The best Steam Deck accessories

Valve’s Steam Deck LCD and Steam Deck OLED are capable handheld PCs that can run many games from the vast Steam catalog. With its great design and a growing library of new titles verified to run great on its hardware, it has maintained its popularity despite several competitors joining the race, including the Asus ROG Ally and the Lenovo Legion Go.

In case you didn’t know, the Steam Deck has a stellar accessory scene, and it has only improved since its 2022 launch. That said, you may not need many add-ons to have a great time. Whether you’re adding onto your own Steam Deck setup, or buying a gift for someone, the accessories we’ve selected below are the best out there.

Our must-have Steam Deck accessories

amFilm 3-pack of Steam Deck glass screen protectors

Photo: Cameron Faulkner/Polygon

Like all tech, the Steam Deck houses many fragile components. But the one that’s most prone to accidental damage is its 7-inch (or 7.4-inch, if you have a Steam Deck OLED) glass-covered display. I highly recommend that every Deck owner buys a set of tempered glass screen protectors (I’ve had nothing but good experiences from amFilm, although there are many players in this space). It may not save your Deck from catastrophic damage, but its job is to absorb scrapes and jabs instead of the actual glass covering your display (screen replacements aren’t exactly cheap). When the cover eventually gets scratches, or cracks, simply remove it and apply a new one.

Note: While the Steam Deck OLED’s screen is bigger than the original Steam Deck, the size of the glass covering the display on both models is identical, so these screen protectors are great for whichever Steam Deck you buy.

A Samsung or SanDisk microSD card

Photo: Cameron Faulkner/Polygon

The Steam Deck comes with up to 512 GB of SSD storage if you buy the $449 LCD model (or the $549 OLED model). Although, for being Valve’s higher-end models, that’s not a abundance of storage, given that PC games routinely come in 30-60 GB install sizes. For those who buy the $349 model, there’s even less onboard storage to work with: just 64 GB. Whichever model you have, buying a microSD card for extra game space is pretty much essential. You might be able to put it off for now, but likely not for long.

In terms of what’ll work best in your Deck, you can’t go wrong with any 512 GB microSD cards from the SanDisk Ultra, Samsung Evo Select, or Samsung Pro Ultimate lineups (these are advertised with different read/write speeds, but perform similarly in the Deck).

Skull & Co. 4-pack of convex thumbstick grips

Image: Cameron Faulkner/Polygon | Source images: Skull & Co

Many people jibe with the feel of Valve’s thumbsticks on the Steam Deck. But if you dislike how slippery they can be, simply pop some of these affordable grips from Skull & Co. on top of your Deck’s sticks. For $6.99, you’ll get two pairs of thumb pads in the color of your choice that lengthen the height of your sticks, add some roundness to them, not to mention add grip. Keep in mind, however, that they may prevent the Deck’s capacitive thumbstick feature from working as intended.

A USB to Ethernet adapter

Image: Cameron Faulkner/Polygon | Source images: Plugable, TP-Link

If you want faster download speeds and a smoother online gameplay experience than Wi-Fi can provide, route an extra Ethernet cable from your modem to your Steam Deck, then connect it with one of these USB to Ethernet adapters. Unless you have one laying around, you’ll also need a USB-A to USB-C adapter to plug it into your Deck.

Note: If you have a dock or a USB-C hub for the Deck to connect it to a TV or monitor, that may already have an Ethernet port.

Corsair MP600 Mini 1 TB M.2 SSD

Image: Corsair

We don’t recommend this route for most people, but if you’re willing to open up your Steam Deck to add even faster storage than microSD (at your own risk), Corsair’s MP600 Mini 1 TB M.2 SSD is a relatively inexpensive option. It costs under $70, but you’ll likely need some tools, like this iFixit Essentials tool kit for $30, to open up your Steam Deck.

iClever foldable Bluetooth keyboard with built-in trackpad

Image: iClever

If you envision going into the Steam Deck’s desktop mode, you may want to grab a compact wireless keyboard to type on. Without it, it’s a real pain to touch type and navigate on the Deck’s screen (especially if you have big fingers). So, do yourself a favor and buy this all-in-one, foldable keyboard that has a trackpad built in. If that’s a bit pricey and you don’t particularly care whether the keyboard folds, you can get Logitech’s reliable K400 Plus wireless model that has a trackpad built-in for about $25.

