The Ultimate Travel Setup for Steam Deck Players with a Portable Gaming Monitor

The Steam Deck has been making a lot of noise as one of the most capable and convenient portable gaming options out there. Its popularity has been growing as it provides users a chance to play any of their favorite PC games while they’re on the go—whether it’s a long-haul flight, a train ride, an excursion, or just the freedom to move about their home. However, as convenient as the built-in 7-inch display of the Steam Deck is, players might find it a little too small for comfortable play for extended periods, lacking the visual clarity and sharpness they’re used to playing on their home PCs.

That’s where portable gaming monitors are in, providing a perfect combination of a large display size, smooth refresh rates, and stunning visual quality while retaining the convenience of a built-in screen.

In this article, we cover everything you need to know to build the ultimate travel setup for your Steam Deck, including the key travel gear and accessories, benefits of a portable gaming monitor for your Steam Deck, as well as the different types and models to consider.

Why Do Steam Deck Owners Need a Portable Gaming Monitor?

While the Steam Deck is already a great portable gaming device, having its own built-in screen that can be used at all times without the need for docking or a power outlet is a godsend for many. It makes using the console as portable as gaming on a phone.

The downside to this is that the 7-inch built-in display, despite its convenience, just isn’t enough for extended periods of play. This is especially true for graphics-intensive titles or if you’re more of a hardcore gamer. Since the monitor is small, it can quickly become fatiguing and not very immersive. On top of that, the screen resolution and the refresh rate are low, and the visual quality is lackluster compared to what users might be used to from their PCs or consoles at home. Games like Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, or Borderlands 3 just don’t look as good on the built-in monitor of the Steam Deck.

Enter a portable gaming monitor, which can solve all of these issues by simply providing users with a larger screen, a higher resolution, and a smoother refresh rate. The additional benefits of a portable gaming monitor for Steam Deck users are as follows:

• A larger 14- to 16-inch screen makes everything easier to see and play, especially if you’re playing in a split-screen mode, navigating through menus, or playing games with a lot of text on-screen or otherwise benefits from increased pixel density and sharper visuals.

• A 144hz gaming monitor with the Steam Deck means that you’re getting smoother visuals and faster motion, which can be crucial for performance-driven competitive gamers or anyone who wants to play demanding shooters and other games with less input lag.

• While the built-in screen of the Steam Deck is already a pretty portable setup, a portable gaming monitor takes it to a whole other level and makes gaming on the go a truly immersive experience, be it in a hotel room or airport lounge, at a café, or just in bed.

• In terms of hardware, most portable monitors are also fully compatible with the Steam Deck, as they can be connected either via USB-C or HDMI using a USB-C to HDMI adapter. On top of that, most portable monitors are lightweight, thin, and easy to travel with.

• Portable monitors are also excellent for multitasking and work—something many digital nomads and professionals might need.

The Portable Monitor Is at the Heart of This Setup

Before we move on to other accessories and ways to optimize your travel experience with the Steam Deck, the heart of this setup is a portable monitor that provides users with a larger and more comfortable display to play games on. Let’s review some of the key features that should be considered when looking at portable monitors for the Steam Deck.

• Refresh Rate: A 144hz gaming monitor is a must for smooth gameplay, especially for titles that demand quick reactions or focus on competitive multiplayer modes, such as shooters or action RPGs.

• Resolution: A higher-resolution portable monitor is also a good investment, as it will offer a much richer visual experience than the built-in screen of the Steam Deck. While 2K (2,560 x 1,440) is ideal, many 1080p monitors also work well, depending on the needs and visual requirements.

• Portability: A portable gaming monitor for your Steam Deck should also be travel-friendly, with a weight under 2 pounds, as well as a slim, lightweight form factor for easy packing and carrying in a backpack.

• Compatibility: Last but not least, make sure it has the right input, either through USB-C or HDMI (via an adapter), and will be compatible with the Steam Deck.

• Many portable monitors also come with built-in kickstands and protective covers and even support touch gestures for interacting with games on-screen.

Complete Your Travel Setup with These Travel Essentials

The travel setup for your Steam Deck also includes a few other crucial components and accessories for making your experience as smooth as possible. Let’s have a look at the most important ones.

• Travel Case: Traveling with the Steam Deck and a portable monitor can get messy pretty fast, so a protective travel case or backpack is a good idea. Most protective cases will have custom compartments for both the console and the monitor, as well as for all the cables, charging cables, and any additional accessories that you might be carrying.

• Compact Stand/Mount: While most portable monitors will come with a built-in adjustable stand, you can also look for a lightweight folding stand that will give you more positioning options, as well as help keep the monitor at eye-level and reduce neck strain during long gaming sessions.

