I waited for the official Valve dock and I don’t regret it. It’s worth stressing that the reason the price is so high is the fact it comes with another charger. I personally like to use OEM chargers whenever possible, and having one charger for my dock/home charging station in my living room and another with the travel case is very convenient.

The main reason I chose the Valve dock is that it comes with a charger. That's huge, and now my original charger can live in my go-bag.

Honestly, the peace of mind of charging my steamdeck in something approved just pays the price difference for me. Don’t want to hope they didn’t add some other verbiage in the website yesterday

I would just notch out the leather where the connector is by a hair and leave the rest applied

The official support from valve and the community made accessories for the official dock is why I'm paying a premium. There's already a 3d printable addon for steam decks with cases that would be fun to play with!

The nvme slot would be ideal for people who want a dual boot into windows when it's docked to do desktop related work, I'd definitely consider one at a later date

I have the SteamDeck dock, it's great for my use at home - but also have that Anker one for on the go, it's great as it fits in that hole under the case and can use it for any TV when your in a hotel/B&B or such, super convenient and a superb tool, use it for a lot of devices.

I think the reason Valve made their dock taller is for ventilation purposes. When docked, the Steam Deck vent on the back is not blocked or obstructed at all. With the lower profile 3rd party docks, there seems to be obstruction on the vent depending on how you position the Deck.

Thank you Russ! 🥃🥂 Got mine last week, updated my existing rigged hub like yours, stuffed inside a standard low-profile mounting plate, it prevented the front USB ports from being used, but had a 90 USB that I routed to the side and out the back for data. I got it to work very well until now. the sleek design of this dock and all its glory couldn't have come at a better time. Valve now has my soul. I can set one dock in the living room for the big 'ol screen for plug-and-play (or remote play to the hefty rig upstairs), or dock in the office. A great time to be alive, must'nt take anything like this for granted, so awesome!

This was a useful and informative review, thanks! I think you undervalued the $25 Steam power supply, which exaggerates the price bump from the cheaper docks. I haven't chosen a dock yet, but I like having a dedicated power supply for a dock I'd set up and leave on my desk. The general-use Anker dock is very interesting. I don't see myself using the Steam Deck's display on my desk, so an upright dock like these is probably overkill for me.

The M.2 slot could be used for keeping your roms on for when you need to reformat your steam deck or microsd card and then transfer the roms back on.

Seems like Valve prioritized dock portability over "stays at your desk 24/7 and never moves," while also minimizing functionality compromises (it is kinda the most functional). It's a valid approach and one that makes a lot of sense. As someone who travels frequently, I find a lot of value in that. That said, there will also be those who just want their dock to stay in one place. Something like the iVoler (larger, more stalwart) seems a little more tailored to such people.

I think having an SSD in the dock could be useful for people with smaller internal storage models of the Deck - Steam makes it pretty easy to move installs between storage volumes, so you could keep things on the SSD in the dock and swap them in and out to save having to re-download them. The same could be achieved with a normal external SSD plugged into any of the other docks, though, which is basically what I do!

I bought the new iVoler Dock (with Ethernet) before seeing this review and don’t regret it for a moment. It’s terrific out of box. Good weight, HDMI worked fast for me without needing to fiddle with sleep on and off (as far as I could tell). The rest at the back works well. I have my Steam Deck in a thicker protective case and that actually gives me two choices, seated right in (but screen more vertical), or only partly in the dock at the front and angled back more (still relatively secure). I think the docks could likely use just a smidge more space to accommodate skins and cases. Ethernet also flawless. I use magnetic USB-C (24 pin) adapters and they all work together fine. Although I wouldn’t use the M.2 drive, I would use a micro-SD slot, but then can just use a USB A Micro-SD adapter instead. Speaking about “hub” and portable efficiency, I use a Hagibis Switch Dock Charger for Nintendo Switch GaN 65W Fast Charger USB C Wall Charger PD 3.0. They have a nice black and white one. Fast charges the Steam Deck, has an HDMI port , USB-C port for data/charge, and a data USB A port as well. Brilliant (remember to get a data capable 100w USB-C cable) as I plug it in near my tv, run an HDMI cable up to the tv, and a long USB-C to the Steam Deck and I have best of all worlds, can project on big monitor but use the Steam Deck as a controller, OR simply use my Steam Controller. This comes in handy for travelling since I’d rather not pack the dock if I don’t have to.

