Mr.Mikla/Shutterstock We may receive a commission for purchases made through links. Until Steam Deck came out in 2022, handheld console gaming was more or less limited to playing fun arcade games and was nowhere near the gold standard that was console or PC gaming. Steam Deck changed all that. Basically, it lets you carry your PC game library, including AAA titles like God of War, in the palm of your hand. Over time, the Steam Deck has gotten better and more powerful, with snappier CPUs and GPUs, bigger and brighter OLED displays, and longer battery life. However, the right Steam Deck accessories go a long way to getting the most out of your portable console. But if you’re just starting out, it can be difficult to know which accessories to prioritize. Fortunately, everything you need for your Steam Deck starter pack, from power banks to docking stations, wall chargers, and even headphones and HDMI cables, can be found in Anker’s inventory. Even better, Anker is one of the most reputable electronics brands in the world, so you’re likely to get quality products. In addition, it has hundreds of products in all its categories. To make it easier for you, we looked at the most popular and top-rated Anker accessories and found the best ones for the Steam Deck. Anker Steam Deck 6-in-1 Docking Station Steam Deck only comes with a USB-C port, so you can charge it or connect it to a TV or monitor. You can’t do both at the same time. But get the 6-in-1 Steam Deck Dock from Anker and you’ll be able to do all of these things and more without running out of ports. Simply put, it allows you to maximize the potential of your Steam Deck and turn it into “a portable Steam PC,” as one reviewer put it. Right now, you can get it for just $36 on Amazon, where it has a solid 4.4-star rating after 1,600 reviews. It connects to your Steam Deck via its built-in USB-C cable and gives you access to six ports: two USB-C ports, including one that supports 100W PD, a 4K 60Hz HDMI port, two USB-A ports, and an Ethernet slot for faster Internet. You can then connect peripherals like a gaming controller, gaming mouse, or gaming keyboard using a wired connection or dongles, avoiding Bluetooth connections that could cause input lag or increased latency. You can also insert USB drives or SSDs to expand the console’s storage and play directly from them, all while your Steam Deck is plugged in to charge. This Anker dock also works beyond the Steam Deck. It is also compatible with other portable gaming consoles such as Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally, as well as Apple iPads with USB-C. Users have also praised its durability and design. In addition to its 90-degree main power cable that “keeps the handheld comfortably seated,” according to one reviewer, it also has rubber pads to prevent the Steam Deck inside the base and the base itself from slipping. Anker 737 Power Bank Poor battery life is one of the most annoying things about the Steam Deck. In addition to not wanting to be tied to a wall outlet, you may not always have one nearby, such as when you’re traveling. That’s why you need a powerful power bank in your Steam Deck package. In our research, we found that the Anker 737 Power Bank fits the bill. It’s currently priced at $110 on Amazon, where it enjoys a solid 4.4-star rating after more than 17,000 reviews. It comes with a massive 24,000 mAh battery capacity, meaning you can charge the 5,200-6,470 mAh Steam Deck from zero to full capacity multiple times before needing a recharge. Even better, because it has a maximum power of 140W, it can charge your Steam Deck at its maximum of 45W, even when you’re charging multiple devices at the same time. Just make sure you’re using a USB-C port to charge the Steam Deck. This is because the maximum power delivery for the USB-A port is 18W, while the two USB-C ports combined can deliver up to 140W when USB-A is not in use, or up to 100W when USB-A is in use. Weighing 1.4 pounds and measuring 6.1 x 2.1 x 1.9 inches, the Anker 737 is not small, but it is compact enough to “fit in [your] bag or backpack,” according to one reviewer. Users have also praised its smart display, with another reviewer saying it’s “fantastic and really provides all the information you need.” It shows you the remaining battery capacity, the time left until the power bank runs out, and the wattage at which the three ports are delivering power. Anker 100W USB-C Wall Charger The Steam Deck can run out of battery in less than two hours in demanding titles, so it’s not always usable. a power bank because that requires charging too, so having a fast wall charger in your setup is essential. We recommend picking up the Anker 100W USB-C Charger, which is available for $60 on Amazon and includes a 4.9-foot USB-C to USB-C cable. It has a near-perfect 4.7-star rating after over 1,000 reviews, and we especially like that you can use it to charge your other devices, including