Best Steam Deck docks

Steam Deck dock

Photo: Cameron Faulkner/Polygon

While Valve wasn’t the first company to launch a Deck-compatible dock, its version is one of the most port-rich options. Its Deck Dock has HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C port to receive power from a wall adapter (it includes the same 45 W 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, along with its elegant design. But it comes at a pricier cost than most third-party alternatives, priced at $79.

JSAUX Steam Deck docking station (model HB0702)

Image: JSAUX

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 $59.99. 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 whether you have the official Deck Dock, but want nearly identical features.

Best Steam Deck mounts

Mechanism Deckmate

Photo: Cameron Faulkner/Polygon

A company called Mechanism makes the best overall Steam Deck mounting system. We suggest getting the Deckmate $49 “entire system” bundle if you’re jumping in for the first time. It includes more than you may need, like a kickstand (shown above), accessory mounts, and more. But crucially, it includes screws that don’t come in the a-la-carte wall or monitor mounting bundles. (Polygon readers can automatically save on the cost of shipping if you purchase this, or anything else at Mechanism’s site by clicking this link.)

The wall mount is self-explanatory; it’s a mount that you can secure to your wall by two screws, or just by its strong 3M VHB adhesive. Then the Deckmate’s grip lets it snap onto the wall. As for the monitor mount, you’re getting a mount that can be screwed into any VESA-compliant stand. Then you just snap the Deck onto it.

Mechanism recently added a phone mount to the Deckmate’s skill set. The $29 accessory includes an arm that snaps into the Deckmate frame. It supports any phone, thanks to its strong construction, and it includes a low-profile, circular magnet you can adhere to the back of your phone.

Best Steam Deck controller

8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller

Photo: 8BitDo

If you want a controller to use with your Steam Deck, whether it’s docked or on a stand, you have multiple options. The Deck supports most controllers that connect Bluetooth or via USB. This includes controllers you may already have laying around if you own consoles, like those that control the Xbox Series X, PS5, or Nintendo Switch, and more.

You should proceed to the next section if you’re happy with the controllers you own. But, if you’re in the market for a unique gamepad that has the Xbox analog stick layout, Hall effect joysticks that won’t degrade over time compared to standard analog sticks, plus native wireless support with the Nintendo Switch, your best bet is the 8BitDo Ultimate Wireless.

Best Steam Deck portable batteries

Baseus 24,000 mAh 140 W USB-C portable battery

Image: Baseus

Baseus’ 24,000 mAh battery has a 140 W USB-C output speed, which is ridiculously overpowered for the Steam Deck’s needs. We previously recommended the company’s cheaper 65 W option, but it’s out of stock. This one costs $99.99, but is currently on sale for just $67.99 on Amazon when you use the on-page coupon. With its capacity, you should be able to recharge the Deck’s battery a couple of times; however, as with all portable batteries, expect it to drain faster if you’re gaming on the Deck as you’re charging it.

Anker 537 24,000 mAh 45 W portable battery

Image: Anker

Anker’s Power Bank 537 has a 24,000 mAh cell, but with a 45 W charging rate that matches the Steam Deck’s top charging speed. It's currently discounted to $57.99 at Amazon. This model includes a USB-C-to-C cable.

Best Steam Deck cases

Dbrand Project Killswitch

Photo: Alice Jovanée/The Verge

There are a bunch of soft and hard cases out there that you can slip your Steam Deck into to ruggedize it, and any of those might be just fine for you. But we’ve really enjoyed the Dbrand Project Killswitch, which lets you add or remove a kickstand, in addition to doing a great job of protecting your console and adding some grip.

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

Spigen Rugged Armor Pro case for Steam Deck

Image: Spigen

It’s a shame that Valve doesn’t offer its improved case bundled exclusively with the Steam Deck OLED 1 TB edition for general sale. It gives you the option of a thick, tough case Deck owners are used to, but its special trick lies in its ability to transform into a slimmer case when you pull away its Velcro-locked inner layer. Until that becomes widely available, anyone who’s looking for a case replacement should check out Spigen’s Rugged Armor Pro, a semi-hard case with a pocket. Additionally, it secures the Deck inside with a strap, and if you’re worried about losing your console, there’s enough room in its pocket for a Bluetooth tracker, like an Apple AirTag. This models seems to be out of stock currently, so we’re investigating replacement options.