Best USB-C HUB for Steam Deck NV0172

If you want to plug in peripherals, you're going to need a hub. Here are some suggestions to fit anyone's needs.

The first batch of Steam Decks will be shipping out to customers soon, and if you're in the first round of preorders, congratulations. While your shiny Steam Deck won't be arriving at your doorstep quite yet, the time between now and the Steam Deck's de facto release date means you have time to prepare ahead of time.

What to Look for in a USB-C Hub for Steam Deck

There is no hard and fast rule for choosing a USB-C hub for Steam Deck. It basically comes down to your personal requirements. The Steam Deck is Bluetooth-enabled, so you can easily pair a Bluetooth mouse or keyboard, but if you would rather be wired, you'll need a hub with at least two USB ports.

Of course, if you want to hook your Steam Deck to an external monitor you'll need a hub with HDMI out. Most hubs offer support for the 4K standard, but Steam Deck's native resolution is 1200x800 so there's no need to seek out 4K HDMI support.

If you want to connect your Steam Deck to the internet with a wired connection, you'll need a hub with an Ethernet port. This, more than any other feature, adds significant cost to the USB hub, so keep that in mind.

Power Delivery Steam Deck Hubs

The Steam Deck itself has only one USB-C port at the top, along with a microSD slot on the bottom, so you can either have it powered or plug in a USB-C peripheral. If you want to use a hub while still charging your Steam Deck you're going to need a hub with Power Delivery 2.0 or Power Delivery 3.0. The requirements for powering your Steam Deck aren't too bad: you need at least a 45W power supply, so make sure any hub you get supports at least 45W and you're good to go.