Mastering the Art of Steam Deck Customization with Essentials

The Steam Deck might look like a handheld console like the Nintendo Switch, but in reality, it’s more of a mobile PC. And, as with any PC, you can hook the Steam Deck up to a monitor and even add a keyboard and mouse, making it a fully-fledged computer that you can carry around with you.

The only downside to the Steam Deck is that it runs Linux instead of Windows, meaning you might have some compatibility issues with certain keyboards or mice. However, other accessories like microSD cards and Bluetooth headphones all work on the Steam Deck without any problems.

Here are the best Steam Deck accessories available today.

SABRENT Rocket 2230 NVMe 4.0 1TB SSD

Best Overall
$100 at Amazon

Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones with Auto Noise Canceling Optimizer

Best Headphones
$328 at Amazon

dBrand Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Steam Deck

Best Value
$25 at dbrand

Amazon Product

ASUS ROG Azoth 75% Wireless DIY Custom Gaming Keyboard

Best Keyboard
$223 at Amazon

Anker 737 Power Bank

Best Power Bank
$150 at Best Buy

See More

JSAUX Docking Station for Steam Deck

Best Docking Station
$50 at Walmart

JSAUX Carrying Case for Steam Deck

Best Carry Case
$40 at Amazon

dbrand Warzone Steam Deck Skin

Best Skin
$30 at dbrand

Setex Gecko Grip Thumbstick Grip Cover

Best Thumbstick Grips
$13 at Walmart

Our Favorite Steam Deck Accessories in 2023

SABRENT Rocket 2230 NVMe 4.0 1TB SSD

Best Overall

Keep all your favorite titles with you wherever you go

With 1TB of storage and exceptional performance, the SABRENT Rocket 2230 NVMe 4.0 SSD is one of the best storage solutions for your Steam Deck. Enjoy ultra-fast responsiveness, with less power draw and greater heat dissipation.

Pros

1TB of storage
Improved performance
Installation is relatively simple

Cons

Expensive for what it is

$100 at Amazon $110 at Walmart

One of the major gripes with the Steam Deck and handheld PCs, in general, is the relative lack of storage space for your game library. With 512GB the most on offer, you might struggle for space if you’re planning to play AAA titles on the go. By investing in a decent SSD like the SABRENT Rocket 2230, you can expand your storage space by a much more generous 1TB.

As well as the considerable expansion to your storage space, it offers read speeds of 4750 MB/s and write speeds of 4300 MB/s, which provides fast and reliable performance for your games. This solid-state drive is highly efficient and will dramatically reduce the heat output on your console, too.

The SABRENT Rocket 2230 is an excellent investment if you want to play larger, more demanding titles on your Steam Deck. It’s good value for money, considering the acreage that you’re getting, and installing it is a relatively simple process as well. All-in-all, it’s a very worthwhile buy to get the most out of your handheld.

Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones with Auto Noise Canceling Optimizer

Best Headphones

Keep the outside world out with best-in-class ANC

$328$400 Save $72

With the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones, you can enjoy a truly immersive gaming experience thanks to its industry-leading ANC. And with Alexa built-in, a 30-hour battery life, and plenty of additional quality-of-life features, they offer the complete package.

Pros

Incredible sound quality
Industry-leading ANC
Alexa built-in
30-hour battery life

Cons

Very expensive

$328 at Amazon $400 at Best Buy $345 at Walmart

Although not specifically designed for gaming, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is an excellent choice for the Steam Deck, thanks to its wealth of features. With two processors that control eight microphones, they offer unrivaled ANC for immersive gameplay that explodes in your ears.

Intuitive features such as the Speak-to-Chat and Quick Attention modes allow you to quickly answer voice calls on the go or mute your sound, so you can hear your surroundings. A multipoint connection allows you to switch between devices easily, and with Alexa built-in, you can enjoy voice assistant control.

The battery life runs for up to 30 hours, making these headphones ideal for portable gaming sessions. Did we mention that the sound quality is incredible, too? And although the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones will set you back almost as much as a Steam Deck does, they are a feature-rich option that is guaranteed to boost your gameplay.

dBrand Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Steam Deck

Best Value

Will guard your Steam Deck’s screen with its life

Give your Steam Deck’s screen high-level protection with the dbrand Tempered Glass Screen Protector. With a 9H hardness rating, oleophobic coating, and ultra-clear transparency, it’s the best way to enjoy your portable handheld.

Pros

Unbeatable scratch damage protection
Oleophobic coating
Near 100% transparency
Doesn’t affect touchscreen responsiveness
Two screen protectors included

Cons

Manual installation

$25 at dbrand

If you’ve bought or are going to buy a Steam Deck, then a decent screen protector is an absolute must. And the dbrand Tempered Glass Screen Protector is the very best there is. With a 9H hardness rating, it provides excellent protection against scratch damage.

