Thanks for the honest review on debrand! It’s so hard to find good reviews on dbrand since it’s sponsored and partnered with so many reviewers.

I wouldn’t pay that kind of money for this. Thanks for taking one for the team.

Damn, that lack of leather on the back grips (and thus the noticeable lip) is a dealbreaker for me. If they fixed that, I'd be pretty interested. I normally really like the feel of leather (it's grippy and warms nicely to body temperature) and I don't love the default Deck texture.

Appreciate your honesty and perspective, Russ. I’ve been considering a skin for my Deck, and while I’m still undecided, your experience is extremely helpful as I weigh the pros and cons.

This channel deserves all the praise thank you for everything you do sir 👊🏾

i personally purchased a leather skin for my phone from dbrand. to overcome the issue of having a pronounced edge i heated the skin then rubbed the edge down with a plastic soda cap. took about 25 mins but all my edges are wonderfully beveled. leather balm makes it look super nice. i hope you enjoy your skin!

Thanks for reviewing this and being so thorough about it. I was seriously considering this skin despite the cost as I just didn't want to add a lot of bulk and I really like the idea of a well-patinaed leather. Your discussion about the downsides swayed me however. The part about the grip bump especially turned me off as I know that would drive me insane.

I was looking at this skin the other day. Thank you for your review.

This is a very honest review of Dbrand skin. So glad I was hesitate when thinking about buying their skins. Thanks for the good review

I took mine off after a couple days. The button travel issue is really impossible to overstate. Feels like you're going to break it. Also, the thickness messes with everything else. It's tighter in the case and if you want to put a plastic case on the back to protect from falls, forget about it.

Looking forward to the video! Just got a deck. Shipping was only 4 or 5 days after order was placed.

Thanks for giving this such an in-depth review. I was on the verge of picking up one of these after watching some quicker, less in-depth videos about the leather steam deck skins. As things are now, I think I'll hold off, and maybe pick one up if they ever find a way to fit the leather to the back of the grips.

This is an amazing review! I just got my steam deck, and I did think that this skin looked fantastic-I was looking into buying one soon. The points that you’ve made here have definitely left me with some insights that I’m very thankful to have the early advantage on! Thanks! I’d love to see a review on the vinyl skins, too. I’d be interested in hearing what you’d have to say, even if I’ve already bought one in the future.

🙏 thanks dude, ive been considering getting a skin. im glad for the detailed nonsponsored review, i always wonder if sponsored reviews get a better customer service experience than typical consumers.

Thank you for the review as always. This was very helpful.

your disappointed face when you saw your reflection in the screen was hilarious. There is some other matte glass options in Amazon but I guess etched glass + matte glass protector is going to affect the picture quality a little bit. Anyway, great video as always!

Nice. I'd pay money right now for your emudeck guide. Got mine last week and still just googling and redditting so much. It's fun though. I've watch your other videos and some other people's as well, but know your next guide is going to be amazing. Can't wait.

I don’t have a stream deck but the aesthetic of the leather skin is pretty cool. The black and brown leather look good together, might want to get one for myself if I ever pull the plug and get a steam deck. It’s be really cool if the company could let you customize the leather by imprinting an image or letters/words onto the back like how some leather wallets and bracelet offer that customization Also side tangent and small request to Russ, would you consider making a video about the best mini/pocket emulators in the market? I think it’d be cool to see all of the smallest and mini handhelds you can get, from the cheapest to the most expensive, that can fit stealthily in your pocket or as a gift for friends/family

Thank you for this video. I ordered the old non real leather skin for my steam deck and got disappointed when dbrand released the real leather ones. I wanted to order the new ones but now I am happy about mine and I am gonna stick with them for the lifecycle of my steam deck. For the Screen protector I like to have extra protection just in case.

Excellent review, thank you for helping me make up my mind. 👍💪

Hey Russ… long time no talk. I found your channel totally out of dumb luck. Love the channel! I ordered the Swarm skin from dbrand. It has micro threading making the pattern and love it so far. Keep up the great work bro.

Thank you sir. Finally a review on Dbrand.

This review was fantastic, thank you good sir. Think I'll opt for a case which can come off if I don't like it will offer more protection and a more flush hand experience.

