Valve Steam Rig Docking Station Review – Gaming

After finally getting my hands on Valve Steam Deck Docking StationIt amazes me how much I love him. The official port doesn’t look that appealing at first, costing more than the many cheaper alternatives that offer similar functionality. However, this real expensive McCoy has subtle differences in design and quality that are simply felt. GOODand that alone almost justifies its higher price.

Priced at $89.00 USD / £79.00 GBP, the Steam Deck Dock is up against fierce outside competitors looking for the best Steam Deck docking crown. That said, while these accessory solutions are impressive, the official dock fully embodies Valve’s design ethos in a way that can’t be easily replicated. It also comes with an extra power adapter, a great helper that will save you from constantly fiddling with chargers every time you want to switch to desktop mode.

Steam Deck Dock Specifications

Equipped with HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, three USB-A ports, and Gigabit Ethernet, the Steam Deck docking station easily turns your handheld into an improvised desktop computer.

Here are the specifications of the Steam Deck docking station:

The Steam Deck Dock isn’t alone in this space though, as the Jsaux Dock for Steam Deck HB0702 offers a similar setup for $20 less, but there are a few differences between the two. For example, the official Valve accessory comes with USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, while the third-party alternative sticks with 3.0. While that means the official port supports transfer speeds above 10Gbps, you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between the two when using your gaming keyboard and mouse inputs.

Valve’s port also uses Display Port 1.4 instead of 1.2, an exploit that technically allows the Steam Deck to send a 4K/120Hz or 1440p/240hz signal to your gaming monitor. I say “technically” because laptops don’t generally not meet these standards, except in rare circumstances, such as playing retro games.

You’ll also be able to take advantage of MST (Multi-Stream Transport), which lets you connect to two monitors using a single Display Port. I’ll admit that connecting more than one display to the Deck seems a bit overkill, but I’m not going to complain about additional features that someone might find useful.

Steam Deck Dock Layout

At this point, it looks like all Steam Decks are following the same baseline with a tail design philosophy. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as being able to dock the dock, plug in a single built-in USB-C cable, and instantly connect to your display is wonderfully convenient. Sure, it’s not as slick as the Nintendo Switch, but that’s the same when it comes to PC vs. console comparisons.

In theory, the Steam Deck dock achieves its purpose using the same means as any other dock. For the most part, that’s because the company actually established the pattern by sharing early images of the accessory, but there are minor design differences that may not translate as well visually.

For starters, the edge of Valve’s dock is angled so it lines up perfectly with your handheld’s screen. You won’t have to worry about scratches on the screen, as the rubber pads guide the laptop into position without much difficulty. The dock’s built-in USB-C cable also seems more flexible, meaning it doesn’t fray when you try to insert it into the top jack.

I’ve said this before in our various reviews of the Jsuax dock, but I find the side placement of the Ethernet ports irritating. Luckily, the Steam Deck docking station avoids this cardinal sin, sitting happily between other ports on the back. Trying to manage cables is hard enough when you have a PC, Steam Deck, and other electronic gubbins hooked up, and being able to route all the connections ultimately helps deter stressful Spaghetti Monsters.

The Steam Deck Dock is made from the same durable matte black plastic as the Handheld and other Valve products (RIP Steam Link and Steam Controller). This might seem like a downgrade from the aluminum finish of the Jsaux alternatives, but I actually prefer Valve’s approach here. The materials used for the official dock manage to maintain a greater sense of quality and demonstrate the company’s dedication to material substance.

Steam Deck Dock Firmware

Unlike the Jsaux model, you can download firmware updates using SteamOS. Fixes and tweaks will appear in the settings menu in the same place as general software updates, keeping everything optimized.

That’s not to say you can’t get firmware updates from the Jsaux Steam Deck, but you’ll need to connect the accessory to a Windows PC. In my opinion, this gives the Steam Deck dock a huge advantage.

As someone with neurospicious brain flickers, just being able to flash the official base firmware in its natural habitat effectively protects me from potential problems down the road, because there’s no way I’ll remember stick to third-party solutions. if it involves all the other gibberish.

Steam Deck Dock Price

Priced at $89.00 USD / £79.00 GBP, the Steam Deck docking station is one of the most expensive options out there. For this reason, it’s easy to see why you’d be tempted to choose a cheaper alternative, but it’s worth considering what you’re really getting for your money.

Unlike most alternatives, the Valve Steam Deck Dock comes with a 45W charger in the box. As such, it is more appropriately compared to the Jsaux package with similar core specs. This leaves a narrower price gap between the real deal and the third-party alternative, and while I don’t think that’s too noticeable given the subtle improvements, it’s still a saving.

Steam Deck Dock Verdict

Before using the Valve Steam Deck Dock, I assumed it would just be an overpriced version of what’s actually available for portable PC players. It’s safe to say I was mostly wrong, as it’s clear the official docking station has something to offer for those who prefer high-end accessories.

Advantage:

• Better specs than the alternatives
• Great build quality
• Easy firmware updates

Against :

I’m not a huge fan of paying for a logo, nor am I saying the Steam Deck dock is outright better than solutions from Jsaux or other manufacturers. However, those looking for a docking station that looks like it belongs on their handheld need look no further. Ultimately, price holds this device back from achieving product perfection, but that won’t matter for those willing to spend the money.

Steam Deck Docking Station Review

An expensive, but near-perfect match for Valve’s gaming laptop that outshines other docking stations when it comes to specs and firmware updates.