Best cases for Steam Deck

Even at $399 for the base model, you want to protect your Steam Deck as best you can and that’s why cases are a good thing to consider. The nice thing about the Steam Deck is that it comes with its own case already. And it’s not a bad one by any means. But it is bulky and is fairly basic in terms of what it can carry.

There’s also other types of cases out there that are meant to stay on the Steam Deck at all times. Much like a phone case would for a phone. Whether you’re looking for one of those types of cases, or something slimmer to keep it in during travel, or something more protective, there are options out there. And some pretty good ones at that. To help save you some time, we’ve rounded up a list of some of the best Steam Deck cases out there to keep your Deck in. Each one has its own unique benefits, but all will serve a single main purpose. Protecting your Steam Deck.

Best cases for Steam Deck

Insignia Steam Deck Vault Case

We’re starting off this list with the Vault Case from Insignia. While this isn’t a slimmer or more compact option than what you get with the Steam Deck, it does carry more things and it’ll be more protective from drops and bumps. The harder outer shell provides the drop and bump protection while the inside assists with the soft cushioned lining.

There’s a flip-down screen protector for the deck to prevent scratches on the display, and a zippered ouch on the underside of the lid makes for easy storage of your charger, microSD cards, microfiber cloth and more. What we don’t really like about it is that there’s no protection for the sticks. If this isn’t something you’re super worried about though, this makes a solid option.

Insignia Vault Case

TomToc Carrying Case

• Price: $29.99
• Where to buy: Amazon

This is currently our favorite option thanks to a few simple factors. One, it’s slim. And the whole point of one of these cases is to protect the Steam Deck during travel or when you want to stuff it in your backpack for on-the-go outings for the day.

The problem is how much room the Steam Deck case from Valve takes up. This option from tomtoc solves that by being much slimmer. It’s also great because it has cutouts for the joysticks and the touch pads. Which adds extra protection and helps prevent them from being pressed and smushed. There’s even a padded bumper to help prevent the triggers from being pressed during storage.

Lastly, it’s got a nifty carry handle up top and it’s splash resistant. If there’s one downside, it’s that there’s no extra storage room for the charger. There is however a tiny pocket in the screen cover for microSD cards and microfiber cloths and the like. Overall a solid option if you want a slim and protective case.

tomtoc Carrying Case

tomtoc Sling Carrying Pouch

• Price: $49.99
• Where to buy: Amazon

This next option is also from tomtoc and might just be a better option for some. The tomtoc sling pouch is a great case with everything from protection to storage. What we like about it is the fact that it protects your Steam Deck while also providing you with ample room to carry a few other small items. The unique “W” design of the inner pocket helps prevent pressure on the sticks. Plus you’ve got plenty of pocket space in there for your charger, microSD cards, and maybe even a pair of foldable wireless headphones.

Though your headphone storage may vary depending on what you have and if they’re foldable at all. It can also be used as an everyday carry sling for other items like your phone, keys, wallet, etc. And since it’s a sling you can wear it like a cross-body bag so you don’t have to carry it around in your hands. Making it a little more convenient if you need your hands for shopping or carrying anything else.

It’s a bit more pricey than the case, but worth it if you want room for more stuff.

tomtoc Sling Pouch

JSAUX Protective Hard Shell Case

• Price: $19.99
• Where to buy: Amazon

This is another non-slim option but it’s got everything you need for carrying your Steam Deck around if you have a larger bag to put this in, such as a backpack. In fact there’s a lot of really neat features about this one that perhaps make it the ideal option if you don’t mind that it’s a thicker case. We’ll start with what every case should have. Indents on the underside of the lid for protection of the joysticks.

Aside from this feature, there’s a nice little compartment under where the Steam Deck sits for your charger, and a couple of other small items. Perhaps a pair of true wireless earbuds or a pair of wired earbuds, and maybe a small power bank. Additionally, there’s a separate flap that has storage for microSD cards, and the second flap can act as a kickstand for propping up your Steam Deck if you want to play with a controller. Which we think is a pretty nifty little feature to have.

The case also comes in a dark gray and this yellow color that mimics the Steam Sale discounts on games, which is kind of a nice touch.

JSAUX Hard Shell Case

Spigen Rugged Amor Protective Case

• Price: $19.99
• Where to buy: Amazon

Not every case is meant to be something you constantly put your devices into and take them out of. And that’s the idea with this case from Spigen. It’s a rugged armor case that is basically a shell case you’d see for smartphones and is meant to fit on your Steam Deck like a glove. So it stays there protecting it from bumps and scratches while you use it.

That being said, this isn’t designed for complete protection all the way around. The case protects the back, sides, bottom, and top. So essentially the face is completely unprotected. Which means you still need to be careful not to drop it if you can. The good news is that the Spigen Rugged Armor case also has an attached lanyard you can wrap around your wrist. Which we highly recommend using if you get this case. It also has proper cutouts for every button and port.

Overall, one of the best cases for Steam Deck and not a bad option for $19.99.

Spigen Rugged Armor Case

JSAUX ModCase for Steam Deck

• Price: $29.99
• Where to buy: Amazon

This is the perfect case to go with if you liked the style of the Killswitch case from Dbrand. While the Dbrand case is very nice, it’s also $75 and is only available for pre-order at the moment. Whereas the one from JSAUX here is available right now and is a fraction of that price at only $30.

You’ll get a lot of the same features with this case too. Like the cover that fits over the screen with the joystick cutouts. This is also a modular case, which adds the ability to attach two different accessories. A kickstand and a silicone strap. The kickstand is of course for propping up the Steam Deck so you can play with a controller. But the more nifty attachment we think, is the strap. This can be used to fasten a smaller power bank to the back to help keep your Steam Deck charged up while you play.

The case also features textured grips on the handgrips with cutouts for all the buttons and ports. Save for the volume and power buttons which have raised buttons instead.

JSAUX ModCase

Tombert Carrying Case

• Price: $15.88
• Where to buy: Amazon

This one is a similar option to the tomtoc one above, but with some slight differences. For the similarities, it has the soft microfiber lining, as well as cutouts for the joysticks, d-pad, touchpads and action buttons. It’s also slim and water and scratch resistant.

It will also fit your Deck with a silicone case on it. Where it differs is there’s no little pocket for the microfiber cloth or microSD cards. So the tomtoc case is a little in that respect. This one from Tombert though has the wrist strap which is a nice touch.

Tombert Carrying Case

JSAUX Protective Silicone Case for Steam Deck

• Price: $14.99
• Where to buy: Amazon

Rounding out the list is a silicone shell case from JSAUX. It’ll be a bit slimmer than the Spigen Rugged Armor case and still provide you with scratch and bump protection. And may just fit inside of a carrying case depending on the one you have.

The case comes in multiple colors so you can personalize it a bit, and it’s fairly flexible making it easy to put on. The anti-slip design will also make it easier to hold if you are prone to drop things or get sweaty hands while holding controllers or handhelds and the like.

JSAUX Protective Silicone Case