heavy devices like Steam MacBooks. Deck. One reviewer said: “Handles all my modern devices without breaking a sweat.” They all charge quickly and consistently. It also has what Anker calls a “gravity-balanced design.” That simply means that all the ports are underneath, so when plugged in, all the cables hang down. This prevents the charging block from sagging and ensures that all your connections get constant, uninterrupted power delivery. Speaking of which, both USB-C ports can comfortably deliver more power than the Steam Deck’s maximum 45W, up to 100W when one is in use, up to 95W when both are in use, and up to 80W when even the USB-A port is in use. The charger is also compact and lightweight and therefore ideal for travel. It measures 2.72 x 2.17 x 1.34 inches and weighs only 0.47 pounds. According to Anker, it’s smaller than other 100W chargers while also being better because it can “maintain peak performance for up to twice as long,” courtesy of gallium. Nitride (GaN) inside, instead of the usual silicon. Lastly, like many other modern Anker chargers, it also has a smart display to help you track essential metrics. Anker HDMI 2.1 Cable One of the Steam Deck’s greatest strengths is its versatility, particularly because it allows you to connect to an external TV or monitor and enjoy the conventional big-screen gaming experience. But for that, you’ll need a good, fast, high-fidelity, long HDMI cable, like the Anker one. HDMI 2.1 Cable It’s 6.6 feet long and is currently available on Amazon for $19, with an impressive 4.8-star rating after over 3,300 reviews. One reviewer who tested several HDMI cables said it is “the best HDMI out there” and that “none offered clarity like this one.” That said, you’ll also need a USB-C to HDMI adapter that supports these outputs to fully utilize the cable’s bandwidth with the Steam Deck. Plus, while 8K displays aren’t the standard for now, getting a cable that can support it gives you peace of mind that your HDMI cable will work well with your next-gen gaming monitor. 60Hz”. Plus, they didn’t notice any motion or signal dropout. It has a maximum bandwidth of 48Gbps, along with support for other next-gen HDMI features, including variable refresh rate, automatic low latency mode, and fast frame transport. Another highlight is its durable build quality. The cable is double-braided with a nylon finish and comes with gold connector pins. Anker says you can plug and unplug the cable 10,000 times, and it backs it up with Anker has a dedicated sub-brand, Soundcore, that specializes in budget audio gear. Our research found that the Soundcore P31i should be ideal for your Steam Deck setup and will help you enjoy a more immersive gaming experience. It’s just $37 on Amazon, where it’s one of the most popular budget wireless headphones, with a 4.4-star rating and over 7,000. adaptive, and several reviewers have praised their ability to eliminate outside noise. One reviewer said they “provide a gift of silence.” Additionally, Scarbir’s expert reviewers noted that it has “smooth, immersive gaming sound performance.” According to Skull Review, you may notice some latency in games, but it shouldn’t be a problem for casual use. Users can also enable dedicated gaming mode through the free Soundcore app to better sync the action in their games with the audio. P31i has a balanced sound profile. You get punchy bass, balanced mids, clear vocals, and bright highs. Plus, call quality is very good, courtesy of its six microphones that RTINGS says can “separate your voice well from reasonably crowded environments.” Another big selling point is the long battery life. According to Anker, they can last up to 8 hours with ANC on a single charge and a total of 40 hours with the charging case. How We Selected These Anker Steam Deck Accessories Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images Our first and most notable consideration when researching products for this guide was determining the most important Steam Deck accessories. While some options, such as a docking station, fast charger, and HDMI cable, were obvious choices, there were also some products, such as USB drives and SSD cards, that we avoided because we believe they are not absolutely necessary for basic Steam Deck users. Below, we analyze Anker’s offerings to select the best in their respective categories for the Steam Deck. For example, a heavy-duty power bank that can charge the console multiple times on a single charge is a much better option than a lightweight but low-capacity battery pack, we also reviewed features, pricing, and expert reviews. In addition to reviews and ratings of dozens of Anker products online, lastly, because we wanted to provide a comprehensive list of Steam Deck accessories, we also considered products from Anker sub-brands, such as Soundcore. Did you find it useful? Join our free weekly newsletter for smart tech shopping and products to avoid.
