Excellent Steam Deck Dock with all essential ports
Key things
- Ugreen’s Steam Deck 9-in-1 Docking Station offers versatile connectivity for a variety of devices with data transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps.
- The dock’s portable design includes an adjustable stand and multiple ports, making it easy to manage your Steam Deck setup for different purposes.
- Even though it lacks a power supply, the Ugreen Docking Station provides solid features to enhance the Steam Deck’s capabilities and support other devices.
The Ugreen 9-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station offers nine slots for fast charging, stable connections and high-speed transfers. While not a direct performance boost, the benefits of added connectivity open up more possibilities for Steam Deck, whether at home or on the go.
Ugreen 9-in-1 Steam Deck Dock
The Ugreen 9-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station offers one input and eight output options for connecting to various devices for use, data transfer and viewing. Compact, it’s both foldable and adjustable, so it’s easy to store away and your Steam Deck can be unplugged with a single cable when not in use. Two USB 3.2 Gen 2 interfaces support data transfer up to 10 Gbps and support up to 4K (3840 x 2160) display at 60 Hz, while also being backwards compatible.
- Portable design
- The included inputs and outputs cover all major use cases
- The detachable USB-C cable fits well
- Compatible with other portable game consoles and USB-C devices
- You need your own power supply
- To keep the Steam Deck vents clear, they must sit off-center
Price and availability
The Ugreen 9-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station is available now for $59.99 on Amazon and the Ugreen website. Additionally, Ugreen offers a slightly cheaper 6-in-1 docking station for $49.99 on both platforms.
Dock learning
While primarily a utility item, the dock’s portable and collapsible nature needs a good balance of build quality to survive repeated use. There’s a balance between metal and plastic with this dock, with the adjustable stand in particular having good resistance when you adjust it between 45 and 90 degrees. This keeps your Steam Deck firmly in place according to the user’s preferences.
In addition, non-slip silicone grips allow for additional safety during assembly. Placing the Steam Deck off-center so you have full access to its vents helps add the extra idea that both ends support it.
The main ports for transfer, charging and display output are located on the back to avoid problems with plug-in use. Meanwhile, the SD and TF card slots are located on one side, while the USB slots for connecting the keyboard, mouse, and controller are located on the other side.
Dock speed testing
With this dock, a number of maximum speeds are available, which the user can set himself. With an RJ45 gigabit ethernet port, I was able to reach my rural ISP’s maximum download speed range of 50MB/s, potentially much higher.
When tested with an assortment of USB 3.1 drives with maximum write speeds of up to 250MB/s, the dock also achieved maximum range when transferring a mix of photo and video files directly to the Steam Deck. For users with faster external drives, a maximum transfer speed of up to 10 Gb/s is available.
Similarly, when testing the SD and TF card slots, a transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s was achieved. The only downside to the side ports is that they proved more difficult to access with the Steam Deck docked, especially with a larger pair of hands at work.
Switch between gaming and computer use
In addition to transfer speeds, one of the biggest attractions of the dock is the ability to output video up to 4K @ 60Hz via HDMI. As mentioned in the Ugreen manual, you’ll want to enter desktop mode on your Steam Deck to configure the resolution settings and ensure everything supports maximum output. However, the dock is also backwards compatible with lower resolutions, so you can adapt to the needs of your setup.
Although the dock does not come with its own power supply, users can still plug in their default Steam Deck charger. However, the USB-C charging port supports PD 3.0 with a maximum output of up to 100W; you’ll want to note that the Steam Deck only has a maximum charging speed of 45W.
The trade off of the dock is due to its compact nature, you will need to place your Steam Deck off center to get the best ventilation conditions due to the size difference. If you don’t notice this and instead center the Steam Deck on the dock, you’ll notice that the dock can get pretty hot, especially when you’re pushing the Steam Deck’s hardware limits.
For those looking to simulate a desktop PC setup, the dock’s side ports allow for easy connection of two wired peripherals. So if you prefer to connect a keyboard and mouse, or want to optimize for the game that benefits the most, the package allows for a quick plug-and-play solution. The only downside is that, as with the TF/SD card slots, if your Steam Deck is already docked, the two USB-A connectors can be a bit awkward to install, or if you want to switch to another device while in use.
Should you buy the Ugreen 9-in-1 Steam Deck Dock?
The Ugreen 9-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station provides a solid third-party solution for those looking to optimize their deck and push it further towards an on-demand mini gaming PC. The lack of an included 100W charging cable and wall charger may reduce its value to some, but this Deck docking station is an easy buy for those looking to quickly connect to a wider range of outputs.
Whether you’re looking for an affordable dock for your new Steam Deck purchase or want one that can easily travel with you and support other devices, it’s worth a look.
photo of Ugreen 9in1 Steam Dock” src=”https://static1.makeuseofimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ugreen9in1steamdock.jpg” style=”display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;”/> Ugreen 9-in-1 Steam Deck Dock
The Ugreen 9-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station offers one input and eight output options for connecting to various devices for use, data transfer and viewing. Compact, it’s both foldable and adjustable, so it’s easy to store away and your Steam Deck can be unplugged with a single cable when not in use. Two USB 3.2 Gen 2 interfaces support data transfer up to 10 Gbps and support up to 4K (3840 x 2160) display at 60 Hz, while also being backwards compatible.