Jsaux Docking Station review – a great Steam Deck dock

The Jsaux Steam Deck dock isn’t the one USB-C hub that boasts compatibility with Valve’s handheld, however its design and options particularly cater to the moveable powerhouse. You would go so far as to say the third-party accent is a clone of the true deal, as its resemblance is uncanny. Regardless of this, the Jsaux dock’s price ticket and options make it a successful stand-in – though wields barely totally different specs.

At round half the worth of Valve’s official accent, the Jsaux Steam Deck dock transforms the dinky gaming PC right into a desktop rig. It additionally doubles up as a cradle, so that you received’t must create a makeshift seat for the machine whereas it’s hooked as much as your gaming monitor, mouse, and keyboard. Should you personal a Nintendo Swap, you’ll already be accustomed to this sort of handheld hybrid setup, and this accent facilitates the identical stage of versatility.

Once more, there are many USB-C hubs on the market that may provide help to hook up the Steam Deck to a TV or monitor. Nevertheless, alternate options by the likes of Anker, Belkin, and Lenovo are designed with gaming laptops in thoughts, which means they technically lack bodily ‘docking’ capabilities. By emulating Valve’s official accent, Jsaux has created a robust best Steam Deck dock contender that’s forward of the curve.

Jsaux Steam Deck dock specs

Right here is the Jsaux Steam Deck dock spec listing:

Professionals

• Designed with Steam Deck in thoughts
• 4K 60fps
• 100W Energy Supply

Cons

• Would profit from additional USB ports
• Questionable ethernet placement

When it comes to construct high quality, the Jsaux Steam Deck dock feels stable and seems well-made. Its aluminum development helps add some weight, whereas a rubberized pad protects your deck from scratches (taking a look at you, Nintendo). Nevertheless, you’ll nonetheless need to take care, because the accent’s metallic edges might injury your display in the event that they make contact.

Jsaux Steam Deck dock options

Should you’ve ever used a docking station at work or dwelling, you’ll already know what Jsaux’s Steam Deck dock is attempting to realize. Merely put, it’s a hub that allows moveable gadgets to cosplay as a desktop machine. This explicit equipment outfit consists of an HDMI 2.0 port, two USB A sockets, ethernet connectivity, and a USB-C energy supply port.

Your complete getup connects to the Steam Deck by way of a built-in USB-C cable, which neatly runs up the again of the propped-up handheld’s posterior. Sitting the Deck on any cradle won’t ever match the slidey nature of the Nintendo Swap, however plopping Valve’s moveable onto Jsaux’s accent eliminates a lot of the standard USB hub faff.

For starters, the Jsaux Steam Deck dock’s USB-C cable is made to measure, so that you received’t should cope with additional bits of wire in your desk. The accent additionally makes use of the Deck’s chonkiness to its benefit, as its dimension retains something occurring behind it out of sight. In actual fact, the one proof of the dock’s existence you’ll see out of your gaming chair is a delicate help lip on the entrance.

That stated, I’ve a bone to choose with Jsaux over its resolution to place the dock’s ethernet port on the facet. Whereas the Steam Deck’s width hides related wires, for essentially the most half, there’s one thing irritating about having one rogue cable separate from the remainder of the again connections. Should you pop the dock over the left-hand facet of your desk, that is much less of a problem, as you’ll be able to at all times handle cables beneath your desk. Nonetheless, I’d somewhat have a USB port on the facet than ethernet, because it might be used to attach a PC controller.

Circling again to USB ports, Jsaux Steam Deck dock solely has two. It’s evidently that the accent would profit from just a few additional, particularly since most setups embrace a gaming mouse, keyboard, a gaming headset, and different optionally available fine details. Positive, you could possibly join a primary USB splitter, however that’ll imply spending extra money when you don’t have one mendacity round.

The Jsaux might do with just a few additional ports, however you received’t have to fret about supplying every little thing with juice. The accent’s USB-C enter helps 100W energy supply – greater than sufficient to maintain your Steam Deck charged and your gaming keyboard lights glowing. The dock doesn’t truly include an influence brick, however you should utilize the Deck’s 45W charger or choose up one other with additional oomph.

Jsaux Steam Deck dock efficiency

Earlier than we dive into the Jsaux Steam Deck dock’s capabilities, it’s price reiterating that it received’t improve the efficiency of Valve’s handheld. In different phrases, you’ll be able to, in principle, hook the moveable as much as the best gaming monitor, however it received’t magically begin working video games at 4K 60fps. If something, you’ll should dial your setting down a little bit to play at 1080p, because the micromachine is designed to run video games on its built-in 1280×800 display.

That’s to not say the Steam Deck can’t act like a desktop gaming PC, because the Jsaux dock helps the machine present a low-spec desktop expertise. Personally, I’ve had a blast enjoying Xbox 360-era video games like Alice: Insanity Returns on the massive display and even the newly launched indie cat caper Stray is completely playable.

It’s price noting that SteamOS is a little bit quirky relating to mouse and keyboard controls. Whereas switching to desktop mode resolves points in some video games, the expertise doesn’t really feel fairly proper. Valve is probably going working to handle this, because it’s already resolved decision scaling points for beta customers.

Its sibling console, the Jsaux M.2 Steam Deck dock, presents SSD help along with every little thing else that a normal Jsaux docking station can do, enabling even higher efficiency. We suggest you learn our evaluation of that one too when you’re available in the market.