Greatest Steam Deck equipment 2026

There’s an official Steam Deck Docking Station that, identical to the Nintendo Swap, permits you to hook up the Steam Deck to an exterior display. Nonetheless, it is costly, so as a substitute we advocate the Jsuax Upgraded 5-in-1 Docking Station.

This dock is extremely low-cost but nonetheless presents a wealth of connections, with two USB ports, an HDMI, Ethernet, and a USB-C port for energy. What’s extra, it’s extremely properly constructed, with a strong aluminum body and chunky, sturdy rubber sections for supporting youd handheld with out the chance of scratches.

This Upgraded model is equivalent to the older Jsaux docking station when it comes to options, however provides an improved rubber assist behind the dock’s docking slot. This taller assist makes it extra steady and makes this dock much more appropriate with a variety of handhelds, though it would not actually work with the Xbox Ally X, attributable to that handheld’s additional giant grips.

Should you’re trying to put collectively a fantastic Steam Deck TV setup, or fancy utilizing Valve’s handheld as a low-spec desktop gaming PC, choosing up this Jsaux Upgraded Docking Station is an inexpensive, efficient answer.

Learn our Jsaux Upgraded Docking Station dock evaluate for more information.

The Jsaux Carrying Case for Steam Deck is a good selection for many who have already got a basic bag for journey, equivalent to a backpack, and who simply want a bit of additional safety for his or her handheld – together with someplace to retailer important handheld equipment equivalent to a charger.

This powerful case will defend your Steam Deck from most knocks and contains a number of helpful extras, equivalent to a small equipment pouch and a separate part for all of your bigger equipment. The pouch can be positioned to assist your handheld like a kickstand, letting you sit again to sport or watch a video.

For these simply wanting a bit of bit of additional scratch safety, this case is barely overkill, and also you may need to mix a Steam Deck pores and skin with a display protector as a substitute, or persist with the official Valve Steam Deck case. Nonetheless, for those who worth having all of your equipment with you in a single place, it is a fantastic purchase. This case can also be appropriate with the ROG Ally X and Xbox Ally X.

Learn our Jsaux Carrying Case for Steam Deck evaluate for extra data, and take a look at our greatest Steam Deck case information for extra case concepts.

Upgrading your Steam Deck SSD is not important, as you may simply add and swap storage through its microSD slot as a substitute. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless price doing for those who simply need a big, quick baseline storage choice. The essential issue to think about for Steam Deck SSD upgrades is that it would not match the identical measurement drives as your primary PC. It makes use of shorter 2230 format drives. Fortunately, there are nonetheless loads of selections that match.

The Teamgroup MP44S is a good selection with speedy NVMe PCIe 4.0 specs and claimed learn and write speeds of 5,000Mbps and three,500Mbps respectively. It is not absolutely the quickest and finest SSD for gaming nevertheless it greater than surpassess the utmost SSD velocity that the Steam Deck can use. This drive can also be appropriate for the unique ROG Ally however different handhelds just like the ROG Ally X, Legion Go and Xbox Ally X can all match normal-size SSDs as a substitute.

Out there in 1TB or 2TB capacities you may seize the 1TB choice of the Teamgroup MP44S for below $75, so it is an inexpensive improve, whereas the 2TB mannequin is obtainable for round double that value.

Learn our Teamgroup MP44S evaluate for extra data.

Not all Steam Deck fashions are equal, and when you have the 64GB eMMC model, you will want to select up a microSD card to increase your storage and obtain extra video games. Samsung’s Professional Plus microSDXC card will allow you to deliver with you an enormous chunk of your Steam library, and in lots of circumstances you will not discover a distinction in velocity in comparison with the Deck’s inner SSD.

Even for those who’ve received the 1TB Steam Deck OLED, you may go for a 2TB Samsung Professional Plus microSD card and triple your moveable capability. Naturally, you do not have to purchase fairly such a high-capacity choice, however because the newest video games take up extra storage than ever, we would not advocate investing in something lower than 512GB. Should you’re on the lookout for extra storage choices, try our greatest Steam Deck microSD card information.

A pores and skin is an effective way to guard the vast majority of your Steam Deck from gentle knocks and scratches whereas including some pizzazz to your moveable. They will not defend from extreme knocks – you will nonetheless desire a correct case and display protector – however we take into account them a necessary additional to maintain your Deck wanting as pristine as attainable.

