The best Steam Deck accessories

Valve’s Steam Deck is a powerful handheld PC that can run many games from its vast catalog of Steam games, but you probably already knew that. You might not have known that within a few months of its release in early 2022, the accessory scene surrounding the Steam Deck already packed with great options.

It’s true, you don’t need a lot of add-ons at all to have a great experience with the Deck; it comes with a sturdy zippered case and a fast power adapter. Minimum one high-capacity microSD card expanding the internal storage is all I would universally recommend to most people.

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 become available.

The starter kit for Steam Deck accessories

Like all technology, the Steam Deck contains many vulnerable components. But the one most prone to accidental damage is the 7-inch glass-covered screen. I highly recommend that any Deck owner purchase a set of tempered glass screen protectors (I’ve only had good experiences with amFilm, although there are a lot of players in this space). It might not save your Deck from catastrophic damage, but its job is to absorb scratches and bumps rather than the actual glass covering your screen (screen replacements aren’t exactly cheap). When the cover eventually gets scratched or cracked, simply remove it and apply a new one.

The Steam Deck comes with up to 512 GB of SSD storage if you buy the $649 model. Although, being Valve’s high-end model, that’s not a treasure trove of storage space, as PC games routinely ship with an install size of 30-60GB. For those who buy the $399.99 model, there’s even less onboard storage to work with: just 64GB. Whatever model you have, buying a microSD card for extra gaming space is almost essential. We’ve got a guide to the best microSD cards for Steam Deck that digs into a few details related to speed, but if you just want to see what works well in your Deck, here are a few suggestions.

If you want faster download speeds and a smoother online gameplay experience than WiFi can provide, run an extra Ethernet cable from your modem to your Steam Deck and then connect it to one of these USB to Ethernet adapters. Unless you have one lying around, you have one USB-A to USB-C adapter to connect it to your deck. Remark: If you have a dock or a USB-C hub to connect the 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 blames you if you want to put it on a stand while you play, while you keep an eye on it while using a wireless controller. Fortunately, there are a large number of stalls in stores such as Amazon, starting at € 5. $5.99. You can just follow your taste and budget here, and you should have a decent stand.

You can also go to Etsy to check out some interesting designs. Note that many of the Steam Deck Stands sold on Etsy are built with 3D print files those are actually free to downloadand you can print them yourself at a material cost if you have access to an expensive 3D printer.

Finally, if you’re envisioning going into the Steam Deck’s desktop mode to do some emulation, or just use the deck as a mini computer, you might want to grab a compact wireless keyboard to type commands on. Without it, it’s very difficult to type with your fingers and navigate the deck’s screen (especially if you have big fingers). So do yourself a favor and buy this all-in-one, foldable keyboard with built-in trackpad.

Best Steam Deck docking and docking 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 ranging in price and features. Not only can docks send your video to the big screen, you can also connect peripherals to them via USB ports, such as a removable hard drive, mouse, keyboard and more. Simply put, it can make your Steam Deck feel more like a home console or like a computer – whichever you go for.

While Valve wasn’t the first company to launch a Deck-compatible dock, its version is one of the most port-rich options. Are Deck dock has HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C port to receive power from a wall adapter (it includes the same 45W model 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 along with its elegant design. But it comes at a significant cost, priced at $89.

For something significantly more affordable, we like it too Anker’s 341 USB-C hub, which has a total of seven ports: HDMI, USB-C input for power, an additional USB-C port for data, 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 might want to grab this one affordable USB to Ethernet adapter to connect to this dock. It also has no way to prop up your Deck, although that might not bother you.

Jsaux makes a very similar option to Valve’s official Deck Dock, albeit with a less catchy name. It’s called the HB0702, and it 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 the official Deck Dock but want nearly identical features.

Best Steam Deck wall/monitor mounts

There’s not much competition in this category yet, but that’s okay, as the most prominent option seems to be very good. A company called Deckmate offers a VESA mount and a wall mount in its ecosystem of accessories. We recommend getting Deck sizes $53 “whole system” bundle when you join for the first time. It includes more than you might need, like a kickstand, accessory mounts, and more. But crucially, it includes screws that aren’t in the a-la-carte wall or monitor mount bundles.

