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The best Steam Deck casesProtect your precious Steam Deck with a hardened sleeve or carry case upgrade
Protect your precious Steam Deck with a hardened sleeve or carry case upgrade
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
You could say that the bestSteam Deckcase is the one you get for free, and to be sure, I have no qualms with Valve’s bundled carrier. Especially not the one you get with the 1TBSteam Deck OLED, which adds a neat mini-case in the form of a removable liner. Still! As you’ll see here, you do have a choice of worthwhile upgrade options, ranging from conventional hard cases with extra accessory storage to clever protective sleeves that combine impact resistance with improved handheld grip. The best way to avoid Steam Deck damage is to not drop it in the first place, as Sun Tzu probably said.
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Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Steam Deck Academybrings together all our guides and explainers on getting the most out of your Steam Deck, no student loans or sweaty dormitories required.
Basically, even if amicroSD cardremains the first and foremost accoutrement a new Steam Deck owner should invest in, a better case can be worthwhile too. Especially if you plan to use yours as Gabe Newell intended: roaming free, away from the soft furnishings and stable surfaces of home. Personally, I prefer a slimmer, more satchel-friendly shield than the basic bundled case, but that’s not the only route to take if you value storage and protection over portability.
Read on for some of my tried-and-tested Steam Deck case picks, and if you’re a regular road warrior, you might want a peek at ourSteam Deck battery lifeguide as well. This includes how long you can expect your Deck to last with a bunch of different games, plus some tips on stretching out your uptime.
Best Steam Deck cases
Dbrand Project Killswitch
The best Steam Deck case overall
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Protecting your Steam Deck in transit doesn’t have to mean interring it in a bulky cloth-wrapped sarcophagus. TheDbrand Project Killswitchis the Steam Deck equivalent of a top-end smartphone case, wrapping a tough silicone layer around the handheld and clicking a lightweight (yet strong) plastic cover over the screen. When you’re ready to play, just pop the cover off and you’re away – the silicone case stays in place, pulling double duty as rubbery hand grips.
It’s a smart design, especially as it also adds a mounting point for the included kickstand on the rear. More importantly, it works very well as a case. My own Steam Deck was left spotless and scratchless after knocking around in a bag for a while, and the Killswitch’s front plate wraps around the delicate shoulder buttons a bit more thoroughly than the similar JSAUX ModCase (below) does.
JSAUX ModCase
The best modular Steam Deck case
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Like the idea of Dbrand’s Project Killswitch, but lack the funds for it? I’ve found theJSAUX ModCaseto be a perfectly respectable low-cost alternative. The silicone isn’t as stubbornly grippy and the plastic front cover doesn’t envelop the shoulder buttons quite as well, but it kept my Steam Deck just as ding-free in practice, which is ultimately the point of a case.
It’s also more modular, something that Valve’s standard case is plainly not. The basic package includes a kickstand and an adjustable power bank fastening strap, and if you want your Steam Deck case to be as flexible and multipurpose as possible, you can swap these out for all manner of clip-on accessories. A USB hub, auxiliary cooling fan, and M.2 SSD enclosure are all among JSAUX’s mod options, with a complete set of extras bringing the price up to $170.
Still in budget territory? Maybe not. But with just the basic kit, you’re still getting a nifty and practical little Steam Deck case.
JSAUX Carrying Case
The best hard carry case for the Steam Deck
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
There’s little point in swapping your official Steam Deck for another simple, zip-open hard carry case – without anything else to offer, that would be a purely aesthetic change at best. Thus, theJSAUX Carrying Caseaims to upgrade your capacity for accessories, storage, and other handheld PC bric-a-brac.
I tested the Medium capacity model, which keeps the hidden compartment quite shallow in exchange for less bulk; you’ll need the pricier Large design if you want to take chunkier accessories with you. Even so, I could fit in everything I wanted short of my UK power adapter, and it all stayed snug and secure, with zero worries that something plastic might shake loose and scratch the Steam Deck’s screen or something. The added storage makes this more of a backpack hog than a silicone skin, but as an inexpensive upgrade for hard case traditionalists, there’s not much else to gripe about.
Steam Deck OLED 1TB carrying case
The best official Steam Deck case
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Whelp. Awks. I am fully aware that putting Valve’s ownSteam Deck OLED 1TB carrying casehere undermines the argument for switching to a third-party case in the first instance, but… it’s a list of the best Steam Deck cases, right? And this is one. It just is. I’m sorry.
It’s still not as flexible as a modular silicone case, nor a capacious as the JSAUX Carry Case, and its exclusivity to the top-spec 1TB Steam Deck OLED is a shame. Still, got to give credit where it’s due.
