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4 exciting Steam Deck accessories that aim to elevate Valve's handheld to new heights

Some of the best Steam Deck accessories directly affect how users interact with their consoles. (Image source: Various - edited)
Some of the best Steam Deck accessories directly affect how users interact with their consoles. (Image source: Various - edited)
From screen upgrades to retro docks, there are some truly fascinating Steam Deck accessories kicking about, whether already released or on the horizon. Here are four tantalising options to kick Valve's handheld gaming experience into high gear.
Gaming List Accessory Mini PC Console

1. GuliKit SNES-themed dock

While Valve has released the Steam Dock for the Steam Deck, it's a rather plain, understated affair. If you're after something with a little more style, GuliKit recently announced a Nintendo SNES-themed dock for the Steam Deck — and other handheld gaming devices — at Gamescom 2023.

Apart from looks, the as-yet-unnamed GuliKit docking station has a different port layout compared to the Steam Dock. Instead of the three USB 3.1 Type-A ports and single HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, Ethernet, and USB Type-C ports found on the Steam Dock, the GuliKit docking station features three USB 3.0 Type-A ports, an HDMI output, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a USB Type-C out port. GuliKit also designed the retro docking station with a 100-W power input to power the Deck or any other handheld device you plug into it.

The GuliKit dock will also feature four microSD card slots tucked away somewhere on the device, but it's unclear if they're just for passive storage or if they're electrically connected for storage access while docked.

All-in-all, it seems to be a promising addition to the Steam Deck and general handheld accessory ecosystem, but no release date has been announced yet, and it may be a while before it is officially released.

2. JSAUX 7-in-1 Steam Deck Dock

If the GuliKit SNES-themed docking station isn't for you, or if you don't feel like waiting around for GuliKit to eventually announce availability and a launch date, the JSAUX HB0702 Steam Deck Dock has you covered. JSAUX's dock does basically the same job as other docks out there but for almost US$40 less than the official Steam Dock. 

The JSAUX Steam Deck Dock has all the same ports as the Steam Dock — three USB 3.2 Type A ports, one Gigabit Ethernet port, one of each DisplayPort and HDMI port for 4K 60 Hz or 2K 120 Hz output, and a USB Type-C port with 100 W power delivery.

The JSAUX Steam Deck Dock is just US$49.99 on Amazon.

The JSAUX Steam Deck Dock has an aluminium casing that makes it look premium. (Image source: JSAUX)
The JSAUX Steam Deck Dock has an aluminium casing that makes it look premium. (Image source: JSAUX)

3. GuliKit Electromagnetic Joystick Module for Steam Deck

One of the biggest concerns about the Steam Deck stems from its use of traditional potentiometer joysticks, which are prone to joystick drift over time. Fortunately, GuliKit makes drop-in hall-effect joysticks for the Steam Deck in the form of its Electromagnetic Joystick Modules.

While installation requires opening the Steam Deck and fiddling around with its innards, there is no soldering required. Instead, you open the Deck, unplug the old joystick modules, plug the new ones in and screw them down, and close the Steam Deck back up again. You may also need to calibrate the new joysticks — a process GuliKit explains on the product page. 

The GuliKit Electromagnetic Joystick kit is available on Amazon.

4. F(x)tec DeckHD display upgrade

Another common gripe about the Steam Deck is its 1280 × 800 screen resolution. The DeckHD, made by F(x)tec (or FX Technology) is a 1920 × 1200 Steam Deck screen replacement that aims to remedy the low resolution and some other shortcomings.

While a higher resolution probably isn't going to be a fantastic idea for triple-A gaming, it will almost certainly provide a better experience on Windows or tooling around in SteamOS

The DeckHD display not only has a higher resolution, but it has much higher sRGB colour gamut coverage — 87% vs the stock screen's 67% — and an anti-glare coating. While the DeckHD is expected to land at US$99, it's not officially available just yet. You can get onto the DeckHD waitlist to be notified when it's available.

Source(s)

GuliKit (1, 2), DeckHD, JSAUX

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2023 08 > 4 exciting Steam Deck accessories that aim to elevate Valve's handheld to new heights
Julian van der Merwe, 2023-08-25 (Update: 2023-08-25)