Valve's Steam Deck is now shipping, bringing some console-level gaming performance to the palm of your hands. Its a malleable and powerful mobile PC, letting you enjoy your entire Steam Library on the go through its effortless SteamOS layer on top of a Linux installation. Although there are some rough edges, we loved our time with the handheld, which you can read more about in our Steam Deck review.
To get the most out of the Steam Deck, however, you'll need a few accessories to go along with it. That's especially true if you want to expand the limited on-board storage, with a range of microSD cards offering cheap and easy expansion. If you're connecting the Steam Deck to an external display, you might want a feature-rich USB-C hub and third-party controller too, of which there are many options. Here's our list of the best Steam Deck accessories you can grab once your handheld PC arrives.
Best microSD Cards for Steam Deck
The Steam Deck supports storage expansion via its single microSD slot, and in out review we found that it works well compared to the speed of the internal SSD (or much slower eMMC memory in the 64GB version). In our testing we used an older SanDisk UHS-I MicroSD, which means faster cards might yield far better results. So, depending on whether you want super fast loading times or just the best capacity for your buck, your options for the best microSD cards will differ.
The three brands you'll have the best luck with are the three that have been the most trusted with microSD storage for a while now, specifically SanDisk, Samsung, and Lexar. Below are some choices for a range of microSD options that scale in storage capacity, with each offering good enough read and write speeds to work great in conjunction with the Steam Deck's internal storage.
Best third-party controllers for Steam Deck
Since SteamOS uses Valve's same controller API that the company has been using with Steam across Windows and Linux, you can rest assured that pretty much any Bluetooth controller (or one connected with a USB-C hub) you have should work with the Steam Deck. Popular options like the Xbox Controller, PlayStation DualSense, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, and the many, many options from 8BitDo will give you the most frictionless experience, so there's a good selection to choose from.
Best gaming headset for Steam Deck
With its 3.5mm audio jack and Bluetooth connectivity, it's likely that you already have a pair of earbuds or headphones that will work perfectly with the Steam Deck. But if you're looking for a single headset that can connect wirelessly or wired, and double up as a good set of headphones for commutes, console, and additional mobile gaming, then Steelseries' Arctis 3 Bluetooth fit that bill. They provide the flexibility of both a wireless Bluetooth connection and a physical one using a standard audio jack, while also producing good audio for games and providing a dedicated microphone for in-game chat. It helps that they look sleek, too.
Best keyboards for Steam Deck
The Steam Deck supports Bluetooth and USB-A connections (via a USB-C dock), so your options for connecting a keyboard to it are pretty much endless. If you're just wanting to mess around in the Linux desktop that sits behind SteamOS, then any keyboard you have lying around will do the job. But if you want to use the Steam Deck to play games on an external monitor, or just get some light work done, then there are two options that strike the right balance of affordability, feature set, and aesthetics. We've focused on compact keyboards here, as you may want a keyboard that's built for portability.
Best mice for Steam Deck
Much like keyboards, pretty much any mouse can be used with the Steam Deck either wired or wirelessly. We've chosen another two options that aren't super expensive, can be used just as easily with another PC at home or at work, and can easily be packed into a bag with the Steam Deck for a short getaway.
Best USB-C hub for Steam Deck
There are a plethora of USB-C hubs that you can chose from nowadays, most of which will work just fine attached to the Steam Deck's single USB-C output. Depending on what you might want to use it for, your options can vary drastically in both design and price. Perhaps most importantly is deciding whether you want to be able to charge the Steam Deck while using a USB-C hub. Hubs with power delivery are amongst the most expensive, but also generally the most versatile, with most offering HDMI outputs, microSD slots (not ideal for games, unfortunately), and multiple USB-A ports.
If you aren't really looking to use the Steam Deck on a larger display, however, you can save some money by removing the HDMI output and retaining power delivery and, in some cases, ethernet connectivity. Anker has options for pretty much any configuration you might need, but if you're just looking for more USB-A ports, a basic option can be found for less than $12 through Amazon.
Best screen protector for Steam Deck
The Steam Deck has a big and vibrant screen that takes up most of the space on the front of the device, so you'll want to keep it as pristine as possible. Glass screen protectors for the Steam Deck have already started cropping up, and while we have not had a chance to test any just yet, you should be able to depend on this on from iVoler. This particular brand makes one of our favorite screen protectors for Nintendo Switch.
Best gaming monitors for Steam Deck
While PC gamers likely already have a monitor that will work just fine with the Steam Deck, console gamers picking up the Steam Deck may be in need of a monitor. If you're planning on using your Steam Deck like a desktop PC at times, you'll want a dedicated gaming monitor. We've rounded up a handful of our favorite budget-friendly monitors, including ultrawide, 1440p, 1080p, and curved options. If you want a monitor that's good for traveling, we've included one of our favorite portable monitors as well.
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March 14, 2022 at 09:34PM
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Best Steam Deck Accessories To Buy To Complete Your Setup - GameSpot
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