I love my Steam Deck. Taking my PC gaming library on the go has completely revolutionized gaming for me, but that 'on the go' aspect definitely comes with some caveats. The Steam Deck battery drains faster than my health bar in a Soulslike. If you're going to take your Steam Deck on the move, a power bank that can meet its demands is absolutely essential, and I've tested a bunch of different power banks since having the gaming handheld. Here are 6 of the best that I can confidently say will be worth your money.
Best Steam Deck power bank overall
Anker is one of our most trusted brands for anything from power banks to high-quality cables. This 87W max output power bank and power adapter combo will allow you to charge up the Steam Deck super fast. The bank features two USB-C and two USB-A ports and has a high 25,600mAh capacity to last you a long time before running out of juice. It's the perfect Steam Deck travel accessory.
Best budget Steam Deck power bank
This is a popular choice for many Steam Deck users as it's often on sale. It offers 20,000mAh at 65W output, which means it will recharge your Steam Deck around 1.5 times. You're getting two USB-A ports (30W), a USB-C port (65W), and a micro-USB, and it includes a high-quality cable that will deliver the 65W you need. The LED display shows how much power you have left.
Best hybrid power bank
Anker make some of the most reliable power banks on the market, and there is a reason we recommend them a lot. The 733 Power Bank is a great option for Steam Deck since this battery pack can plug directly into an outlet and charge itself back up while also charging up the handheld console. That's why this is classed as a hybrid charger. It features two USB-C ports (one in and out, the other just out) and a USB-A port and offers 10,000 mAh.
Best hassle-free power bank for Steam Deck
JSAUX are kings in the kingdom of Steam Deck accessories, so it stands to reason that they've made a great power bank for the Steam Deck too. For ultimate convenience, this comes with an attached USB-C wire to charge up your Steam Deck without digging around in your backpack for the cables. It's a beefy 20000mAh and has two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports. It's pretty good value for money too, and one of the lowest priced on our list.
Best power bank for traveling with the Steam Deck
I'm cheating a little, but I will suggest two models here, depending on your preference. The Baseus Blade are a range of incredibly wide and flat, skinny battery packs. They are easy to store in the pocket of your bag and won't weigh your luggage down when traveling. The Baseus Blade has a 20,000mAh capacity with 100w output that's more capable of keeping up with the demands of the Steam Deck, but if you want the lightest model you can get just for top-ups, the Baseus Blade 2 is also a great option. however it has 12000mAh capacity and 65W output.
Best power bank for style points
No doubt about it, this is a luxury pick and the most expensive on the list. But it's definitely the most exciting power bank I've tested, being a lover of all things transparent. It makes a great companion for the limited edition OLED Steam Deck if you were lucky enough to grab one. It's not all looks though, this baby packs a punch at a 25600mAh capacity and up to 100W charging capabilities. Equipped with 2*USB C port,1*USB port, and 1* adjustable DC port.
Can I use any power bank for the Steam Deck?
Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
- Best Steam Deck accessories
- How to fix slow download speeds on Steam Deck
- Best cases for Steam Deck
- Legion Go vs Steam Deck
- Steam Deck OLED vs Steam Deck LCD
The Steam Deck demands a certain level of charging power, so you'll want a power bank that delivers at least 45w of juice to keep your Steam Deck going, especially if you're playing while charging. Most of the chargers I have recommended here are 65w or above, which is the standard for other handhelds like the ROG Ally, but they are much more readily available now, so you may as well purchase the best you can afford. This also future proofs your accessories if you do later decide to change your chosen handheld.
The Steam Deck has a 5,200 mAh battery, and the Steam Deck OLED has a little more at 6470mAh, so keep this in mind when looking at capacity. In practical terms, the bigger the capacity of your power bank, the more times you’ll be able to charge your Steam Deck before needing a socket. So, consider your gaming habits and choose wisely.
Remember, investing in a high-quality power bank ensures that your Steam Deck remains ready for action, whether you’re battling demons in Diablo 4, exploring the vast open world of Elden Ring or just chilling with some Balatro.
How do I improve battery life on my Steam Deck?
The same advice for any electronic device goes for the Steam Deck, for optimum battery health you'll want to drain it to 0% every so often to calibrate the internal sensors so that the remaining percentage display is accurate. In addition to this, here's some things you can do to squeeze more battery life out of your Steam Deck:
- Adjust the brightness
Lower this to around 50% if you can, but anything less than 100% will be less of a drain on your battery. - Lower your frame rates
Not every game needs to be 60FPS, hitting the three-dot button on the right hand side opens a Performance menu, use this to lower the FPS and save battery. - Lower the refresh rate
Go to performance settings as above and play with the refresh rate slider, experiment with lower refresh rates. - Tweak your TDP settings
Again under the Performance menu, turn on TDP limit and adjust the watts slider. More demanding games will need the full 15 watts but if your playing something less intense, it's ok to lower this to save battery life. - Turn off Bluetooth
As with smartphones, if you're not using Bluetooth then turn it off as it's an unnecessary drain on your battery life.
For more Steam Deck tips, check out our 11 tips and tricks for Valve's popular gaming handheld.
