The Steam Deck is one of the most popular consoles of the moment, also representing a peculiarity in the videogame market: it is in fact a PC compacted into a portable device. While Valve’s device may look similar to the Nintendo Switch at first glance, it actually offers much more, making it possible for users to connect it directly to a television, connect a controller, mouse or keyboard, and even install Windows.
Steam Deck, available on the official Steam website, is sold at a fairly high price, therefore it is best to take precautions not to damage it, including buying a case and a screen protector, so as to prevent the glass from being scratched. The best protection you can buy is the tempered glass, which has the most suitable material to protect the screen from impacts and scratches. In this article we will therefore explore the better protections currently available on the market, evaluating them on the basis of the material, durability and, of course, the price.
In addition to the screen protector, however, there are other useful accessories that you will need if you have a Steam Deck, for example, here are the best SD cards to install your games catalog.
Screen protectors for Steam Deck, the best
IVoler tempered glass, the best overall
Sold in a pack of three, iVoler’s protectors were created specifically for the Steam Deck’s 7-inch screen. In addition, during application you will be sure to make it adhere perfectly to the console as there is a guide in the package that will allow you to align it to the edges correctly.
The instructions are easy to follow, making the installation process easy and fast, even if you’ve never done it before. IVoler’s screen protectors are 0.3mm thick, which is the standard for this type of product and ensures the right balance of sensitivity and resistance to scratches and abrasions. With 99.9% transparency, you’ll be left with a crystal clear screen and won’t have any repercussions on the original colors of the Steam Deck. Finally, this tempered glass is equipped with an anti-static and oleophobic treatment; in practice, fingerprints and halos will no longer be a problem, making them easier to remove with a cloth.
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AmFilm tempered glass, the easiest to install
The amFilm screen protector, which is also sold in a three-piece package, comes with some very useful flaps on both sides of the glass, making the application truly impossible to go wrong. In fact, you just need to hold the product from these two ends, align it with the Steam Deck screen and position it.
In addition to this, the package includes, as usual, a microfiber cloth and three wet wipes to clean the Steam Deck screen before applying the protection and the installation manual with qr code. As for the characteristics of the tempered glass, they are the same as those of the iVoler: thickness of 0.3 mm, scratch resistance of 9H, 99.9% transparency, high responsiveness to the touch and oleophobic treatment. The only difference is in the price, as amFilm sells tempered glass (at the time this article was written), to 12.99 euroscompared to iVoler’s 9.95 euros.
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Magglass tempered glass, the anti-reflective
Magglas tempered glass differs from other Steam Deck protectors by being anti-reflective, thus giving a dull appearance to the console screen and preventing the appearance of annoying reflections during gaming sessions, especially in illuminated environments or outdoors. However, this extra feature is reflected in the price: one unit is sold for around 24 euros, more than double the average for this product.
In addition to being anti-reflective, Magglass tempered glass has the characteristics of other screen protectors for Steam Deck, therefore scratch resistance of 9H, oleophobic treatment to avoid the appearance of fingerprints and halos and high touch sensitivity. In addition, the company promises an impact resistance of up to two meters, although of course we do not recommend that you test this feature.
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Benazcap tempered glass, the best reviewed
We then move on to Benazcap’s tempered glass, which is among the best reviewed Steam Deck screen protectors on Amazon at the moment, with an average of 4 and a half stars on over 1300 reviews. In terms of quality, we are in line with other products, with a scratch resistance of 9H, an ultra-thin thickness of 0.33 mm, 99.9% transparency and oleophobic treatment to avoid halos; in addition, the tempered glass is also water repellent, protecting your console from drops of water (although obviously only the display will be safe, the rest of the device will not).
Benazcap’s screen protectors are sold in packs of two tempered glasses for 14.99 euros, which is slightly more than those of amFilm but still more than in line with other products of the genre.
