Best Steam Deck Accessories

If you’re one of the lucky few to have scored a Steam Deck during its rollout launch, then you’ll likely need a few accessories to really make the most of your new hardware. Before we get too far, it’s important to remember that under the console-like form-factor and UI, the Steam Deck is just a standard x86 computer running Linux, complete with USB ports. This means that the vast majority of PC peripherals will just be plug-and-play. While that does open an entire world of accessories, it also means that it’s basically impossible for us to cover everything that you might want to plug into your new Steam Deck. As such, we will be looking more specifically at accessory categories that you might not have considered and what to look for in specific products.

Micro SD Card

The Steam Deck comes in a few different storage configurations, but it’s topping out at a 512GB NVMe SSD even on the highest end. That’s going only to fit a handful of larger titles, so unless you’re exclusively looking to play smaller, indie games, an SD card feels almost mandatory.

1TB Micro SD cards can be had in the sub-$200 range, with offerings from all major brands. Do keep an eye out when Micro SD card shopping and stick to known brands. If the price is too good to be true, then it probably is. Many low-end manufacturers sell small cards that are tweaked to report as large capacity, and you won’t have a way of realizing you’ve been duped until it’s too late. Any high-speed Micro SD card from a reputable brand will work just fine here.

Keyboard and Mouse

The Deck is a computer, and many computer games are best with a keyboard and a mouse. The trackpads on the front of the Deck reportedly work well for mouse input, but depending on the title and support level, you might be better off just going the more traditional route. Theoretically, any USB keyboard and mouse will just work right out of the box, although things like RGB lighting and other customization might require specialty software. So, it might be best to avoid keyboards and mice with a heavy dependence on Windows specific software for tweaking settings (such as Razer).

If you want to dock the Deck to your TV and game on the couch, the Corsair K62 keyboard/lapboard combo or the Roccat Sova can give you that keyboard and mouse experience in style and comfort. Do note that there is only a USB Type-C on the Deck, so you’ll need a dock or adapter for USB Type-A accessories.

Related: Best Wireless Gaming Keyboards

USB Type-C Dock

While Valve has recently revealed the design of their official dock, it has also confirmed that any standard USB Type-C dock will work with the Deck. This means you can output the Deck to your TV via HDMI or just expand the available number of USB ports with any off-the-shelf solution. It might not look as nice as Valve’s own official dock, but the functionality should be similar. Plus, if you pick up the official dock when it launches, you’ll have a second travel dock to throw in a bag. If you’re looking for a dock with PD for charging while docking, make sure it can deliver the 45W that the Steam Deck requires.

USB Type-C Cable

Of course, the Deck comes with its own AC adapter and cable. The problem is that the Type-C port on the Deck is mounted on the top of the device, and the included cable isn’t incredibly long. This means that the already mediocre cable length loses even more slack because it has to reach all the way up and over the top of the device. A longer cable means you’ll be able to game in more places more comfortably. There are also 180-degree cables that will flip that cable from sticking up from the top of the Deck to angling down the back. But with angled cables, be sure to check the connector size before purchasing since the width of the connectors on those are often sized to wrap around a phone and might not fit comfortably down the edge of the Deck.

Power Bank

The Steam Deck doesn’t have an amazingly long battery. While it’s certainly in line with similarly powered laptops with similarly sized batteries, it might end up being a bit shorter than you’re accustomed to for a portable device. The Deck battery is advertised as 40Wh, translating to between 8000mAh and 10500mAh. That means picking up even a 10000mAh battery to keep with it could double your playtime. When shopping, be sure that any battery you’re considering is capable of the 45W that the Deck expects.

Screen Protector

Like most handheld devices, the Deck is mostly screen. It’s fitted with an 800p 7” IPS display that you’ll want to keep in pristine shape for your gaming sessions. There are already many screen protector options, most of them are tempered glass, from various manufacturers on the market. Do note that the highest-end Steam Deck features an anti-glare etched glass coating, and adding a glossy screen protector will add glare. But it might be worth the added protection for anyone traveling with the Deck even if it means a bit more glare on the screen.

Related: Best Budget Wireless Headphones | 5 Budget Wireless Headsets

Gaming Headset

Any PC-compatible gaming headset should work just fine with the Deck, both wired and wireless. The Deck features a duplex headphone jack for traditional headsets and built-in Bluetooth for Bluetooth-compatible headsets. On the Deck, you can use Steams voice chat with either a headset or the built-in mic, but you can also install various Linux-compatible chat apps such as Discord.

There will inevitably be a deluge of Deck specific accessories flooding the market in the coming months, but in the meantime, the majority of things you might pick up for a laptop will work great with the Deck. Don’t be fooled into thinking you need highly specialized accessories: it’s a computer, first and foremost.

For more Steam Deck guides check out Steam Deck – Release date, specs, price and How to pre-order a Steam Deck on Pro Game Guides.

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