Enter the Deckmate: A simple, plastic bracket that lets you attach not just a very handy kickstand, but also several other specialized mounting solutions to the back of the Deck.
Now having used it for a few weeks, it feels like a very natural extension of my Deck, one with a few surprises of its own.
I’ve transferred it to another Steam Deck just once, and bending the plastic back to get it off feels like something I only want to do a handful of times at most.
But given the size and weight of the Steam Deck, being able to attach one to the back has been sort of like growing a third arm, especially when playing on a couch or bed.
Being able to prop it up with the exhaust fan pointing in a more vertical direction feels like a better way to set the device down while it’s downloading something or playing a graphically intensive cutscene.
Another surprising use of the kickstand was that, while laying in bed or on a couch, I could sort of use it like a monopole, letting it support more of the weight of the device.Overall, the Deckmate with the kickstand accessory has just made the Deck a more cozy machine for me.
You can just tuck it into that compartment on the underside that many a Steam Deck user has found creative uses for.
For those times you want to travel light, you can just detach the Deckmate mounts and leave the hardly noticeable “grip” bracket.
If you just want to get the kickstand, you’ll need the grip bracket, which runs for $20, and then the kickstand mount itself for an extra $15.While you can certainly find cheaper kickstand options on Amazon and elsewhere, the Deckmate system feels sturdy and reliable.
Sitting the Deck down with the Deckmate kickstand, it never feels like it’s going to topple over (as long as the angle is set right).
Overall, the Deckmate, particularly with its kickstand, is a great Steam Deck accessory that expands where (and how) I can play games on it.
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