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Jan 05, 2024

Valve Steam Deck Dock Review

As a high-powered gaming handheld, the Valve Steam Deck is often compared to the

As a high-powered gaming handheld, the Valve Steam Deck is often compared to the Nintendo Switch. However, unlike the premium Switch model, the Steam Deck doesn't come bundled with a dock that lets you play games on a larger, external display. Third-party companies stepped up to fill the gap with their own docks, but Valve recently released its Steam Deck Dock. Priced at $90, the official dock is pricier than many third-party stands, but it's stylish and offers features you won't find in competing docks.

The Valve Steam Deck Dock is a slim and nondescript black rectangle that measures 4.6 inches by 1.1 inches by 2 inches, and weighs about 4.2 ounces. Unlike the Nintendo Switch, the Steam Deck lacks a kickstand, so the Dock is a fine way to play games with a controller while enjoying a prime viewing angle.

The Dock lets you access the system's screen, which is useful when you need to fiddle with an option or input data. For example, if you want to connect a Bluetooth controller, you needn't remove the Deck from the Dock (you must do so with Nintendo's offering). However, we think the Dock is a bit too small compared with the Steam Deck's nearly one-foot width. Initially, we worried that the Deck might fall out of the Dock if we bumped into it. Thankfully, the USB-C cable that connects the Deck to the Dock locks everything in tight.

Essential ports are horizontally aligned across the Dock's back. You’ll find DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, USB-C for power, Gigabit Ethernet, and three USB-A 3.1 Gen1 Ports. However, there's no M.2 interface for expanding storage via SSD, which is something you’ll find in the $129.99 Jsaux M.2 Docking Station for Steam Deck.

You may need to install a firmware update when you first connect the Steam Deck to the Dock. Installing new firmware directly via the Dock is an advantage Valve's official stand has over most generic USB-C docks. Valve says most docks should work with the Steam Deck, but upgrading them requires connecting the docks to PCs to download and install files—a hassle you avoid with Valve's accessory. After that, it's simply a matter of connecting the Dock to a display. For more, check out our guide on How to Connect Your Steam Deck to a TV or Monitor.

Using our Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, we played Deathloop, Shovel Knight Dig, and other PC games on a TV without noticeable added latency or technical issues. Plugging in a USB keyboard made it a breeze to type in the Steam Deck's browser.

The Dock doesn't supply the Steam Deck with extra power, unlike the Nintendo Switch's dock. On the topic of power, you don't need to plug the Dock into external juice for it to work, but that reduces the USB ports' throughputs to conserve energy. The Steam Deck Dock supports up to 4K 60Hz or 1440p 120Hz outputs, as well FreeSync and multi-monitor desktop mode support (functionality we've seen with other docks that also have HDMI and DisplayPort options). You can customize these visual options in the External Display Scaling menu.

It's great to have these external display choices; that's the exciting PC gaming flexibility that Steam Deck brings to the handheld space. Still, you should be prepared to run into technical limitations if you try to push the Steam Deck to deliver graphical fidelity that matches desktops and next-gen consoles on a big screen. With Deathloop, for example, we sacrificed the 4K resolution to maintain a high frame rate.

The Valve Steam Deck Dock costs $89.99. For comparison, Jsaux's popular Docking Station for Steam Deck and Upgraded Docking Station cost $39.99 and $49.99, respectively. We also have Jsaux's entry-level docking station in our possession, and find it a fine way to quickly connect a Steam Deck to an external display. It comes with ethernet, HDMI, USB-C (for charging), and two USB-A ports.

Although the sturdy Jsaux dock works well, it sometimes feels as though it wasn't originally designed with a Steam Deck in mind. That becomes apparent as soon as you plop the Steam Deck onto it. If you center the Deck on the dock, the stand's back blocks some of the handheld's heat vents—a no-no. So, you must position the Steam Deck slightly off center, which looks odd. Valve's dock, because it's so small, avoids this issue. In addition, the Jsaux dock requires external power to push an image to a large display. As with other third-party docks, updating the Jsaux's firmware isn't a particularly smooth process, either.

The Valve Steam Deck Dock makes an already cool device even more versatile. Why settle for a console or handheld when you can have both? Keep in mind that you don't necessarily need to pay the $89 premium price when there are other, cheaper accessories that are nearly as good. However, the Steam Deck Dock's firmware advantage, slick design, and ability to work without external power make the stand worthy of its official status.

For more on Steam Deck, check out our list of top Steam Deck verified games, and read our features on how Valve's failures led to a device that's now revitalizing our love for PC gaming.

The Steam Deck Dock is Valve's official accessory that lets you play the handheld gaming PC on a monitor or television. It's pricier than many third-party docks, but doesn't need a power supply to work, and supports easy firmware updates.

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