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How to choose a Steam Deck screen protector
Valve’s console is built with durable materials both inside and out, making it possible to play video games in one resolution in 1200x800p; despite this, the screen is not immune to damage, so the benefits of using third-party accessories are absolutely worth it. Combining a screen protector with a case will guarantee you maximum safety, especially if you have to travel and therefore don’t want to put your console inside a generic bag.
We’ve introduced you to the best Steam Deck screen protectors currently available on the market, but you may be wondering how to choose the best one. As much as the different products seem the same at first glance when you only see the Amazon pages, in reality there are differences that could help you in your decision.
Brand
Let’s obviously start from one of the fundamental factors to take into consideration, not only when buying a protection for Steam Deck, but in general in life: the brand. In stores like Amazon they are in fact present many products that appear to be the same and at similar prices, but what distinguishes them is the reliability of the brand that markets them; do not trust sellers with strange names, with very generic article images and descriptions and with few reviews.
Instead, aim for products with many (positive) reviews, clear and detailed descriptions and truly representative images of what is being sold. Otherwise you risk buying a poor quality item, which will bubble during application or, even worse, will not really protect your Steam Deck screen.
Features
As you have probably noticed, the screen protectors for Steam Deck that we have presented to you are all quite similar in the basic characteristics: ultra-thin thickness, high resistance to scratches and impacts, treatment against halos. Then there are some features that change according to the product: the tempered glass of iVoler has a guide to align it correctly included in the package, that of amFilm has special flaps to apply it easily, that of Magglass is anti-reflective and Benazcap is water repellent. These are differences that will not change your life, but it is up to you to choose what in your opinion has it higher priority.
Tempered glass vs film
In this article we have recommended only tempered glass to protect the Steam Deck screen, but there are also a multitude of films on the market. So what’s the difference between these two products?
Tempered glass is always more resistant and durable than films, which instead are made of plastic; the latter in fact scratch easily and are about 0.1 mm thick, while the glasses are generally between 0.3 and 0.5 mm thick. In addition, the appearance of the tempered glass is more elegant, smoother and shinier than that of the film, resulting to the touch much more similar to the original console screen.
Even when it comes to installation, tempered glass is better than film, since the latter it creates bubbles very easily which are then impossible to make disappear. In short, although the films cost less, we strongly advise you to opt for tempered glasses, which will protect the screen of your Steam Deck much better, will last longer and will be easier to apply.
Advised price
Obviously we could not fail to mention the price, which is a fundamental component at the time of purchase. Although all the screen protectors for Steam Deck are absolutely accessible (considering that the console is sold starting from 419 euros), the cost of the items is different, and above all the pieces inside the packages must be taken into consideration.
The iVoler screen protectors are in fact sold in packs of 3 for about 10 euros, while those of Magglass cost 24 euros for just a tempered glass. It is then up to you to choose how much to spend according to your needs and your budget.
How to apply a screen protector on the Steam Deck?
Although each screen protector contains its own instruction booklet, we still want to give you some advice, so that your application runs as smoothly as possible.
First, clean the Steam Deck screen several times with a wet wipe in alcohol solution; then use a microfiber cloth to dry the surface, making sure there are no residues of dust, fingerprints or streaks. At this point, remove the protective film on the back of the tempered glass and be careful not to glue the adhesive part to other objects (or to your fingers).
To apply the tempered glass to the Steam Deck screen use a guide (if included in the product package) or simply align it carefully to the edges of the console. Make it adhere to the screen, first pressing in the center and pushing it gradually towards the edges.
If non-panic bubbles appear, continue to push them towards the edges with the help of a microfiber cloth. At this point you will have finished the application: if you realize that the screen protector is bad, try to detach it from the Steam Deck and repeat the operation; the glass won’t attack like the first time, but it may still work.
You are now ready to buy a protection for your Steam Deck, protecting its screen from any kind of damage and playing in any situation without being afraid of ruining the console. If, on the other hand, you are reading this guide while still considering whether to buy the device from Valve or not, we recommend that you go and read our review.