It has an oleophobic coating which effectively combats fingerprints and oily residues, and boasts an almost 100% transparency rating, meaning it won’t obscure or impair your gameplay. Its ultra-thin design means that the Steam Deck’s touchscreen sensitivity remains as responsive as not having a screen protector in the first place.

You get two screen protectors in each pack, and installation (although manual) is smooth and fuss-free. Protecting your Steam Deck’s screen is essential for safeguarding your investment, and you may as well protect it with the best there is.

ASUS ROG Azoth 75% Wireless DIY Custom Gaming Keyboard

Best Keyboard

A compact and customizable gaming keyboard for gaming on the go

$223$250 Save $27

The ASUS ROG Azoth 75% Wireless DIY Custom Gaming Keyboard is a versatile and hot-swappable gaming keyboard that pairs nicely with the Steam Deck. With its OLED display, RGB lighting, and tactile responsiveness, it’s ideal for boosting your gameplay sessions.

Pros

Hot-swappable
OLED display
RGB lighting
Three-layer dampening

Cons

Premium price

$223 at Amazon $250 at Best Buy $250 at Walmart

Depending on what you’re playing and whether you’re playing it in docked mode, you may prefer a traditional keyboard and mouse setup for your Steam Deck. With its 75% design, the ASUS ROG Azoth Wireless Gaming Keyboard is just the ticket for your next gaming session.

Lightweight and portable, this hot-swappable keyboard boasts an OLED display and a three-way control knob for easily adjustable system settings. It offers a versatile tri-mode connection (Bluetooth, USB Wired, and 2.4GHz) with ultra-low latency and features three levels of dampening foams for a sublime typing experience.

The ROG NX mechanical switches are pre-lubed and provide smooth and stable keystrokes with fast actuation, and it comes with everything you need for DIY switching, should you want to customize things. It makes for an excellent compact and premium gaming keyboard, giving you plenty of scope to play your way.

Anker 737 Power Bank

Best Power Bank

Keep your Steam Deck topped up for hours on end

With the Anker 737 Power Bank, you needn’t worry about your Steam Deck running out of juice when you’re out of reach of an outlet. With a large 24,000mAh battery capacity, this compact power bank is perfect for portable gaming and even comes with its own power strip for connecting multiple devices.

Pros

Powerful charging for your Steam Deck
Protects against overheating
Includes power strip

Cons

Expensive

See at Amazon $150 at Best Buy $200 at Walmart

The demanding nature of some titles could inevitably see your Steam Deck lose battery power rapidly. Not such a big deal if you’re gaming at home, but a real drag if you’re out and about and a good distance from the nearest power outlet. By carrying a power bank like the Anker 737 PowerCore 24K, running out of juice need never be a problem.

Featuring a high-capacity 24,000mAh battery, you have plenty of power in the tank to keep your Steam Deck running for hours on end. It has a smart digital display, from which you can tell at a glance how much battery is left, how long until your device is fully charged, and how much charge is being delivered to each of the three USB ports.

With ActiveShield 2.0 built-in to ensure your devices stay cool, there’s no risk of them overheating. Compact and portable, and with an Anker 615 USB Power Strip included, the Anker 737 Power Bank is the ultimate travel companion for keeping your Steam Deck and other devices fully charged for hours.

JSAUX Docking Station for Steam Deck

Best Docking Station

Enjoy Steam Deck gameplay on your favorite TV or monitor

Easily connect your Steam Deck to your TV, monitor, or projector with the JSAUX Docking Station for Steam Deck. With its versatile 7-in-1 connection, you can add a keyboard and mouse to your setup and charge other devices at the same time.

Pros

Versatile connection options
Dual video outputs
Supports 4K HDMI output

Cons

Might not work with some protective cases

$60 at Amazon $50 at Walmart

Running your Steam Deck through a docking station is a great way to hook it up to a big-screen TV, projector, or monitor for super-sized gaming at home. And the JSAUX Docking Station offers you a convenient 7-in-1 connection to support whatever canvas you want to wreak havoc upon.

It comes equipped with an HDMI 4K@60Hz output, a 4K@60Hz DisplayPort output, Gigabit Ethernet input, three USB-A 3.2 ports, plus a USB-C port for charging. Offering you a smoother gameplay experience with enhanced visuals, it’s a great one-stop shop for your Steam Deck gameplay.

Ideal for couch play or desktop gaming, the JSAUX Docking Station for Steam Deck allows you to enjoy 4K Ultra HD for your favorite titles. And with ports for a controller, keyboard, and mouse, you can play your way with effortless convenience.

