come in 30-60GB install sizes. Those who pick up the $399.99 model have even less built-in storage to work with: only 64GB. No matter what model you have, purchasing a microSD card for extra storage for games is almost essential. We’ve got a guide to the best microSD cards for Steam Deck that goes into a few speed details, but if you just want to see what will work well in your Deck, here are some suggestions.

If you want faster download speeds and smoother online gaming than Wi-Fi, run an extra ethernet cable from your modem to your Steam Deck, then plug it into one of these USB to Ethernet adapters. If you don’t have one nearby, you’ll also need a USB-A to USB-C adapter to connect it to your Deck. Note: If you have a USB-C dock or hub to connect your Deck to a TV or monitor, it may already have an Ethernet port.

The Steam Deck is heavier than the Nintendo Switch, so no one is blaming you if you want to put it on the stand while playing, keeping it in line of sight when using a wireless controller. Fortunately, there are a huge number of stalls at stores like Amazon starting at just $5.99. You can just follow your taste and budget and you should end up with a decent rack.

You can also head over to Etsy to check out some cool designs. Please note that many Steam Decks sold on Etsy are made of 3D printing files which are free to download and can be printed yourself for material costs if you have access to an expensive 3D printer.

Finally, if you’re imagining going into Steam Deck’s desktop mode to do some emulation, or just using the Deck as a mini-computer, you might want to grab a compact wireless keyboard for typing commands. Without it, touch typing and navigating the Deck screen is a real pain (especially if you have big fingers). So do yourself a favor and buy it universal, foldable keyboard with built-in trackpad.

Best Steam Deck docks and dock alternatives

If you want to watch your Steam Deck games or other content on a TV or monitor, you need a dock. This is another category rich in options, differing in price and features. Docking stations not only can bring video to the big screen, but also allow you to connect peripherals via USB ports, such as a removable hard drive, mouse, keyboard, and more. Simply put, it can make Steam Deck feel more like a home console or PC – whatever your goals are.

While Valve wasn’t the first company to introduce a Deck-compatible dock, its version is one of the most port-rich options out there. His Deck dock it has HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C port for taking power from a wall adapter (includes the same 45W model that the Steam Deck ships with), a Gigabit Ethernet port, and three USB-A 3.1 ports. The inclusion of DisplayPort sets it apart from most USB-C hubs, as well as its sleek design. But it comes at a significant cost, priced at $89.

Photo: Valve via Polygon

We also like something that is much more affordable Anker 341 USB-C hub, which has a total of seven ports: HDMI, USB-C input for power, an additional USB-C port for data transfer, two USB-A 3.0 ports and an SD / microSD card reader. Note: It lacks an Ethernet port to give your Deck a wired connection, so you may want to grab this inexpensive USB to Ethernet adapter to connect to this dock. In addition, there is no way to raise the waist, although this may not bother you.

Jsaux offers a very similar option to Valve’s official Deck Dock, albeit with a less catchy name. It’s called HB0702and costs $54.99. Like the Deck Dock, it has USB-C for power, DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0, three USB-A 3.2 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet support. Get this one if you don’t care if you have an official Deck Dock but want almost identical features.

The best Steam Deck wall/monitor mounts

There isn’t much competition in this category yet, but that’s a good thing because the most prominent option seems to be a very good one. A company called Deckmate offers a VESA mount and a wall mount in its ecosystem of accessories. We suggest getting deckmate’s Entire system package for $53 if you are jumping for the first time. It comes with more than you might need, like a kickstand, accessory holders and more. But most importantly, it includes screws that are not included in wall mount or a-la-carte monitor kits.

Back to Deckmate, wall mount is obvious; is a bracket that can be attached to the wall with two screws or just strong 3M VHB glue. Then Deckmate’s grip allows him to snap onto the wall. When it comes to monitor mount, you get a mount that can be screwed onto any VESA-compatible stand. Then just snap the deck onto it.

Image: Deckmate

[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 want the most secure, flexible type of mount for your Steam Deck, I suggest purchasing monitor arm that can be attached to a desk (this is where Deckmate’s VESA mount comes into play). They are adapted to hold the monitors that are A lot heavier than a Steam Deck, so most models should have no problem keeping the console in place. Get one if you need a versatile stand with the ability to move Deck up or down, turn it sideways, push it back or pull it towards you. Here are some recommendations.

The best Steam Deck controllers

If you don’t want to use Steam Deck’s built-in controls, or want the controller to be used when docked or on a stand, you have plenty of options. The deck supports multiple controllers, whether you connect one via Bluetooth or via USB. Steam OS natively supports Xbox controllers originating from the Xbox 360. Newer controllers such as Dual Shock 4 for PS4, DualSense PS5and even Nintendo Switch Pro controller are officially supported in the Steam interface, so you may already own one or more compatible controllers.

Some recent third-party controllers will also work great, incl 8BitDo The best wireless connectivity and GuliKit KingKong Pro 2.

GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro

Prices adopted at time of publication.

A similar version called Zen Pro is available exclusively at Target stores for $59.99.

The best portable Steam Deck batteries

There are rechargeable batteries that can charge Steam Deck as fast as the 45W wall charger that comes with each console. However, like Steam Deck itself, they extend the definition of being portable. They’re not cheap either. The cheapest but powerful option I’ve found is Baseus battery with a capacity of 20,000 mAh with a USB-C output speed of 65W. It costs $50.38, and with its capacity, you should be able to recharge the Deck’s battery several times. However, expect a quicker discharge if you play on board while charging.

Anker 537 power bank it’s slightly larger, with a 24,000mAh cell, but has the same 65W peak charging speed. It’s more expensive, going for $99.99 on Amazon. Still, it might be a better deal if you have an Amazon gift card or just prefer the Anker brand.

The best Steam Deck hard cases

There are a variety of soft and hard cases you can put your Steam Deck in to make it stronger, and any of them may be right for you. But we really enjoyed it Project Dbrand Killswitchthat allows you to add or remove a kickstand, plus it’s great for protecting your console and adding some grip.

Note: I want to plug in an investigation led by The Verge’s Sean Hollister and my Polygon colleague Alice Newcome-Beill, which turned out to be a big flaw in Killswitch that Dbrand addressed in time for release. Previously, its kickstand design was magnetically attached, and they found that this drastically affects the fan speed on some Steam Deck units. It now uses a non-magnet mount to circumvent this problem.

Like most options, the Killswitch leaves all buttons, triggers, ports, and most importantly, fan airflow within easy reach. But it’s great that you can add or remove the included kickstand with a lock slot. The $59.95 bundle includes a Killswitch case, as well as a stand and select skin stickers.

Photo: Alice Newcome-Beill/The Verge

It’s hard to shop for Steam Deck accessories and not encounter the Jsaux brand. If you’re looking for a hard case, Jsaux offers a multi-talented option called ModCase, and its basic configuration costs only $29.99. This is a price most deck owners should have no problem forking, especially for so much versatility.

It comes with a protective and grippy carrying case that snaps around the Steam Deck along with four other accessories: a travel cover to protect the front of the unit when not in use, a watch-like strap to secure the battery or hard drive to the back, a kickstand for use without hands-free kit and a protective cover for Valve’s official Deck Dock.