Hey Russ, thanks for the honesty, as they really should put in bold type that the leather skin is much thicker than the normal one, as that button situation is a deal breaker for me. They should also make clear that screen protector isn't what it appears to be, that's why I would only buy something like that from Amazon or any place were reviews are available to give the 411. I actually have Dbrands Tear Down skin in matte finish for my Deck, just haven't gotten my deck yet, but look forward to using it all the same. That skin is also mostly black, so not having those back grips covered I'm sure won't be an issue, but having that leather one thicker, they really should offer something to keep the feel consistent.

Use a small needle to poke tiny holes out by the Valve logo to get the air out. I did this and mine came through very nicely. I got the black leather skin, and used black RTV silicone Gasket Maker to caulk in along the edges of the skin to reduce the lip. I also used the extra big square piece to cut pieces for the back grips.

One thing I feel is worth mentioning is that dbrand does have a separate video for installing leather skins, one I've watched and which sounds like it would've made your experience with these skins...at least mildly more pleasant. Anyways, great video!

I really wanted to pull the trigger on this but everything you shared were some of my top concerns. Not sure if it's worth it. I think I may just go with a case. Easier to pull on and off but I wish there were docks with cases in mind. Eventually I'm sure there will be. Nice vid. Thanks!

I would be bothered with all these issues that you highlighted. Thanks for the honest review, you saved me some money 😊

Just put a wooden vinyl skin on mine along with the Spigen case (which I’ve read weighs half as much as the Killswitch case). The Spigen case also comes with a wrist strap that I’ve yet to see any other cases come with. …It looks soooooo classy, so sharp. Super happy with it. :)

I was looking at some dbrand skins (not leather I believe) months before I got my Steam Deck partly because I thought some of them looked cool. However, I've been actually quite satisfied with how the Steam Deck looks and feels, or the very least I haven't been disappointed how it's all black. Seeing how much effort it takes to apply a skin (for example, I don't even have a hair dryer), and how some skins (perhaps not all but still a factor here) might cause problems with face buttons or potentially some other buttons makes it less appealing to me. Overall I'd say that thanks to you I feel better about not getting a dbrand skin for my Deck. I won't say a skin doesn't have some appeal to it but it just seems too much hassle along with some risks.

Its finally coming I cant wait to see the updates emudeck tutorial!

I got this and it looks great. The feel improves dramatically if you take something solid made of plastic or polished wood (screw driver handle, wooden dowl) and rub along the edges, it will break in the leather and round it. Made the lip issue wayyyy better.

Huh, I wasn't sure what skin I wanted to go for, but that leather seems really nice. Also, nice watch by the way, Have one too, the battery life is spectacular and it's nice and reliable even in a rough workplace

That lip is still very present with the vinyl skin in my experience and even more so if you get a wrinkle, which are harder to deal with on the vinyl skin.

Awesome! I was planning in getting one but I'm more interested in one of the Jsaux kits. It would be amazing if you could review them or the Hub kit ❤ cool video!

Well, I'm no longer curious about skins for my Steam Deck now because of the hassle. Thanks for the video, Russ.

Wonder if it’s practical to try and cut the leftover leather from the screen cutout so that it can be applied over the hand grips.

That leather skin looks premium🔥 I might wanna switch out my Camo skin for a Themed skin

Just to point this out for others considering these, if you want the front and back skinned it’s going to be around $50 if you get the leather or not, the prices they show in the gallery on the store are only for the front piece for the nonleather skins

I went with a Magglass matte screen protector, very happy with it!

idunno, I've been having no issues with my leather skin so far, as for the lips if you just put a little force and wear it down intentionally it makes it nice and smooth. i love the feel and would recommend it to a friend

I got a cheap skin on Amazon. It's difficult to apply on round areas, which is probably why they left off the grips. I got the Jsaux grip case, which is similar to the back half of the dbrand killswitch. I only got it because I wanted a kickstand, but it does a good job of covering the edges of the skin so they won't fray, and the back of it is clear so you can still see the skin. As a grip it's mostly pointless, but it worked out to be worth $20.

Thanks for an honest review. I am happy I didn't buy it now. I think if dbrand let you purchase just the front leather skin and it was half off i'd consider it since my killswitch case covers the back entirely.

That balm isn't aging anything. It's just moistened the dry leather. After a few days almost all of that darkening will fade. Should have used saphir medaille de oire instead in a color of your choosing, applied it, wait to dry, then buffed it off, BEFORE putting it on the Steam deck. Might have even done several applications over the course of a week, very tiny amounts of cream each time of course. Then you could have colored it without fear of damaging the leather or the device. This method in the video is not a permanent solution.