As for which pores and skin to go for, Dbrand’s are top-quality and are available an unlimited vary of design choices that begin at a really cheap sub-$20 value, although do rise to as excessive as $50. Types embrace one which mimics the look of the Nintendo Swap and one which reveals the circuitry that lies beneath the Deck’s casing. They’re straightforward to suit and are exactly made, for a clear look as soon as utilized.

The skins are available two primary choices. There’s the Important Equipment (ranging from $19.95, although most are $24.95 or extra) that features a entrance pores and skin, two trackpad skins, and a microfiber fabric, or there is a Deluxe Equipment (from $39.95) which incorporates every part within the Important Equipment plus a again pores and skin and high strip pores and skin to cowl the perimeters of your Steam Deck.

To make sure the display on on Steam Deck stays as pristine as attainable for so long as attainable, a display protector is a necessary buy. Ivoler’s Steam Deck display protector equipment provides an additional tempererd glass layer to offer a extremely scratch resistant floor. The pack comes with two ultra-thin glass sheets which can be rated to 99.9% transparency, so they’re about as undisruptive to your view as you may get.

Anybody who has a display protector on their smartphone will already know that lining it up completely is a ache. Fortunately, Ivoler contains an ‘straightforward set up body’ with its equipment, which takes quite a lot of frustration out of the method. As soon as utilized, your Steam Deck can be all however impervious to display scratches, and since you get two protectors in every pack, you may simply change the primary one if and when it does get too marred by scratches itself.

The Xbox Wi-fi Controller is a incredible selection on your Steam Deck. Not solely is its iconic design snug to carry and appropriate for a variety of video games and genres, nevertheless it’s additionally seamlessly appropriate with virtually each sport on Steam.

It truly is only a case of connecting (or plugging in) your controller and that is it. No set-up is required, though you may remap the buttons if you wish to. Sadly, there is no actual customization obtainable, so you will be disenchanted for those who like swapping out thumb grips or adjusting the depth of the triggers.

In the meantime, when it comes to portability, whereas this is not probably the most compact or gentle controller, the very fact it runs on AA batteries is definitely fairly helpful for journey. Certain, it is not exhausting to recharge a controller infrequently however the truth that you may simply seize some AAs from nearly any retailer means you need to seldom be caught brief.

After all, you may go for a extra pro-ready controller with the Xbox Elite sequence, a incredible price range choice just like the EasySMX X05, or a purely wired choice such because the Scuf Valor Professional, however on the finish of the day, the essential wi-fi controller will match most individuals’s wants.

Learn our Xbox Wi-fi Controller evaluate.

The Corsair HS65 Wi-fi is one one of the best gaming headsets for Steam Deck, primarily as a result of it is one of many most cost-effective wi-fi choices to incorporate Bluetooth. When you may hook up a wired headset to the Deck utilizing its headphone jack, cordless choices are consistent with the concept of portability.

With each Bluetooth and a 2.4GHz wi-fi connection, the HS65 Wi-fi is a good single headset to make use of for each your gaming handheld and your PC. Simply plug the two.4GHz wi-fi dongle into your PC and use Bluetooth on your Steam Deck. For $120, that is a fantastic mixture of options.

The Corsair HS65 Wi-fi is not the final phrase in headset high quality so you may additionally need to take into account the Razer BlackShark V3 Professional (our selection of finest gaming headset general), the Alienware Professional Wi-fi, or the EPOS H3Pro Hybrid (our high journey headset selections). Crucially, although, the HS65 Wi-fi is probably the most inexpensive of all these selections.

Learn our Corsair HS65 Wi-fi evaluate.

If a headset looks as if too cumbersome an choice for upgrading your Steam Deck audio, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds ought to as a substitute be your go-to choice. These tiny earbuds can slip right into a pocket with ease but present wonderful sound high quality.

What’s extra, they block outdoors noise rather well, eliminating airplane and prepare noise, and rather more. Crucially, whilst you may simply pickup a pair of AirPods and even some wired earbuds – we advocate the Sennheiser CX 300S for those who’re on a price range or the Sennheiser IE 200 for a extra premium choice – these earbuds embrace a USB-C dongle that you should use to attach these to your primary gaming PC. Which means you may use this one set of gamebuds for at residence listening in addition to for taking out on the street… or to the sofa.