This was so helpful. Especially the Firmware update feature wasn't mentioned in any other reviews

Thanks for doing such in depth reviews. Just bought a Steam Deck myself and your videos helped a lot with my research. Keep doing good work.

I am very concerned about that burn out you mentioned. Makes me think about going with the official one instead. I bet valve regulates that voltage a bit.

Thank you! I was looking for a video comparing these.

I personally will be going for the official dock from Valve. The support for an additional monitor may be something I end up using in the future (regardless it is nice to have) but the big thing for me is the firmware updates. Not getting those would be a huge bummer in the long run, I think. So I am happy to drop the extra cash for thst feature alone. Plus the design asthetic is easily the most solid of the bunch, and I like my stuff to look nice.

Thanks so much for your videos and all your work ! I found your channel maybe a month ago and i’ve been learning so much staff ! Cheers man !

Just got a Steam Deck in the mail so perfect timing with this! Great video as always!

I have the JSAUX without the SSD and plugged a USB 5TB drive to that back of it. This is for downloading steam games to (I only have the 64gb model) and it primarily stays docked with also a 5 port usb hub plugged into it and 4 controllers plugged into that. I mainly use it docked like a home console and only have a few games on the internal storage that I travel with. Like I said, that most I do is gaming at home and in the dock with the option of taking it on the go (with a few games to keep me busy). I really don't mind the side ethernet port at all. you can't see it when docked anyway and Ubiquiti has bendable cables. Another great video though...Thanks.

I bought the ivoler one too and love it. I had some of the cheaper docks but returned them. I also have an anker type flat dock too which is great for all my other devices.

Very informative, thanks for the analysis. I'm going with the Anker hub you described at the very end, I think that's all I need for my situation. I also agree with you about the m.2 drive, not sure why that was an included feature... the point of the thing is to be portable.

I think the m.2 dock is especially useful for those that don't actually have another PC, and thus would kind of be using the deck as their main PC while at home. So that gives some extra storage for when they're actually home, sit down and plug it in to game. But then that's being screwed with them taking away one USB port compared to their previous gen dock, which means less possible peripherals, which is counterintuitive to the idea of utilizing that specific dock for main PC conversion of the deck.

I just got mine in the mail today, perfect timing.

As usual, excellent review here. Good quality video and full insight of all the details 👍🏼

ETA Prime also did a review for the iVoler dock. I picked it up just now because you both recommend it.

Thanks for your sincere reviews, Russ.

I have been loving my anker dock. I do like the idea of hooking up 2 monitors so that is the one thing drawing me to the Valve dock. Thanks for the breakdown. Also i'm all for the bult in ethernet jack!

I got the JSAUX one before the official one was available. It works so far.

Good video. I got the official dock and I am liking it. I have a skin on my Deck as well but a few quick slices to the skin with a knife to make a slot for the dock plug was all that was needed and it was good to go.

The conclusion I came to after another great video from RGC is that all I need is this Anker hub… all the actual docks seem to add over it is presentation as well as a select few bells and whistles. As least for my purposes the hub is everything I need to make my deck a pc

Great, useful review, and I appreciate your mention of the alternative hub at the end. I don't (yet) have a Steam Deck, but I hope to get one in 2023, and I'd probably want a more versatile hub - but the official dock coming with an extra power cord and firmware updates is enticing. Closer to purchase, I'll have to review pricing on an extra power cord, docks, etc. I'm interested in indie games and maybe some emulators, for playing classics like ActRiser. My favorite games include Stardew Valley and Final Fantasy X, though I've played various shooters and RPGs. My current console is Xbox One. I have the PS2, PS3, and PS4 in storage. I've borrowed a Switch a few times and didn't like how it felt and how the springs sounded. I've got Stardew Valley on console, PC (Steam), phone, and tablet, but I would love to play it on a Steam Deck when I'm away from my console.