JSAUX Carrying Case for Steam Deck

Best Carry Case

Rugged protection for your Steam Deck and all its peripherals

$40$46 Save $6

With the JSAUX Carrying Case for Steam Deck, you can safely transport your Steam Deck and all your other devices with ease. Its tough EVA hardshell protects the outside, while cushioned compartments protect everything from the inside.

Pros

Hard shell protection
Plenty of storage space
Cushioned and comfortable to wear
Waterproof

Cons

Expensive

$40 at Amazon

A decent carry case for your Steam Deck is all well and good, but if you want to pack a power bank, headphones, charging cables, and more as well, many of them can come up short on space. With the JSAUX Carrying Case for Steam Deck, this isn’t a problem.

This hard-shell protective case serves as a crossbody double-layer backpack and has enough space inside for your console and all your peripherals. It has an independent cabin for your Steam Deck, as well as separate compartments for all your other equipment, including your smartphone and keys.

Made from premium Oxford fabric, with its hard shell made from durable EVA, it offers a good level of comfort for the wearer, as well as robust waterproof protection for all your valuables. Perfect for enjoying portable gaming anytime and anywhere.

dbrand Warzone Steam Deck Skin

Best Skin

Give your Steam Deck a makeover with stylish and colorful skins

Spice up your Steam Deck with one of dbrand’s premium skins. Each one is custom-cut to fit the Steam Deck’s dimensions and offers a high-quality textured finish. Why settle for matte black when you can choose from a library of exciting new looks?

Pros

Tons of cool designs
Textured finish
Precision cut for the Steam Deck
Application is relatively simple

Cons

Not a cheap option

$30 at dbrand

The Steam Deck’s sleek matte black finish looks cool in a minimalist kind of way, but some may find it boring. And for those of you who want to inject your Steam Deck with a bit of color and pizzazz, outfitting it with a skin like this dbrand Warzone delivers on both fronts with aplomb.

One of many skins available from the dbrand website, the Warzone skin is precision cut to fit your Steam Deck like a glove. Offering premium scratch-proof protection and with no residue from the application process, you’re guaranteed a smooth finish that looks and feels great.

With access to easy-to-follow video tutorials, applying your dbrand Steam Deck skin is a breeze. This is a premium textured skin for your handheld and a great way to customize its look.

Setex Gecko Grip Thumbstick Grip Cover

Best Thumbstick Grips

Grip your Steam Deck like Spider-Man grips to walls

Improve your gaming precision with the Setex Gecko Grip Thumbstick Grip Cover. Slip a pair of these grips over your Steam Deck’s thumbsticks and enjoy the benefits of a textured, non-slip grip to gain a gameplay advantage.

Pros

Textured non-slip grips
Available in different sizes
Improves thumbstick radius
An affordable option

Cons

Only one pair per pack

$14 at Amazon $13 at Walmart

Thumbstick grips are a handy and relatively inexpensive way to give yourself a bit of a gameplay edge when it comes to console gaming, and these Setex Gecko Grip Thumbstick Grips offer significantly more grip than most.

Setex’s gecko-inspired gripping technology provides 356% better grip for gameplay, thanks to an estimated 4,000 fibers per thumbstick grip. These non-slip thumbstick covers also increase the height and radius of your thumbsticks, giving you an edge with improved accuracy and performance.

Easy to install and available in a range of styles and heights, you can pick the pair that’s just right for you and play with confidence.

Choosing the Best Steam Deck Accessories

From keyboards to power banks, carry cases to skins, there’s an endless amount of accessories available for the Steam Deck. Selecting which ones may be right for you will depend on how you like to game and how you want to use your gaming handheld.

For portable gaming, you can’t go wrong with a really good pair of headphones, and the Sony WH-1000XM5 is one of the best there is. It might not be primarily designed for gaming, but with world-class ANC, incredible audio, and plenty of feature-rich inclusions, it will elevate your gameplay experience to new heights, as long as your budget can stretch to that price tag.

One essential and more affordable Steam Deck accessory is a quality protective screen cover, and the dbrand Tempered Glass Screen Protector is the best there is. Precision cut to fit the Steam Deck’s screen, and with unbeatable protection against scratch damage, this one should be near the top of everybody’s list.

However, to ensure that you don’t have to skimp on your portable gaming library, you might want to consider investing in an SSD card. The SABRENT Rocket 2230 SSD offers a massive 1TB of storage space, as well as providing improvements to your Steam Deck’s speed and responsiveness. And while you will pay a premium for the privilege, it’s an almost essential purchase if you’re planning to play AAA titles on the go.

SABRENT Rocket 2230 NVMe 4.0 1TB SSD

Best Overall

Keep all your favorite titles with you wherever you go, with 1TB of storage space

Pros

1TB of storage
Improved performance
Installation is relatively simple

Cons

Expensive for what it is

$100 at Amazon $110 at Walmart

Games Able

Mastering the Art of Steam Deck Customization with Essentials