• Cables/Dock: If you are traveling to different places or hotels where you will have to set up and take down your gaming setup frequently, a compact docking station may be useful. A small portable monitor dock can offer more connectivity options and power support while keeping the mess of wires and connections hidden and away from the eyes.

• Portable Power: One of the downsides of using a Steam Deck with an external monitor is that it will likely drain out the console much faster than its built-in display. A portable power bank with USB-C PD (Power Delivery) support is a good way to make sure your gaming sessions don’t get interrupted.

• Audio: While the Steam Deck has built-in speakers, for a better audio experience, you can also carry a small pair of headphones or a compact Bluetooth speaker for a truly immersive sound experience when playing.

Benefits of Gaming with a Portable Monitor While Traveling

Pairing the Steam Deck with a portable gaming monitor can create a really portable, flexible, and convenient gaming station for all users, with a number of key benefits.

• More Visual Immersion: More screen real estate, higher refresh rates, and sharper visuals are the main and most obvious reasons to use a portable gaming monitor while gaming with your Steam Deck. Games that can look truly gorgeous, such as Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, or Borderlands 3.

• Better Comfort: Comfortably playing for extended periods is much easier with a larger display, and ergonomic advantages can also help reduce eye strain and neck pain.

• Better for Shared Play: Sharing your gaming experience with a portable monitor is much easier and more convenient than using the built-in screen on the Steam Deck. It’s much easier to place a portable monitor on a table or mount and let other people play and watch in the same space. Pair it with a small Bluetooth speaker and you’ve got yourself the ideal mobile co-op gaming setup.

• Easier to Work: A portable gaming monitor is great for work and productivity needs, such as multitasking, watching movies, video editing, or just presentations while traveling.

Pick the Right Portable Gaming Monitor

Choosing the right portable gaming monitor to take on your trips and go with your Steam Deck comes down to different needs and user profiles. Let’s take a look at a few options.

• For Competitive Gamers: If you’re more focused on playing competitive shooters or other fast-paced titles on your Steam Deck, a portable 144hz gaming monitor is a must for the smoothest and most responsive gameplay possible.

• For Cinematic Gamers: On the other hand, if you’re more into story-driven, visual-heavy titles and immersive single-player experiences, you might also want to check out 2K or even OLED displays for the richest color reproduction and contrast possible.

• For Travelers who Need to Work and Play: For those who plan on using a portable monitor for work and productivity on the side, most portable gaming monitors with a slim design and the right ports should be fine, but having some additional inputs can always come in handy, too.

Tips for the Best Travel Gaming Setup

Last but not least, a few tips on how to optimize your gaming travel setup with the Steam Deck and a portable gaming monitor:

• Cable Management: Don’t let your cables and wires get all tangled up. Use cable organizers or Velcro ties to keep them neat and organized.

• Cooling: Make sure that your Steam Deck is getting enough air while it is docked and charging, as your portable monitor may be blocking its air vents.

• Pack Light: When it comes to traveling with your gaming gear, every ounce counts, so make sure to go for the lightest and smallest accessories where possible.

• Power: Consider if the monitor will work on its own, as some might need more power than the Steam Deck can provide. A powered hub or power bank can always help as a backup.

• Protect Your Gear: Make sure to use screen protectors and protective covers/sleeves for both your Steam Deck and portable monitor.

Future of Portable Gaming with Steam Deck

Portable gaming is set to only get better, as improvements to portable monitors continue to happen at a rapid pace. Thinner and lighter displays, better color reproduction and brightness, higher refresh rates, and more features will all be introduced in the coming years, while prices should also continue to drop.

Coupled with the already versatile and feature-packed Steam Deck, this is going to take portable gaming to a whole new level, something that many of us have only dreamed of before now. It won’t be long before we’ll be able to board an aircraft, connect a portable gaming monitor in front of us, and play our favorite AAA PC titles in glorious full HD at 144hz on the go—something that used to be impossible for portable consoles and handheld gaming not too long ago. After all, the most coveted form factor for gamers has always been “anytime, anywhere, anyplace” and combining portable consoles like the Steam Deck with compact, high-quality external displays is a huge leap in that direction.

Closing Thoughts

For Steam Deck players who travel often, a portable gaming monitor is the key piece to having the ultimate gaming setup to make the most of your console’s power and versatility. Whether you’re focused on competitive gaming with a 144hz gaming monitor, prefer your games to look good, or just want the most convenient portable setup with a full-fledged display, the right portable monitor and travel-friendly accessories and power solutions can transform your Steam Deck into a true travel gaming powerhouse.