I also end up using a generic USB C hub; which also has an extra USB C port (that no dock has) which makes for more flexibility in external connections (1 C, 2 A, HDMI and ethernet). It's also very compact (it's the one in the "stick" form factor, with ethernet on one end) and light, you can really fit it everywhere you can fit your deck

The extra charger is really undersold in this video IMO. If you already have a spare lying around then obviously the value is dubious, but if you don’t then the cost of a trustworthy USB-C charger and cable pretty much perfectly offsets any savings you’re getting from the other options. Glad to see the mention of the Anker hub though. That’s what I’ve been using since I already had one around the house and it’s fantastic. The extra USB-C data line is such an awesome feature that I’m surprised the others don’t offer.

Very informative. Great job. Thanks

I actually really like the idea of the m.2 dock for a windows handheld, maybe not the steamdeck being linux but for the future of handhelds now and with how its going to be mostly windows from here on out, people replacing their desktop setups will surely use a larger docked storage for all their videos / photos etc. I think this dock is almost ahead of its time

I went with the official one just to be safe. But the extra charger plug was a bonus and I recommend that route. I was to load up mine with lots of games, and the internal storage + micro card isn't enough. So I started looking at the one with the built in ability to connect an M.2. However 2 USBs in the back....vs the official one with 3 and a cheaper external drive for holding data....once again pushes me towards Valve.

Thank you, this was a very helpful video.

Congrats on 200k! It’s been a long ride and I’m glad to see your content grow.

I bought the "simple" Jsaux one for 35 bucks in Germany and it has been on sale several times for that price. That makes the other options so uninteresting. And it has worked amazingly so far. No problems and the slightly longer wake time isn't an issue for me. I have never noticed anything negative with this thing.

The official one "fits just" in the back of the carry case under that bungy (I'd love a touch more room for the cable) but you could take it on the road with you if you must just grab your deck charger unhook the dock and slip it in and away you go to take over someone's TV

Thanks for your honest review and breakdown.

So basically, the official dock is the safest option with the best support and biggest list of features. And it comes with an extra charger. I know which dock I'd get.

I have a DockTeck hub and it works *great* on my LG C1. However I can feel the input lag on any other TV. I was waiting on the official dock to see if that solved the problem, but input lag wasn't raised in this video.

Great video, very helpful thank you :)

I am going to buy a Steam Deck and consider buying a Docking Station, too. This overview really helped!

Valve said they were making their advancements in software and other data related to docking the Steam Deck available to the public so it can benefits whatever dock you use. You don't need a Valve manufactured dock to get that support,

I got a very short extender (1/4 inch) for the Steam Dock cable so now it fits with my KillSwitch case and I don't have to remove it to use the dock.

My issue with all these docks is I would prefer one with a removeable usb c. I hate connected cables because they are always one bend away from making the device unusable.

Just found your channel recently because I got my own steam deck and I wanted to say I really appreciate how in-depth your videos are. Whether it be helping us install emulators or reviewing products and giving your honest feedback on them all, it's truthfully helpful quality content. I hope you keep up the amazin work!

Great video yet again!

The additional storage when docked can be useful for games that you only plan to play on the TV such as couch coop games. It can also be used to store games that require or play better with specific accessories such as flight sticks, racing wheels, arcade sticks, etc.

I personally use the Upgraded JSAUX Dock with 3 USB Ports and Gigabit Ethernet. I use a Sabrent USB C M.2 enclosure for when I want an external M.2, works pretty well.

Great review but what would have made it an even better review is showing us how each of the docks can handle various Steam Deck TPU covers. For example, I have the Jsaux 2.0 6 in 1 and the official and while I prefer the official the Jsaux fits the TPU i purchased...the official does not.