I agree the leather is not for everyone. I have had the leather skin on my Deck for a little over four months now, so here are a couple of my "long term" use thoughts. The thickness alone does change the feel of the device more than one would expect, so if you like the bare feel of the Deck then I would avoid this skin. When I first installed the skin the lip did bother me and made gameplay a bit uncomfortable, but after time it has basically disappeared. The wear of my hands have rubbed it smooth enough that I haven't noticed it in quite a while. I also had the skin start peeling a bit along the top edges at first, but after applying some heat and pressure (and a lot of rubbing) it has stayed in place since. I think it looks great on my Deck (especially as the natural patina develops), but it is much more fickle than the other Dbrand skins I have used. If you like the look, and are willing to work through the break-in period, then I say go for it, but if not then you will have a better time with a standard vinyl skin, or no skin at all.

I have their leather skin for my Galaxy Note 20. I love it. It's better than a case for how I use my phone and it looks sooo classy with the black leather on the rose gold phone. I ordered the obsidian damascus skin for my steam deck. Almost got the leather because I like it so much, though.

Thanks for the honest review. it's kinda a deal breaker for me that they didn't have the option of having color option for the grip area front & back as well as the top area for the leather options.. not to mention the lack of a simple black skin (doesn't have to be leather) for the touchpads.. especially for that price point. So far they only have the option to get additional skins for the pads whereas the other non leather skin sets have them included for no extra costs.

I bought the black version and it looks great. I have no issues with the grip. All I would say is that you just have be very carefull applying the corners with the heat-gun and it shouldn't come off.

Hey there! I installed a brown one in May and I love it more and more. For me, that leather skin is a win. Beside, having deck without the fancy glass, I was okay with the protector, which kinda reduces the cutted edge feeling the skin has around the screen, since the protector fits level with the thickness of the leather. Tbh I am very curious to see if this is indeed possible to have that type of skin skin applied to the rounded grips without a shoemaker experience with leather.

I ordered the leather skin for my Steamdeck, but i ended up installing just the two little front skins that came with my Killswitch Case, I was too afraid to try the full skin with the case but i'd love to see you do it and give your thoughts on whether its possible to use the Killswitch with a full skin without ripping it off.

The corner, omg the corner! I couldn't live with it!

Just installed this skin on my Steam Deck. My leather wasn't that thick, I had no problem seeing the Valve logo through the back. I also did the front first so I wouldn't have the side be off when I attached the back leather. I used a good bit of alcohol on a paper towel also and wiped down all the plastic several times. I think the may be why your skin didn't adhere very well on the top. Who knows, that is just my experience. I like the look and feel, it also has that nice leather smell.

Years ago I tried to put a DBrand Skin into my mobile and it was painful and fustrating. I’m amazed how the marketing does so well with their products in youtube but I see it’s just the same as before.. expensive stickers where you need to do all the work. Thanks for your videos!

If you can find a really nice form-fitting case to place over the skin while you have it on the steam deck it does help with those seams and those lips that kind of just hang. in my experience I've had to leave the case on for quite a while like a month or so but afterward it does help you know seal some of those edges and kind of hide some of those hanging lips. And I'm sorry about the period and commas, well lack there of lol. I'm using text to talk but got the advise helps

I bought one and it looks awesome. I got the logo to show you have to warm the logo in small circles with a blow dryer and rub with the cloth that came with the skin in circles it should take you about 3 minutes.

Alternatively if you wanted to get rid of the lip you could also remove those segments from the bottom corners of the deck. I have the vinyl skin but set it up that way because I like the contrast that you get with having some of the original black plastic visible from the front

Hello kitty hairdryers really should come standard in all iFixit kits. So I received my Retro Game Corps stickers yesterday. Very happy with them. Look awesome next to My Motorhead, and Pinkfloyd stickers.They were even noticed by a coworker, and he even knew what your channel was, so that was cool.

