You might be asking yourself: do I really NEED a case for my Steam Deck? Honestly, probably not. But then again, some savages walk around without a screen protector on their mobile phone. I mean no offense if that’s you, but if I’m shelling out for an expensive device I’m going to use every day, you better believe it’s getting a screen protector and a case. The same applies to my Steam Deck. Mine gets ripped in and out of a carry case and a backpack quite regularly. Plus, having my mitts all over it is more than enough reason to toss some added insurance on it.
My top picks for the best Steam Deck case came down to three options: the DBrand Killswitch Case, the Skull and Co. GripCase and the JSAUX ModCase. I was really only after two basic things: drop protection and a kickstand. At the time I also wanted to keep using my official carry case, which I’ve since swapped out for the JSAUX Carrying Case. All three of these options will fit in the official case. You will have to remove the kickstand from the Killswitch to make it fit though. One other thing: I don’t own the official Valve Dock. So, the fact that none of these are compatible with it didn’t bother me in the slightest. But if you do own the Valve Dock, keep that in mind. As something of a workaround, the JSAUX ModCase does include a rubberised case with an extended lip for the Valve Dock in their basic kit so that may be worth your consideration.
Kicking off with the Killswitch case from DBrand. I really do enjoy the in-your-face style of DBrand. What can I say, it’s kinda fun. Their products also come highly recommended by the community. The Killswitch case is said to offer military-grade protection, which I think sounds like more than enough. Their Essential Kit includes everything I’m after: the case, a kickstand and a DBrand skin. This case is made of a soft-touch, hardened but flexible plastic. DBrand managed to keep it thin enough so it doesn’t bulk up an already large device. They also added a decent amount of grip for good measure. The kickstand attaches to the back via a mechanical interlocking system and can extend up to a 52-degree angle. Had I gone this route, I think I would have been very happy with the Killswitch case. The reason I didn’t is purely the cost. The Essential Kit is $59.95 USD direct from DBrand. Add shipping to Australia and the cost blows out to approximately $120 AUD. The Steam Deck OLED costs $899 AUD, so I felt it was unnecessary to shell out an extra 13-14% on top for a case. No matter how good it is.
On to the Skull and Co. GripCase, which is exactly as advertised. This is a fairly bare-bones case designed to add grip to the Steam Deck. Like the other cases, it’s also made of hardened plastic. It is a little less flexible than the others, but it has a very clean look and still offers decent drop protection. The bottom of the case is flattened out which allows the Steam Deck to stand on its own at a 75-degree angle, acting as a built-in kickstand. At approximately $40 AUD direct from Skull and Co., this is a perfect no-frills option for the Steam Deck. If you simply want to add some drop protection and grip then seriously, look no further. The GripCase also ultimately lost out to the third and final option.
Last, but not least, the JSAUX ModCase. What drew me to the ModCase was the similarity to the DBrand Killswitch Case. I’ll be honest, the Killswitch was my first choice, but it simply priced itself off my list. I wanted a bit more than what the Skull and Co. GripCase offered and for me, it really came down to DBrand vs JSAUX. The JSAUX ModCase delivers a similar level of protection and grip, but offers more functionality out of the box at less than half the price in the basic set. At a cost of $46 AUD, that’s nearly an $80 difference. The basic set includes the case, face plate, kickstand and modular strap. An added bonus is a case for the official Valve Dock, should own that as well. This makes the ModCase compatible with the official Valve Dock by slightly altering the dock’s front lip height. I regularly use the kickstand, but I don’t really bother with the face plate as I use a carry case instead. I also make use of the strap. It connects via a modular slider which can be a little rigid but overall I find it to be a good system and everything fits together with relative ease. The kickstand is a standalone metal bracket that slides into place at the back of the case. My Steam Deck replaced my iPad, so when I’m using it at my desk I use the kickstand to angle it for watching content. It doesn’t offer a massive adjustable angle, but I find it to be more than enough. The case itself feels very good in the hand. It has a nice grippy texture and still gives you full access to the bumpers, triggers and back buttons.
I highly recommend the JSAUX ModCase. The overall quality I’ve found to be excellent and It has a good feel in the hands. The grip texture isn’t overly aggressive and feels both sturdy and comfortable. The basic set also includes a face plate, which may appeal to some who want extra protection without using a carry case. The face plate itself is a hardened plastic which attaches securely to the front of the case. When fitted, there is a slight gap at the L2/R2 triggers, but I doubt the gap is wide enough to cause any issues if roughly tossed into a bag. The metal bracket-style kickstand is fantastic for consuming content or table-top gaming (think Nintendo Switch style). It feels sturdy and locks into place very well. The modular slider at the back of the case can support a range of accessories and the basic set includes the strap which I’ve found to be quite versatile. Personally, I use it to add a power bank or external hard drive to the Steam Deck. Both sit in the strap well. It’s essentially a fitted rubber watch band and while there can be a little bit of wobble, it’s pretty minor. But this is to be expected, being fairly thin rubber. In my opinion, the JSAUX ModCase easily edges out the competition. It provides a good range of features at a very reasonable price. If you’re interested, head over to the JSAUX website and use my coupon code DADWITHADECK for a small discount.
Living in Australia, I think decision making is harder when it comes to devices and cases in general. Prices in Australian dollars are generally higher and our options are more limited due to exorbitant shipping costs. Accessories are also particularly challenging as local stores rarely carry much stock and if we are looking at something different or unique, we’re forced to look overseas or at niche retailers with higher price tags. That is unless you get lucky on Amazon, which does happen on the odd occasion. A good portion of the companies churning out these accessories are based in the US, Canada or Asia. For those of us in Australia, that usually means paying more and often significantly more. This means we have to narrow our search and ensure we’re choosing the right option the first time. I mean, I sure as shit don’t want to be wasting my time or money shipping something back overseas if I don’t like it.
Dad with a Deck 
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