Out of the box, the Sabrent 6-port docking station doesn't look cheap. However, it has burst onto the Steam Deck accessory scene for an unbelievably low $30. This is far cheaper than any Steam Deck dock I've tested, and while there are few competitors at this price, its dominance as the sterling choice for cheap Steam Deck docks is undeniable.

With USB 3.0, three Type-A and one additional Type-C, the Sabrent dock has an advantage over the (frankly unnecessary in 2023) $40/£35 Jsaux Steam Deck Dock (opens in new tab) with USB 2.0 connectivity. The Sabrent is comparable to the $50 upgraded Jsaux Dock (opens in new tab) connection. And while it does not have an Ethernet port (no one plays competitive online games on the Deck), it does have an additional USB Type-C 3.0 for charging peripherals and adding storage.

Sabrent's HDMI 2.0 connection means it is limited to 4K @60Hz, so if you end up buying an 8K TV, this dock will not allow you to take full advantage of it. That said, if you can afford an 8K TV, you can probably afford the official $90/£79 Steam Deck dock with DisplayPort 1.4 port. In any case, the Steam Deck is not going to bench at 4K, let alone 8K, so unless you plan to use it as a movie player, it might be worth tempering your expectations a bit; it's a $30 dock, so 4K should be enough, and if you can afford to buy a $90/$79 Steam Deck dock with a DisplayPort 1.4 port, you can afford to buy a $90/$79 Steam Deck dock with a DisplayPort 1.4 port.

As I said earlier, it doesn't look or feel like a cheap dock. It's plain black with a textured plastic finish, but it doesn't sound hollow when you tap it, as some docks do; it may not be made of machined aluminum like Jsaux's design, but at least it doesn't have that weird tribal pattern that makes it look cheap. It's sturdy enough for what I'll be keeping next to my TV for the foreseeable future, and it's sturdy enough for what I need.

The Deck sits at a nice angle in the Sabrent Dock. It doesn't have as much backrest as some of its competitors, so cables don't feel like they're pushing against the ports, which is one less thing to worry about. There is also enough headroom on the back to avoid blocking the vents, and the USB Type-A port is on the side, giving you a little extra room for shorter controller cables.

My main concern is that there is little room for a hard case. If you want to dock without a case, this means there is very little room. Still, it is quite annoying to have to remove the case anytime you want to dock the deck.

All in all, this is a sturdy and well-made dock. It doesn't suffer from a lack of USB Type-C like some of its competitors, and it has modern connectivity features that we can recommend, especially at this price point. No, it doesn't offer Ethernet connectivity, but for me it's a reasonable replacement for a spare USB Type-C port. Basically, at the low price of $30, there is no competition.