best mouse and keyboard for steam deck
Best Mouse and Keyboard for Steam Deck (Wireless & Wired) in 2023. The Steam Deck is one of the most anticipated gaming products of the year, released just this February. Ever since Steam Machine was discontinued, people have been wondering what Valve might release next. A handheld game system like this supports all games in Steam’s catalogue. Based on the display resolution, this should continue to happen for many years to come. The resolution on this monitor is somewhat better than 720p, but it’s still nowhere near as high as a full-sized monitor. This also means that the GPU doesn’t have to work as hard as it would on an even modest gaming tower on a PC.
With Steam Deck, Valve had to come up with a control scheme that mimicked anything a mouse and keyboard could do. Valve had to do this by using triggers, paddles, buttons, thumbsticks, and touchscreens. Regardless of how far you are from your Steam library, Valve has made sure you can use external controls such as a mouse and keyboard even while you’re on the road. There’s nothing stopping you from using traditional controls with your Steam Deck if you love it.
Additionally, three of the best keyboards and mice for Steam Deck are about to be reviewed. We’ll need to examine a lot of features in order to figure out which one is the best. A keycap, a switch, and a backlighting option will all be discussed on keyboards, while button customization, sensitivity, and other gaming-related features will also be discussed on mice. We’ll be able to compare all six options once we’ve evaluated them thoroughly.
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Razer Huntsman Mini 60% Gaming Keyboard
Razer Huntsman Mini 60%
Firstly on our list is the Razer Huntsman mini 60%. Gaming keyboards and mice from Razer are a logical choice when it comes to PC gaming. They manufacture a variety of top quality gaming equipment.
You can take the Razer Huntsman Mini 60% Gaming Keyboard with you wherever you use your Steam Deck, as it is a small tenkeyless keyboard with an aluminum frame. It is a perfect size for traveling. The keycaps are made from PBT plastic, which has some advantages over standard ABS. One advantage is that they will not accumulate much oil as your fingers do. The keys won’t wear down or develop smooth spots over time, either. In addition to being doubleshot, the keys also feature RGB backlighting.
A linear switch can produce the smoothest travel, and has the fewest noise, while a clicky switch produces the most tactile feedback and provides the smoothest travel. In between are the analog switches. They are all optical, so they feel like mechanical keys, but they move faster than mechanical keys.
You can cycle through basic presets with shortcut keys, and the RGB lighting is attractive. It comes with a removable USB Type-C cable that connects it to your Steam Deck. The keyboard has a separate backlight for each letter, resulting in very smooth gradients and fades. If the cable gets damaged, you won’t have to replace the whole keyboard.
In addition to the free Hypershift software, you can remap all the keys on your Huntsman Mini using your PC or Mac computer. The backlighting can also be synchronized with your games, videos, and music using Razer Chroma software, which allows you to create your own macros and save presets for different games.
Pros
The construction is of high quality and the design is extremely well thought out.
There are many types and colors of switches available.
Featuring the world’s fastest linear optical switches; Razer Linear Optical.
Each key character is backlit with doubleshot keys.
A much more durable keycap is made with PBT.
Cons
It can be difficult to use Razer’s software.
Some may not like the brightness of the lighting effects.
Instead of saving locally, settings are stored in the cloud.
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Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse
This sleek, matte black wireless gaming mouse comes with a rubberized texture that keeps your hands secure even when your hands are sweaty. Razer’s Basilisk X Hyperspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse features a matte black housing and a smooth form factor. Unlike most Razer mice, the buttons on the mouse are concave, so you get a firmer click. With a convex button, your finger can get lost, messing up your timing. All of this makes it very easy to handle.
These buttons feel great, regardless of their shape. In addition to providing tactile feedback, they also provide an audible click, so you’ll never wonder if you activated a mouse. The mouse’s switches will last for 50 million clicks. As a whole, the mouse comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty.
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Connectivity
Basilisk X can be connected to your computer in two ways. One is through Bluetooth. The other is through wireless connection, which is much lower in latency. However, a tiny USB dongle is required to connect to the wireless connection. It can be difficult to connect USB devices to Steam Deck due to the requirement for a USB to Type-C hub. Since you’re adding another device, it’s difficult to say how much latency you’ll actually save.
A single advantage of Bluetooth over wireless is its battery life. You can play for up to 450 hours on a single charge when using Bluetooth mode. This is enough for more than two weeks of continuous gaming. However, a wireless mouse will last up to 285 hours. You shouldn’t have any battery issues as long as you plug it in periodically.
Lastly, The Razer Synapse software offers even more advantages to PC gamers. The six mouse buttons can be remapped at your leisure with Razer Synapse. Using Razer Synapse, complex keyboard macros can be mapped to a single mouse button. In addition, the mouse sensitivity can be adjusted from 800 to 16,000 DPI. Depending on your game or play style, you can optimize your mouse accordingly. Read more on Keyboard Buying Guide
Pros
Rubberized material provides a very ergonomic feel.
It is said that this mouse is 25% faster than others.
A tactile switch is included.
USB dongle or Bluetooth wireless connection.
Battery life is hardly affected by Bluetooth connections.
Cons
Bugs are known to plague Razer’s software.
Wireless USB dongles have poor battery life.
Mouse “wakes up” with a slight delay.
Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Apex 5 by SteelSeries
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SteelSeries Apex 5 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
SteelSeries Apex 5 Hybrid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
We decided to take a look at a few of the products offered by SteelSeries, another respected manufacturer of gaming equipment. It is a large and beefy mechanical gaming keyboard, with a black, aircraft-grade aluminum frame. The keyboard comes with a USB cable, which can be attached to your Steam Deck through a hub. It has a rubber insulation that appears to be pretty substantial on the cable.
