Overall
Well, we are just now getting started with our overall Steam Deck experience now that a few of these upgrades have been done. But I can still comment on where each of these components would be on my list of accessories to buy for your new Steam Deck. The biggest one would have to be a large capacity MicroSD card or multiple if needed. This is going to be the cheapest way to expand the storage of your Steam Deck and for anyone who isn’t sold on opening it up to replace the SSD, it is the only way to add to your storage. But I wouldn’t bother with getting a smaller-capacity MicroSD card unless you have a really good idea of the games you plan on installing. I do still think however that an SSD upgrade is worth the time and money as well. Especially now that 2TB is an option with the Micron 2400. But even if you want something smaller like the 1TB and smaller drives are all cheaper than the cost difference between the base 64 GB Steam Deck and the 512 GB top of the line model.
The JSAUX matt finish tempered glass screen protector would also be on my must-buy list. Even if protecting your screen isn’t a big concern, the matt finish looks great and does a good job of cutting down on glare.
As far as middle-of-the-road accessories that you might not need but are a good addition. The JSAUX transparent back plate would fall into this category. For me, I love the way it looks but it isn’t something that you will need to have to get the full experience. It is just a unique way to customize your Steam Deck and if you have more than one in your house it would be an easy way to keep them separated. It was a surprisingly easy installation and JSAUX has a few nice color options, although I would love to see even more colors.
The Anker Nano II 45-watt charging adapter and the Anker 643 Silicone Type-C cable is in that same category as well. You can get away with the charger that comes with the Steam Deck. But the Nano and cable were slightly more compact and also add a little more color. Good options for another charger and cable but not a must-have, just a nice to have.
The JSAUX 6 to 1 HB0603 Steam Deck Dock ended up being useful. But this is one that is very dependent on how you plan on using the Steam Deck. This will get you a wired network connection for faster and more reliable speeds which are especially useful now that Steam allows you to Steam game files from other PCs on the network to speed up installations. If you keep your Steam Deck on your desk or even on a shelf this is a great way to display it and keep it charged. It is also good if you want to hook up a display or TV and a keyboard/mouse. But I know not everyone is going to need all of those features. You could get by with a small Type-C to Type-A USB adapter if you didn’t need the additional features. I should point out however that the JSAUX dock does get you the same features that Valve’s official dock but at almost half the price. Not to mention the aluminum construction.
In the end, I for sure found a few must-have upgrades, a few nice options, and one that is very dependent on how you plan on using your Steam Deck. But is there anything I would still love to add into the mix? I think the biggest one would have to be the Nreal Air AR Glasses. I haven’t tried them, but the possibility of being able to play my games on an even bigger screen while on the go could be very cool. Beyond that, I think we have covered everything we will need. If you don’t have a pair of Bluetooth earbuds or headphones that could be a good option as well if you plan on gaming around others. I’m planning on putting the Soundcore Space Q45s that I previously covered to use for those situations.
Live Pricing:
JSAUX Matt Glass Steam Deck Screen Protector
Micron 2400 NVMe PCIe Gen4 2230 SSD
Anker 643 USB-C to USB-C Cable Daffodil Yellow
