Valve Steam Deck Docking Station Overview

After finally getting your hands on valve steam coverIt amazes me how much I like it. The official port doesn’t seem all that appealing at first, costing more than many cheaper alternatives that offer similar functionality. However, this really expensive McCoy has subtle design and quality differences that feel good. rightand that alone almost justifies its higher price.

The $89.00 / £79.00 Steam Deck Dock is up against fierce outside competitors who are looking for the best Steam Deck. However, while these additional solutions are impressive, the official base fully embodies Valve’s design philosophy and is not easy to replicate. It also comes with an extra power adapter, a great bonus that will save you from fiddling with chargers every time you want to use desktop mode.

Steam Bridge Specifications

Equipped with HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, three USB-A ports, and Gigabit Ethernet, the Steam Deck easily turns your PDA into a makeshift desktop computer.

Here are the specifications of the Steam Deck Dock:

The Steam Deck Dock isn’t alone in this space though, as Jsaux’s HB0702 Steam Deck Dock offers a similar setup for $20 less, but there are a few differences between the two. For example, an official Valve accessory has USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, while alternative third-party flash drives have 3.0 ports. Although this means that the official docking station supports the higher data transfer rate of 10 Gb/s, you’ll have a hard time telling the difference between the two when using the in-game keyboard and mouse inputs.

Valve Dock also uses Display Port 1.4 instead of 1.2, which technically allows the Steam Deck to pass a 4K/120Hz or 1440p/240Hz signal to a standard gaming monitor, except in rare circumstances like retro gaming.

You can also take advantage of MST (Multi-Stream Transport), which allows you to connect to two monitors using a single display port. I admit that connecting more than one display to a platform seems like overkill, but I’m not going to complain about the extra features that anyone might find useful.

steam bridge design

At this point, every Steam Deck seems to follow the same cradle-with-tail design philosophy. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as being able to drop the jumper, plug in an integrated USB-C cable, and instantly connect to a display is surprisingly convenient. Sure, it’s not as smooth as the Nintendo Switch, but it’s okay when it comes to comparing PC and console.

In theory, the Steam Deck achieves its purpose using the same means as any other docking station. Generally, that’s because the company actually came up with the blueprint by sharing the first few images of the accessory, but there are slight design differences that may not show up as well visually.

First of all, the edge of the Valve stand is angled to fit perfectly on the PDA’s screen. You won’t have to worry about screen scratches, though, as the rubber pads guide the laptop into position with little effort. The built-in USB-C cable at the bottom also seems more flexible, meaning it won’t resist when you try to insert it into the top connector.

I’ve talked about it in our various Jsuax docking station reviews, but I find the side Ethernet ports annoying. Thankfully, Steam Deck avoids this deadly sin as it sits thankfully among the other ports at the back. Trying to manage cables is tricky enough when you’ve got a PC, Steam Deck, and other electronics, and being able to combine all the connections ultimately helps protect you from uptight spaghetti monsters.

The Steam Deck is made from the same durable matte black plastic as the PDA and other Valve products (RIP Steam Link and Steam Controller). This may seem like a downgrade from the aluminum finish of the Jsaux alternatives, but I actually prefer Valve’s approach. The materials used for the official docking station are of high quality and demonstrate the company’s commitment to hardware.

steam bridge firmware

Unlike the Jsaux model, you can download firmware updates using SteamOS. Fixes and tweaks will be marked in the settings menu in the same place as general software updates, making things easier.

This doesn’t mean you can’t get firmware updates for the Jsaux Steam Deck, but you’ll need to connect the accessory to your Windows PC. In my opinion, this gives the Steam Deck a huge advantage.

As someone who struggles with brain jitters, just being able to flash firmware from an official port in the wild effectively protects me from potential problems down the road, as I’m out of luck. I actually remember updating third party solutions. if that’s all other nonsense.

Steam Bridge Cost

At $89 / £79, the Steam Deck Dock is one of the more expensive options. For this reason, it’s easy to see why you’d be tempted to go with a cheaper alternative, but it’s still worth considering what you’re really getting for your money.

Unlike most alternatives, the Valve Steam Deck comes with a 45W charger included. So it’s more appropriate to compare it to a Jsaux package with similar docker functionality. That leaves a narrower price gap between the real deal and the third-party alternative, and while I don’t think it’s too apparent given the subtle improvements, it’s still a savings.

Steam Bridge Verdict

Before using the Valve Steam Deck Dock, I assumed it would just be an expensive version of what’s actually available to laptop gamers. It’s safe to say that I was wrong for the most part, as the official docking station obviously has a lot to offer for those who prefer high-end accessories.

Advantages:

• Better performance than alternatives
• Excellent build quality
• Easy firmware upgrade

Less :

• Darling

Not that I’m generally in favor of paying for a logo, and I’m not saying Steam Deck is clearly better than Jsaux or other vendors’ solutions. However, those looking for an undeniably portable docking station need look no further. Ultimately, the price prevents this device from achieving product perfection, but that won’t matter for those of you willing to shell out.