Best Accessories for Steam Deck OLED

The Steam Deck OLED has revolutionized portable PC gaming, delivering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors that transform the visual experience while offering a 30-50% boost in playtime compared to the LCD model. However, to truly maximize your handheld gaming experience, the right accessories are essential. From protecting your investment to expanding functionality, here’s everything you need to know about the best Steam Deck OLED accessories available in 2025.

Essential Protection: Screen Protectors That Matter

While the Steam Deck OLED’s display is stunning out of the box, using a screen protector from day one will ensure your handheld screen stays fresh. The market offers several excellent options, each serving different needs.

For crystal-clear protection, the Spigen EZ Fit Tempered Glass Screen Protector is a cheap and cheerful screen protector that is our top choice for the best Steam Deck screen protector thanks to its affordable price tag and durable tempered glass material. Designed specifically for the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED, this screen protector is fully compatible with both models.

However, there’s an important consideration for 1TB OLED owners: for owners of the 1TB Steam Deck OLED, which has a premium anti-glare etched screen, adding a protector negates this built-in feature, so many choose to go without one[8]. For those who prefer anti-glare properties, an Anti-Glare Screen Protector reduces glare and reflections, ensuring comfortable play in sunlight.

Power Solutions: Keeping Your Gaming Sessions Alive

Battery life remains one of the most critical considerations for portable gaming. When running a graphically demanding AAA game, the LCD model’s battery life can be shockingly short, often dipping below 90 minutes. Even the improved OLED model, which pushes past the two-hour mark in similar scenarios, has a finite capacity that won’t last through a long flight.

The solution lies in high-quality power banks and charging accessories. This Anker power bank is pretty great for use with Steam Deck and other devices. For charging cables, the Anker USB-C cables have been great in my experience for charging iPad Pro, Nintendo Switch, and now with the Steam Deck LCD and OLED models.

For those seeking premium charging solutions, the Acefast Power Station Z4 takes up minimal space on your desk while delivering exceptional power to all of your devices, including the Steam Deck. It can satiate the portable’s 45W requirements and still have plenty of capacity to charge another handheld and any accessory you can throw at it.

Docking Stations: Transform Your Handheld Into a Console

To transform your handheld into a couch console or a desktop workstation, a docking station is essential[8]. The market offers several compelling options, from official to third-party solutions.

The best Steam Deck OLED dock or USB hub right now is the official Steam Deck Docking Station from Valve. The Steam Deck Docking Station works with both the original Steam Deck and the Steam Deck OLED and, as an official accessory, you won’t need to worry about any kind of issues getting everything working. The more static nature of this dock, which features a flat base, compared to a traditional laptop dock also means that it’s perfect for a desk.

For budget-conscious gamers, the Sabrent 6-Port Docking Station doesn’t feel like a cheap piece of kit. Yet here it comes, trundling onto the Steam Deck accessories scene at an audaciously low $30. That’s a darn sight cheaper than any Steam Deck Dock I’ve tested.

When selecting a dock, look for a dock with an HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.4 output for connecting to a monitor or TV at up to 4K resolution and 60Hz. It should also have at least two or three USB-A 3.0 ports for controllers and other peripherals, a Gigabit Ethernet port for a stable wired internet connection, and a USB-C Power Delivery input to keep the Deck charged while it’s docked.

Storage Solutions: MicroSD Cards and Management

Even if you have a 512GB Steam Deck OLED and want to play more than a few AAA games, you will need an SD card. In the last year itself, many of the major games are well above 100GB like Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, and others are close to that size like Remnant II or Mortal Kombat 1.

Even if you’ve got the 1TB Steam Deck OLED, you could opt for a 2TB Samsung Pro Plus microSD card and triple your portable capacity. However, there’s a creative approach to storage management: buying a few lower capacity micro SD cards instead of one expensive large 1TB one. Some people have been treating these individual ones as cartridges for game franchises or larger games. If you plan on doing that, you can grab this SD Card carrying case which will come in handy.

Carrying Cases: Beyond the Included Case

While the Steam Deck OLED or LCD model comes with a travel case. This zip-up shell is great for ensuring your newly acquired portable doesn’t get pummeled during journeys, but you might want to pick up one that better fits your specific preferences.

The one I recommend is still the JSAUX carrying case which is very good for the Steam Deck OLED (or LCD) and a few accessories. For comprehensive protection, a specially designed carrying case is essential. A spacious case allows room for the Steam Deck and all essential accessories. This helps keep everything in one place, reducing the risk of losing items during travel.

Protective Cases and Skins

For those seeking maximum protection without sacrificing style, the dbrand Killswitch is the grippiest Steam Deck (OLED) case on the planet. That means you’ll never drop your Steam Deck (OLED) again. If you somehow manage to prove us wrong, the Steam Deck (OLED) Killswitch also has best-in-class drop protection.

For aesthetic customization, Dbrand’s skins are top-quality and come in a vast range of design options that start at a very reasonable sub-$20 price, though do rise to as high as $50[2]. A skin is a great way to protect the majority of your Steam Deck from light knocks and scratches while adding some pizzazz to your portable. They won’t protect from severe knocks – you’ll still want a proper case and screen protector.

External Controllers: Enhanced Gaming Experience

For docked play, a dedicated controller is a must[8]. My pick is the PS5 DualSense controller which is available here in a variety of colors. When selecting controllers in 2025, the most important feature to look for in 2025 is Hall Effect joysticks.

Audio Solutions

With the likes of headphones, keyboards, and mice, there is a lot more flexibility since the Steam Deck is essentially a PC, but the set I’d recommend is either Apple’s AirPods or the AirPods Pro with USB-C. The Steam Deck’s PC nature means virtually any Bluetooth or wired headphones will work seamlessly.

Display Options for Docked Gaming

For many people, a monitor is going to be an entirely superfluous Steam Deck accessory because they’ll just play it exclusively in handheld mode. However, if you’re going to use it in docked mode, then you’ll want to make sure you either have a TV that works well with the handheld or you have a monitor that makes the most of the Steam Deck.

The MSI MAG 325CQRF QD is a great option as it gets you that screen size without breaking the bank – it’s just $310. As one of the best gaming monitor options for its size, this MSI panel has a 1440p resolution that is plenty for the resolution at which the Steam Deck can run games.

Getting Started: Priority Purchases

At this stage, you might be wondering what accessories you should buy first, as it’s sometimes hard to separate priority add-ons from nice to have extras. There are a few core pieces we’d suggest investing in first, as they’ll both protect your gaming gadget and enhance your experience.

The essential first purchases should include: a quality screen protector for immediate protection, a power bank for extended gaming sessions, and a microSD card for storage expansion. From there, consider a docking station if you plan to use your Steam Deck with external displays, and a carrying case if you travel frequently.

Conclusion

The Steam Deck OLED represents the pinnacle of portable PC gaming, but the right accessories can transform it from great to exceptional. Whether you prioritize protection, performance, or portability, the best Steam Deck accessories will level up your portable gaming experience. Start with the essentials—protection and power—then expand based on your specific gaming habits and preferences. With the right accessories, your Steam Deck OLED becomes not just a gaming device, but a complete entertainment system that adapts to any situation.