Back to Deckmate, the wall mount speaks for itself; it is a holder that you can attach to your wall with two screws, or simply with the strong 3M VHB adhesive. Then the Deckmate’s grip snaps it to the wall. Concerning the mount monitor, you get a mount that screws into any VESA-compatible stand. Then you just click the Deck on it.

Image: Deckmate

(Editor’s Note: If you have access to a 3D printer, ModCase by Jsaux is compatible with 3D printed parts, including a VESA mount and a wall mount. However, since you can’t buy those accessories just yet, we won’t include them here. Find more information about the ModCase at the bottom of this post.)

If you want the most secure, flexible type of holder for the Steam Deck, I recommend using a monitor arm which can be attached to a desk (this is where Deckmate’s VESA mount comes into play). These are suitable for monitors that are a lot of heavier than the Steam Deck, so most models should have no problem holding the console in place. Get one if you want a versatile stand, with the ability to raise or lower your deck, flip it on its side, push it away or pull it towards you. Here are a few recommendations.

Best Steam Deck controllers

If you don’t want to use the Steam Deck’s built-in controls, or just want to use a controller while it’s docked or on a stand, you have several options. The Deck supports multiple controllers, whether you connect one via Bluetooth or via USB. Steam OS natively supports Xbox controllers dating back to the Xbox 360. More recent controllers, such as the DualShock 4 from the PS4the DualSense from the PS5even Nintendo’s Switch Pro controller are all officially supported within the Steam interface, so you may already own one or more compatible controllers.

Some recent third-party controllers will also work just fine, including the 8BitDo Ultimate Wireless and the GuliKit King Kong Pro 2.

GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro

Prices taken at time of publication.

A similar version called the ZenPro is available exclusively at Target stores for $59.99.

Best Steam Deck Portable Batteries

There are batteries that can charge the Steam Deck as fast as the 45W wall charger that comes with each console. However, like the Steam Deck itself, they stretch the definitions of being portable. They aren’t cheap either. The most affordable yet powerful option I’ve found is The 20,000 mAh battery from Baseus with an output speed of 65 W USB-C. It costs $50.38, and with its capacity you should be able to charge the deck’s battery a few times. However, expect it to drain faster if you’re gaming on the deck while charging it.

Anchors Power Bank 537 is slightly larger, with a 24,000 mAh cell, but has the same maximum charging speed of 65 W. It is more expensive, more expensive $99.99 at Amazon. Still, it might be the better deal if you have an Amazon gift card, or just prefer the Anker brand.

Best Hard Cases from Steam Deck

There are a ton of soft and hard cases that you can slide your Steam Deck into to make it more sturdy, and any of these might be just fine for you. But we really enjoyed the Dbrand Project Killswitchwhich allows you to add or remove a kickstand, in addition to doing a great job of protecting your console and adding some grip.

Remark: I want to stop the investigative work of Sean Hollister of The Verge and my Polygon colleague Alice Newcome-Beill, who showed up a big mistake with the Killswitch that Dbrand addressed in time for release. Previously, the stand design was magnetically attached, and they found that this drastically affected the fan speed in some Steam Deck units. Now it uses a magnet-free mount that gets around this problem.

Like most options, the Killswitch allows easy access to all of its buttons, triggers, ports, and most importantly, the fan’s airflow. But it’s great that you can add or remove the included kickstand with the locking slot. The $59.95 package includes the Killswitch case, as well as a kickstand, plus skin decals of your choice.

Photo: Alice Newcome-Beill/The Verge

It’s hard to buy Steam Deck accessories and not come across the Jsaux brand. If you’re looking for a hard case, Jsaux makes a multi-talented option called the ModCaseand the basic configuration costs just $29.99. That’s a price most Deck owners have no problem with, especially for so much versatility.

It comes with a protective and sturdy cover that clips around the Steam Deck, along with four other accessories: a travel case to protect the surface of the Deck when not in use, a watch-like strap to hold a battery or hard drive attaches to its back, a kickstand for hands-free use, and a protective cover for Valve’s official Deck docking station.