Thanks for this video! Exactly what I was asking myself. Question for dual monitors; would you be willing to test out the valve dock with dual monitors so that you could hook a keyboard up and use the setup as a personal computer? If it worked, it might be an excuse to start using Linux as my primary OS. Thanks again!

For me, the use of the dock with the extra storage could be very useful for those with keyboard and mouse games that they only intend to play while the steam deck is docked. I have several games that fit that bill.

Quality power supply, DisplayPort, firmware update, officially supported product, and VRR. Yes, the official one is worth it. The DP isn’t just for dual monitors. For many, myself including, I can connect my Mac (or PC) and the Steam Deck Dock to my monitor which has one of each. I couldn’t do that with the others.

I got had got an Anker myself because for my use cases I will mostly want to use this on travel with kids. When I'm not doing that I can use this with a PC or anything else so it's a win win. Plus can't beat the price.

The second charger is huge imo, I like the metal low profile ones but i printed a base for the valve one that only adds a couple mm in hight but adds some space for doc accessories.

I got the ivoler... Unfortunately wasn't the upgraded version with the aluminium finish and ethernet port 😅 It does work well with the thicc TPE case I have on it though (lots of buffer room) and the USB C right angle cable has no problems with access to the port In thinking it a second dock for upstairs in the man cave 🤔 Pity the Valve one is so tight fitting and won't work with Cases

Great video. Thanks.

congratulations 200k 👍 shout out bro 😊

Nice video! Thank you.

great video man! I bought the JSAUX dock and the JSAUX kick stand case but the dock didnt work with the case. I ended up returning the JSAUX and getting the iVoler which does work with the case so I dont have to take it out everything I want to dock it.

I like the M.2 expansion personally. But you could also just have a external HD while carrying a dock. So the price with that in mind kinda stinks. But I really like just having games you want to play on a tv with it. I was thinking emulators for fighting games, smash or other titles you would play together on a monitor or TV. It gives you a simple solution to haul around to play titles you would local play on without consuming space on the deck itself. I was definitely thinking fighting games and plugging in 2 fight sticks. Simple way to have the local multiplayer games off the unit but still keeping the library and inputs available anywhere. I would almost prefer a dock with a SD card slot for a cheaper price.

Russ with the heat on the day I'm supposed to get my steam deck god bless

im using the NVME dock not for games but for my movie and tv show collection.

Great video, only thing I don't understand is of the bit of vent blockage caused by the jasux one- will it cause the steam deck to increase its temperature over time?

Hi Russ i have a win 600 am just wondering which one would be best for it for fit and especially the 90 degree plug

There's a fix for the rolling screen bug: Make sure both the captire card and Desktop Mode's resolution is set NOT at 2K or higher, but 1080p. My capture card shows the same scrolling when a too high resolution is being input into the capture card. Doing that fixed it on my end.

You just made my decision easy to make, ordering the Valve one now. I think the power adapter makes up for the price of the official Steam Dock but I also think it would have been a better idea to sell them separately because I don't think most people even need or want a second adapter. I will NOT by the JSAUX dock, I've had long term quality issues with their cables so I don't trust their built quality. After watching this video, I have another reason not to trust them or buy their products.

Imagine my relief when the one you recommended the most is the one I've already bought. Hahah, great review, I really appreciate how much attention to detail you give, such as each docks height/footprint. Providing a real life example such as how each of them can fit behind your monitor is really good. Thank you for your work!

I'll be curious to see how freesync works on the valve deck when that is available. I have the jsaux dock (upgraded, no m.2), and it works reasonably well with my LG C2, but its not perfect so i wouldn't mind upgrading to the valve one later down the road.

Thanks for the review. On the M2, could use it for games that just don't play well on a small acreen

I have the iVoler one and the Killswitch case, it fits perfectly into the dock and the charging port has no issues fitting either. If you have a case, I would reccomend that one.