I’d seen a few vids about this skin and I was left thinking the thickness of the leather and the ‘sticky’ inside edge of the screen, especially at the bottom would gather muck.

hi just saw your vid, i also own the leather skin just the darker variant and i must say the issues of installation you experienced are solely due to not using a heat gun and only using a hair dryer, the leather skins are much thicker and require more heat to become malleable like the ones shown in the installation videos (they should have annotated this w the leather ones), i used a phalanx one i got off amazon w some attachments for like 30 bucks (it will get further use to justify purchase). everything went smooth and applied perfectly. however the top flap issue is a thing but in a different spot for me so to me that says its caused by a slight miss alignment or stretch causing the material across that back/top flap to not be receiving equal friction/pressure and making a weak spot for the adhesive, if your not ever going to remove it or will always have another skin over it then my advice is a small paintbrush or makeup brush and some light grade adhesive compound and just brushing some lightly between the 2 layers in the problem area same goes for your little corner flap issue. any way man nice vid best of luck in your adventures. also check out slickwraps they also have a more full covering leather kit and the odds and ends buttons etc. are also sold individually i got the brushed gold metal pack for my buttons and i only use some of them (back buttons, track pads, joysticks, steam buttons) but check them out too id love to see their whole unit skins myself. again tho man great vid.

i picked up a Travel Kit with Digital Camo skin. Am pleased with my buy.

I had bought a skin from them but after a few months I took it off and it was a better gaming experience. I didn't have a hair dryer to smooth out the edges but did smooth it out with the cloth provided. A problem I had was the buttons would get stuck on the skin but that might be my fault installing it.

Thanks I was close to buying. I'm with you on the flaws. I would have been pissed, especially for the parts they didn't cover

Have you tried using the back grip rubber covers by playvital? I avoided getting them because they too are too thick and produce a lip, but I think that if you use both the skin and the grips... it might work out

If you massage the leather a ton, you can smooth out the lip until it feels pretty seamless. With leather it won't ever be unnoticeable, but it can be so round you don't "snag" on it. It does take a lot of rubbing, though. It took me maybe 20 hours total on my phone before it felt perfectly smooth. Also, the back of the grips don't have any skin pieces because that's where the wifi antennas are.

I was going to buy the black leather skin, as I buy all (real) leather everything, but I'm so glad I came across your review and other commenters... I won't be buying it now. I'll get the Matrix vinyl skin for the added texture/grip, and just forego the hand grip stickers since they are guaranteed to wrinkle. Regarding the thickness of the leather skin compared to the vinyl: "compromise" is the perfect word. I'd always prefer a nice, thick leather skin to a thin, wispy leather because the thick one will last *much* longer, be less likely to suffer detrimental scratches, tears, and scuffs, and will eventually wear down on the edges (esp. where the grip is that is causing problems for you right now). Dbrand's website even mentions that if you take the microfiber cloth and copiously rub the edges down, you can get the edges flush to mitigate that jarring thickness jump. You may even be able to sand the edges to create a bevel (before applying the leather to the Steam Deck, obviously) if the microfiber running doesn't actually work, but then you may damage the skin or something. Better yet, Dbrand could sell the leather skins with the sticker that goes on the back of the grip. Like, that would solve that problem entirely. But, companies try to save money everywhere they can 🙄 Regardless, thanks for the honest, real video!!! I've been hesitant about Dbrand because it's SO hard these days to determine what reviews are real and what is just hype or worse, sponsorship... So I really appreciate your taking the time to explain your experience! Cheers! :)

I bought a macbook tan leather skin, then cut it for my phone - you can remove any perceivable lip by cutting a chamfer with a razer blade, with a steam deck i'd be really careful or do it before applying it though! After several months the skin has gone from tan to very very dark brown, so I would really try and slow the patina rather than speed it up! The skin not covering the grips is disappointing, but I have looked around and have not been able to find leather as thin as this stuff (especially adhesive or aniline, I think that's why they're advertising the thinness), and it does look and feel great over time.

I haven't had a skin on anything since my PS1 and I made a hash of applying it. I had considered one for my deck to give it a retro feel, but I think I'll pass now. Thanks for the honest review!

They also made it so you have to buy a full front and back skin now too whereas before you could pick and choose. So if you had a case and only wanted front and trackpad skins you could order those but now have to get a full set. Also makes it very expensive if you want different design/colour on front and back too. With the leather skin I wonder if it would have felt better if you didn't add the pieces on the grips but probably would still feel the lip near the trackpads instead

I had the problem of the buttons “bottoming out“ too with Dbrand skins. Even the vinyl. IT’s especially apparent when playing platforming games like Super Mario World.

I have the black leather skin. I am certain you just need a better hair dryer or a heat gun. My logo shows great on that back and heating it when applying to seconds. I can also say that after a couple of months of use the leather feels better and smoother at the seams now

For screenprotect i use the tempered one from brotect... a little odd to install but it deflects my 64gb steam deck wonderfully.