Different rival gamebud units just like the Razer Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed present the identical operate however the Arctis Gamebuds are significantly better sounding, plus the case has room for the PC dongle, so you may connect with different units simply.

Learn our SteelSeries Arctics GameBuds evaluate for extra data.

Let’s be clear, a gaming headset is a significantly better selection for a gaming handheld than a devoted microphone, in terms of sport chat. Nonetheless, for those who’re wanting to make use of your Steam Deck for on-the-go recording otherwise you simply actually need top-tier audio high quality on your comms, a standalone mic will get you that.

The Steam Deck does truly include a built-in microphone, however as you may count on, it is fairly fundamental – just like what you’d discover constructed right into a gaming laptop computer. The Elgato Wave:3 is a a lot higher-quality microphone that can deliver production-level audio to your gaming and recording.

It is very easy to make use of, with a easy USB-C connection and a single dial that may tweak your enter achieve, PC combine, and headphone monitoring quantity so that you could get every part simply the best way you need it. It even has a handy tap-to-mute button on the highest of the microphone.

Elgato’s software program is superb too, although it will not work on the Linux-based SteamOS utilized by the Steam Deck. It’s going to work with any Home windows-based handhelds, although.

Learn our full Elgato Wave:3 evaluate.

Swapping between a Steam Deck dock setup and a desktop PC is a ache, however choosing up a Ugreen USB swap field will prevent from unplugging your mouse, keyboard, and different units each time you need to change between machines. In apply the add-on capabilities identical to a four-port USB hub that may hook as much as two completely different units directly, enabling you to seamlessly bounce between the 2 with a button.

Should you’ve regarded up learn how to set up Xbox Sport Move on Steam Deck or anything that includes desktop mode tomfoolery, you will know that plugging in a mouse and keyboard is sort of necessary. So, whilst you’ll seemingly at all times select to play video games in your precise PC over your Deck when seated, having the ability to immediately hook up all of your customary peripherals is a boon. Naturally, connecting up the swap field may also increase your docking station’s IO, one thing that might make all of the distinction when utilizing our favourite Steam Deck dock.

Though the Steam Deck’s battery life is spectacular for such a small machine, it may well nonetheless profit from a conveyable enhance infrequently. So, to forestall surprising shutdowns from spoiling your session, we would counsel including an influence financial institution, equivalent to this Anker Energy Financial institution, to your accent arsenal.

With a capability of 20,000mAh, the Anker Energy Financial institution 1383 can totally cost the Steam Deck practically 4 occasions, all whereas delivering energy as quick because the Steam Deck can chew by means of it – you’ll sport identical to you had been plugged in on the wall.

A built-in USB-C cable additionally makes for a handy setup that does not require you to recollect one other cable. At 440g, it is not the smallest or lightest object round – it is two-thirds the load of the Steam Deck itself – however with it additionally in a position to cost all of your different units, it may be a one-stop moveable energy answer, all for below $70.

For many individuals, a monitor goes to be a wholly superfluous Steam Deck accent as a result of they will simply play it solely in handheld mode. Nonetheless, if you are going to use it in docked mode, then you definitely’ll need to be sure you both have a TV that works nicely with the hand-held or you’ve gotten a monitor that makes the many of the Steam Deck.

We advocate aiming for a bigger display so you may actually make the most of the flexibility to sit down again and away out of your Steam Deck whereas its docked. A 32-inch panel just like the LG Ultragear 32GS95UE OLED could be wonderful however that is an costly display and its 4K decision is much past the graphics skills of the Steam Deck. As a substitute, the MSI MAG 325CQRF QD is a good choice because it will get you that display measurement with out breaking the financial institution – it is simply $310.

As top-of-the-line gaming monitor choices for its measurement, this MSI panel has a 1440p decision that’s a lot for the decision at which the Steam Deck can run video games. It additionally delivers nice picture high quality and a speedy refresh charge of 170Hz, making certain that your video games aren’t going to really feel sluggish, or at the very least in the event that they do it will not be the display’s fault.

Learn our full MSI MAG 325CQRF QD evaluate for extra data.