I ordered the official Steam dock. I wish it had more space for cases. I have a tpu grip on my Deck and it sucks that I'm gonna have to take it off to use the dock.

Man the intro song is awesome

Another pro to the official dock is the official steam deck case has a slot for it!! Edit: for those wondering where, there is a slot on the back of the case.

Could you also review the newest JSAUX HB0702 dock in comparison to all of these, especially the official one from Valve? It has a DP 1.2 port (not 1.4 like Valve's), but I was mostly interested in if it covered the rear cooling fan intake enough to raise thermals. Just ordered one myself as the first dock for my SD and only later realized from pics that the back support covered the intake in ways the other JSAUX offerings did not.

Might get one of these docks not sure which one yet. First I gotta get all the other accessories like a ssd.

I wanna know about the Park Sung dock. I think it's a sleeper but I'm skeptical

the anker hub is 4k@30Hz though, all docks here are all 4k@60Hz

I like the idea of storage on the dock for games that require an always on internet connection. That way those games are not taking up space when you might be away from internet, but if you want to play them on there at home you can.

Great review. I have the one from iVoler and maybe I’m biased, but I really prefer it. I always keep my deck in protective case and iVoler dock fits deck with the case no problem. Same with top USB-C connector that has no problem clearing the case. Tight fit from the Valve dock and fancy plug would leave me with no choice but to remove the case every time I would want to dock my deck. Also, something you didn’t mention, but all the docks aside from the one from iVoler are partially blocking the vents from the steam deck. This may potentially heat up the docks and restrict deck cooling. It may be not a big issue, but something to watch for. I also don’t understand why Valve has decided to provide a 45wt charger with the dock. This may not be enough if you use external drives, accessories, feed the display and also want to charge your deck. I would want them to at least put a 65wt adapter if they already charge us for it. Just looks like a very limited thinking on the Valve’s part.

Great review as usual. Great info. I'm leaning towards valves dock because off future updates, but the price is high. I wish that they would sell the power brick separately I think that would reduce the overall cost

I've got the involver, it works that will do. My TV doesn't have display port so don't really care about the other

I had the 602 jsaux and the Ethernet port was bad in that it was a pain to take the cable out. So I had to sell it. Has it been improved?

I have an ElGato HD60 Pro. I own the JSaux HB0604. I have not had any issues with rolling images while capturing.

Exactly what I needed. BZ my friend.

What I love about the steam deck is the steam cloud. So easy. No dock needed. Just put the deck in sleep mode and turn on my pc and pick up where I left off. So great. Even older games, doesn't matter. Been playing older lego games from over 10 years ago and it still syncs my saves. Amazing!

Excellent video! I was wondering if there is a dock that works with both the Steam Deck and the Switch OLED?

First like and congratulations 🎉🎉🎉 on 200k 💜

That opening bops, not gonna lie.

Hello! Thank you for the video. Who actively uses the dock: if you change the resolution of the game on the deck when connected via the dock, performance drops, fps on game? Thanks in advance

I'm actually curious to know more about the AYANEO issues.

An m2 slot makes sense for people who want to use the Deck only in docked mode. With Kodi installed, it's a fine media center for offline movies and TV shows as well. Plenty of Switch owners don't undock their console either, so I see the use case even though I'm not one of those people. The asking price is rough, though.

I have that same Anker hub you mentioned at the end but it's been having some strange issues. When I plug an external SSD into the other USB-C port, with power going into the PD port, it only sometimes recognizes that anything is plugged into that additional USB-C port, often times just temporarily and then the external drive just shuts off. I don't know if the Steam Deck charger just isn't beefy enough, but this Anker hub has given me some headaches if I'm not using it on a Thunderbolt port on a laptop. Seems to need tons of power. My hope was to have the hub + my external drive for specific times when I'm traveling, but the hub has been very unreliable.

Thing is, I bought a deck to escape docked/tv gaming. But i do enjoy seeing seeing the versatility n 3rd party support. #wattba