Best Steam Deck Accessories 2026
The right accessories make the Steam Deck significantly more useful. The wrong ones waste money. This list covers what’s worth buying and what you can skip.
MicroSD Card — Buy This First
A 512GB Steam Deck fills up fast. A MicroSD card is the first thing to buy.
Samsung Pro Plus 512GB (~$50): Fast read/write speeds that work well with the Steam Deck’s A2 card slot. Games load quickly. This is the standard recommendation across the Steam Deck community.
SanDisk Extreme 1TB (~$80): If you want more storage in one card, this is the pick. Slightly slower than the Samsung but the difference isn’t noticeable during gameplay.
Avoid cheap no-name MicroSD cards. The Steam Deck reads from the card constantly during gameplay. Slow cards cause stutter and loading hitches that ruin the experience.
Carrying Case
Tomtoc Carrying Case (~$35): Hard shell, fits the Steam Deck with a thin skin attached, has pockets for the charger and accessories. The zipper feels durable. This is the most recommended third-party case.
JSAUX Carrying Case (~$25): Slightly cheaper, similar protection, slightly tighter fit. Good value if the Tomtoc is out of stock.
The official Valve case that ships with premium models is good but bulky. The Tomtoc is slimmer for travel.
Screen Protector
amFilm Tempered Glass (~$10): Fits the Steam Deck’s screen without interfering with the touch layer. Installation is straightforward and the glass doesn’t add noticeable glare. Protect the screen before you scratch it.
The OLED model’s screen is slightly different in size from the LCD. Buy a protector labeled specifically for OLED if you have the OLED model.
Dock — For TV Gaming
Valve Official Dock (~$89): Three USB-A ports, one USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI, and Ethernet. The most compatible dock for SteamOS. No configuration needed.
JSAUX Docking Station (~$45): Similar port layout at half the price. Works well for most games. Some users report rare compatibility issues with specific games at higher resolutions. For regular use it’s fine.
When docked, the Steam Deck outputs at up to 4K/60Hz or 1080p/120Hz depending on your TV. Performance is the same as handheld mode since the chip doesn’t change.
Power Bank — For Travel
Anker 737 Power Bank (140W, ~$100): Charges the Steam Deck at full 45W speed while you play. 24,000mAh capacity gives you roughly 2-3 full charges. Heavy at 1.5lbs but the only option that charges at full speed.
Anker 533 Power Bank (65W, ~$50): Lighter option at 10,000mAh. Charges the Deck at 45W but only gives you about one full charge. Good for a day trip, less useful for multi-day travel.
Any power bank with USB-C PD output above 45W charges the Steam Deck at full speed. Below 45W it still charges but slowly, and under heavy gaming load you may discharge faster than you charge.
Thumb Grips
JSAUX Thumb Grips (~$8): Silicone caps that fit over the thumbsticks. Improve grip during long sessions and protect the sticks from wear. Eight pairs for $8. Buy them.
What to Skip
Cooling fans that clip onto the Steam Deck: the device manages thermals fine on its own. Third-party chargers under 45W: they charge too slowly under load. “Gaming” screen protectors with tinted glass: they reduce display brightness for no benefit.
For the full setup guide, see how to set up the Steam Deck for the first time. For MicroSD card options in more detail, see the best MicroSD cards for Steam Deck.