Been wondering about their screen protector. I have a 64 GB model and ended up finding a matte glass protector on Amazon that has really done the trick at making the screen less reflective. Ironic, I've always had a distaste to Matte protectors until I recently got one for my iPad. It really makes a big difference!

The best place to add a tempered glass is in a bathroom after running hot water for a bit. The steam weighs down all the dust so you won't risk any ending up on the screen as you apply it.

Prices seem high. Quality seems poor. Customer service seems appalling. I've always avoided dbrand as they get so much "influencer" push from KZfaqrs, so you never really know what to think. Your review is probably the only honest one I've ever seen. Well done.

I wonder how conditioning it before you apply it would be better than after applying it. Overall I agree with the button issue and thickness. for a phone it's fine but not for a controller or handheld.

you were right. It was so much easier put it on compare to vinyl. And for the uncomfortable of the thinkness, by rubbing the edges where the palmrest is, most of it is gone for me.

They look really nice 😳 ... 4:15 that is something for you to show in your video 🤣🤣

The killswitch actually is very sleek. It doesn’t look it but it barely adds heft to the device. It makes the device feel good in the hand whereas the cheap Amazon tpu and silicone cases make it feel bulky and cheap and the naked steam deck feels fragile. The overall package is way smaller compared to the oem zipper case when you have the killswitch travel cover attached. It even feels more protected. The build quality is on par with otterbox defenders if you ever held one of those.

Soften the leather with some oil based leather cream/moisturiser, and gently but relatively forcefully massage/break the leather in where the "lips" are with the back of a spoon or something else with a smooth curve (traditionally the go to is a polished deer bone).

The edge of the lip is the main reason I'm considering taking the leather skin off my deck and throwing it away. Also the skin is coming loose on the top/bottom. I think if it had a top and grip components to mitigate the edges I'd be happier with it. (also I got the black one and it looks nearly identical to it's default state, not sure I'd recommend it to people that like contrast.)

dbrand says to use the microfiber cloth to smooth down the edges I'm sure they didn't make skins for the back of the grips due to how difficult it would be to apply it correctly

I was thinking about checking out xtremeskins because they have more options. the aged oak with polished titanium back and palm rest seem like it could look nice.

the edge is super easy to get rid of, i've been using dbrand's leather skins for a long time and you're meant to burnish the sides by rubbing the microfiber cloth across them for a really long time. bit annoying, but the end result feels great. still a bit of a lip, but way WAY better because burnishing them curves the edges and makes them way less noticable.

okay what version of botw do you have running on your sd, like what emu are you using??

The leather one is the one I picked up. I find it peels up at the rounded corners, where i can't smooth out the wrinkles because it's a rounded corner.

I can whole heartedly recommend their textured M3 skins like Swarm or Camo!

I wonder how well it would actually be removed... if you don't like the skin or if the skin gets damanaged you need to be able to remove it without issues, right?

I really want some thumb stick pads that don't affect gyroscopic controls, the ones from dbrand would be great but it doesn't look like they sell them separately...

Got the leather case for my phone too. It was disappointing. The camera leather and back skin did not lineup perfectly and the top left corner of the leather on the back wouldn't stay on and would flap. The same issues you have explained here. For the price - I have no idea how this isn't a little smoother of an install.

i endeup using an old ipad paperlike screen protector and cutting it to size and it helps the 256GB version with reflction

I bought the white matte one and I struggle with the rounded edges. They're all wrinkled... Can't get them out

I’m dying for your Steam deck emulation guide (updated). I have installed emu deck and I’m having some random odd troubles launching out of emulation station just not knowing how to go in and make any adjustments for different emulators. So I’m having to actually launch the individual emulators to make those adjustments.

Does it make it less slippery? Naked it feel like my steam deck slides will slide off a tilted desk

Awesome!!

I wonder if applying leather balm to the skin before putting the skin on the deck would both make it easier to apply the balm evenly (and without worrying about the plastic), and soften the leather making it easier to apply. Just a speculation, I haven't tried this, and probably won't because of the grip edge problem...

How about applying the leather balm to the skin before starting the application?

Did you not watch the video and how you are supposed to take the extra leather piece and rub all the edges over and over until they are smooth?

Russ must be the biggest Asterix fan in Hawaii. He mentioned him so many times in his vids.

"you don't wanna get leather cream in your steam deck... don't use leather cream on your steam deck." speaking the gospel as usual.. can't wait for the guide

You should provide a "putting on a skin" service. We send you our devices and they come back with the skin perfectly applied.