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Steam Machine Too Expensive? Get Your Deck a Dock
IGN recommends using a low-cost Steam Deck dock as an alternative to Valve’s newly announced Steam Machine, whose starting price is reported to exceed $1,000. The article argues that a dock allows existing Steam Deck owners to play much of their Steam library on a television for far less, although with lower performance.
The featured JSAUX 5-in-1 docking station is on sale for $26.99, down from $29.99, and supports Steam Deck, ROG Ally and Legion Go devices. It connects through HDMI and includes USB-C plus two USB-A ports, but users will need a separate controller and should expect most games to run at 1080p rather than matching the Steam Machine’s power or 4K output.
In short
- A £-equivalent low-cost dock can put Steam Deck games on a TV.
- The JSAUX dock costs $26.99 during the stated sale.
- Expect 1080p gaming and bring a separate controller.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The dock recommendation is sound economics: a £27 accessory that provides television gaming for existing Steam Deck owners eliminates the false choice between inadequate hardware and paying £1,000+ for marginal improvements. Most contemporary games run adequately at 1080p, making performance differences academic for casual and mainstream gamers; this approach allows consumers to allocate limited budgets efficiently rather than pursuing premium specs most users will never fully utilise.
The case against
The Steam Machine deserves serious consideration because it represents a purpose-built device optimised for living-room gaming in ways no peripheral dock can match, delivering superior performance, 4K gaming, and integrated hardware-software optimisation. Reducing it to mere cost comparison overlooks that consumers seeking a dedicated console experience deserve hardware engineered for that role with manufacturer commitment and developer optimisation, not a workaround cobbling together a portable device with an accessory—a meaningful distinction that justifies the investment for those prioritising a genuine console experience.
Explained simply
Valve, the company behind Steam (a digital shop where PC gamers buy and play games), recently announced new gaming hardware called the Steam Machine, designed to let people play their Steam games on a television. The Steam Machine's starting price exceeds $1,000, making it an expensive option for those wanting this experience.
Many people already own a Steam Deck, a portable gaming handheld device released by Valve several years ago. Technology reviewers have highlighted a much cheaper alternative: a simple dock or stand, costing around $27, that connects a Steam Deck to a television.
This dock allows Steam Deck owners to play games on a television for a fraction of the Steam Machine's cost. However, games will not perform as well or look as sharp, and you will need to buy a separate controller. Those on a tighter budget may find this trade-off acceptable.