It is made from ABS plastic, which means it will become smoother over time. However, they have double-shot injections and RGB lighting, so you can customize them to your liking. The main feature is the high-quality mechanical switches, which are available in blue, brown, red, hybrid blue, and whisper quiet versions. As with Razer keyboards, the on-board controls can be used to select many presets. Whatever type of click and tactile feedback you need, you can get it. You can also customize the switches by hot-swapping them.
You can program the small OLED display directly above the number pad to display game stats, Discord messages, and many more. Additionally, the display can be dynamic. A metal volume roller and a dedicated media button are located right next to the display, so when you adjust the volume, your volume percentage will appear on the screen automatically.
Lastly, it comes with an aluminum wrist rest as well as the keyboard itself. You can use it to provide better support for your keyboard by placing a magnetized panel at the front of it. It takes up a lot of space, but you don’t have to. Additionally, its magnetized design makes it easy to disassemble while traveling.
Pros
An OLED smart display is integrated into the device.
Aluminum frame of aircraft-grade quality.
Various styles of switches are available.
Each key character is backlit with doubleshot keys.
This product includes a magnetic wrist rest made of aluminum.
Cons
It is possible for ABS keys to become smooth over time since they are made from plastic.
There is a bit of confusion when using the software.
Some people may not like the brightness of LEDs.
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SteelSeries Rival 5 Gaming Mouse
SteelSeries Rival 5 Gaming Mouse with PrismSync RGB
In addition to the matte black plastic Rival 5, SteelSeries also offers a white variant, which is themed after Destiny 2. With a backlit Steel Series logo below your palm, both mousepads sport rainbow RGB stripes on their sides. Concave keys and good tactile response make this design comfortable and ergonomic. On the side, you can use your thumb to control the five action buttons on the mouse’s side. The mesh cable connects directly to the mouse’s center. It is relatively durable, and its mesh design prevents tangles and snags.
In addition to programmable action buttons, you can also adjust the RGB lighting of the mouse using the SteelSeries Engine software. If you’re playing on a PC, you can program macros and other functions into the action buttons. You can adjust the DPI of the mouse from 100 DPI to 18,000. While this is more range than you’ll ever need, it’s also an excellent feature for PC gamers.
Pros
It is built to a very high standard.
There is an incredible range of DPI.
Battery life is exceptional.
USB dongle or Bluetooth wireless connection.
The USB dongle is integrated into the compartment.
Cons
A few tiny buttons on the side.
There is a bit of mushiness when clicking on the scroll wheel.
There is room for improvement in battery life.
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Logitech G915 TKL Wireless Keyboard
Logitech G915 TKL Tenkeyless Lightspeed RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
In addition to their gaming equipment, Logitech makes good quality office equipment, such as keyboards and mice. They also produce gaming headsets and speakers. With a keyboard layout of 90 keys, the Logitech G915 TKL Wireless Keyboard is tenkeyless. Consequently, you retain all your shortcut keys as well as rubber gaming and media controls above the function keys, so you’ll still be able to use them. It has a tenkeyless keyboard, with the only keys missing being the ones on the number pad. In the top right, you’ll find a metal roller, which allows you to adjust the volume. Dark brushed aluminum frames the housing, which gives it a tactical look.
There are three different styles of mechanical switches. That said, the keys are double shot, with individual RGB backlights. Although they are made from ABS plastic, they are quite disappointing. Additionally, the keys are double shot, with individual RGB backlights. As with our other options, Logitech G HUB is a free program that allows you to customize your lighting. As a result, the native Lightsync function automatically syncs your light with your Steam Deck, as well as other sources.
Through a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, the G915 connects wirelessly. This reduces latency to 1ms, depending on your hub. The battery lasts for up to 40 hours. Furthermore, when the battery is down to 15 percent, an audible and visual warning will appear. With the USB Type-C cable, charging takes only three hours.
Pros
With a modern look, the aluminum frame is well-built.
With included dongle, you can connect via Bluetooth or wireless USB 2.4GHz.
There are no problems with the Lightspeed wireless connection.
Media and volume controls are included.
Low-profile design with an extremely sleek appearance.
It is easy to use and the GHUB software works well.
Cons
Costly.
Instead of PBT, ABS keys are used.
Micro-USB is used.
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Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse
Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse
Lastly we have the Logitech G502. There is a black plastic housing on the Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse. On the plus side, there are nine buttons, and each can be programmed if you’re a PC gamer. The concave sides provide an ergonomic grip. Additionally, you can adjust the DPI from 100 to 25,600 DPI.
Adding, removing, and moving the magnetic weights will let you customize the balance to fit your needs. The mouse comes with six magnetic weights. In addition to being low-latency wirelessly connected, the G502 comes with a 60-hour battery, so it is more than enough for any gamer. Alternatively, you can order the optional Powerplay wireless charging base, which eliminates the need to charge your keyboard by cable.
Pros
A fully customizable adjustable weight.
Exceptionally comfortable ergonomic shape.
You can adjust the DPI to an incredibly high level.
The USB dongle is integrated into the compartment.
Cons
Costly.
Currently only available in right-handed versions; left-handed versions are not available.
There is a possibility of accidentally pressing the DPI adjustment button.
It uses a Micro-USB port.
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Final thoughts on best mouse and keyboard for steam deck
We’ve learned so far. Time we look at the best keyboard and mouse combos. Also remember, the mouse and keyboard don’t have to go hand-in-hand. If you like the Razer keyboard and the Logitech mouse, there’s no rule against mixing and matching!
Razer Huntsman Mini 60% Gaming Keyboard is a great choice if you want a truly portable keyboard. Featuring optical switches and an easy-to-transport cable, it ensures fast key actuation, and the small size makes it easy to transport.