by If you want to go to the big screen with your Steam Deck, there are loads of options to choose from along with the official Valve Steam Deck Dock. The Syntech 6-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station is another, but with a unique curved design and a distinctly affordable price point, it’s really something to consider.
Syntech’s docking station is just $39.99 / £36.99, making it the cheapest I’ve personally tested among the best Steam Deck Docks. It doesn’t have the best build quality, but it does offer a premium experience and some nice extras that add to the overall appeal. Plus, it’s small, unobtrusive, and easy to use, so there’s a lot to like here.
design and features
The Syntech 6-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station mimics the design of the official Steam Deck Dock in that it’s effectively a shelf to hold your Steam Deck without obstructing the display – unlike the Switch Dock, for example. It’s not the only unofficial model to do this, the iVoler 5-in-1 Steam Deck Dock is the same, but the Syntech has a custom touch to make it stand out from the competition – it’s curved.
It has a small disc-shaped body with a flat edge where the aforementioned shelf is where you rest your Steam Deck. It’s small enough to ensure that none of the vents on the back of your Steam Deck are obstructed, which anyone who’s used to playing one of the best gaming PCs will appreciate – airflow is essential, after all. Syntech’s dock is also light enough to toss in a backpack without even thinking about it. However, that makes it feel a little cheap and hollow. At that price point, though, and for what you really need it to do, that’s not a huge consideration.
The lip itself is really unobtrusive and slim, ensuring it doesn’t affect your view of the touchscreen if needed, but also keeping your desktop or TV unit as visually uncluttered as possible. The lip is lined on the bottom and front with a textured rubber to hold your Steam Deck securely while holstered, although I would have liked to see the back treated with the same material for added protection against any damage to your Deck. It’s a wide enough lip to allow room for any cases you might have on your deck as well. The bottom of the general Docking Station also has a silicone coating, which is useful for stability.
At the back, along the curve of the body, are all your connectivity ports. As you’ve probably guessed from the name, the Syntech 6-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station has six of them, starting at an edge with a single USB 3.0 port, followed by HDMI 2.0 (support for 4K 60fps with HDMI 2.0 cable), USB- C, ethernet and finally two more USB 3.0 ports. The fact that it’s curved makes it easy to access all the ports without having to fumble around in the back, which is particularly useful if you want to keep everything organized and still have the option of plugging in a controller or one of the best gaming keyboards. There’s also the 90-degree USB-C cable for reaching over the top of the Steam Deck and connecting it to the dock itself – again mimicking Valve’s official option well.
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It’s worth noting that, as you’d expect at this price, the Syntech 6-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station doesn’t come with its own power cord or HDMI, so you’ll have to use your existing Steam Deck charger and supply your own connections. The instructions are also very strict about using HDMI to DisplayPort cables, as well as a few other caveats, so double-check your specific wiring needs before purchasing. It’s a shame it doesn’t have its own bespoke DisplayPort option, or at least works well with adapters. I tested this dock connected to my TV via HDMI and it worked wonderfully in this scenario. The Syntech Docking Station comes with a pair of orange thumb grips, which was a pleasant surprise.
Since there are so many ports, it becomes very easy to turn your Steam Deck into a portable gaming PC. I hooked up an Xbox One controller and my trusty old Razer Turret wireless mouse and keyboard duo. It’s easy to use and everything worked well, especially since the USB is positioned on the curved edge, allowing the cable to pass through the front of the dock more easily. There are no awkward angles with the Syntech dock.
Performance
When it comes to performance, I had no problems using the Syntech 6-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station. It’s exactly the kind of plug-and-play experience you’d expect from a dock like this.
We tested the dock with a variety of games, from high-action games like God of War and Have a Nice Death, to titles like Roots of Pacha and Dorfromantik. We had no lag or connectivity issues at any point during our two-week trial period, which is a great sign. Using an HDMI 2.0 cable, getting games to run at 4K 60 fps where available was a breeze, ensuring everything looked great on my 55-inch LG OLED 4K TV.
Should You Buy a Syntech 6-in-1 Steam Deck Dock?
If you like to run your own cables, the Syntech 6-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station is a brilliant option for taking your Steam Deck to the biggest screens in your home.
This deck is well-built and well-designed, and it’s proof that you should show off your curves. It will certainly give Valve’s own dock some competition, mainly because of price and functionality.
How We Tested the Syntech 6-in-1 Steam Deck Dock
We spent two weeks testing the Syntech 6-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station, utilizing various games from our Steam library using our 512GB Steam Deck. We spent several weeks testing the iVoler Steam Deck Dock before this, comparing it closely to Syntech’s model. The games were played using a wired Xbox One controller and a wireless keyboard and mouse.
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