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It feels like I've been testing the best Steam Deck docks for aeons, and I figured a contender would usurp the Baseus 6-in-1 by now. Yet, three years on from first getting my hands on the hub, I still haven't found an alternative that offers up all the same handheld PC perks at the same price, even though there are plenty of challengers out there.
That's not to say I haven't paired Valve's portable and its gaming handheld rivals with plenty of other hubs. In fact, I'd say the Baseus 6-in-1 Steam Deck dock directly influenced premium alternatives like the Razer Handheld Dock Chroma since it borrows the same adjustable cradle design while adding the brand's mandatory RGB nonsense.
However, while Razer's Steam Deck dock looks the part, it'll set you back $69.99 even with discounts applied. Upcoming Prime Day gaming deals could help nudge things lower, but Baseus already has the PC accessory maker beat on price since its handheld hub comes in at $39.99, and I've spotted it for under $30 during previous sales.
Baseus's and Razer's handheld docks almost look like the same accessory in different fonts. Both are peacocking their adjustable cradles up front, which makes sense given the feature lets you adjust the angle of your chosen portable to accommodate devices that are chonkier than the Steam Deck OLED. Functionally speaking, both options will provide you with the same hybrid desktop experience, but that $30 price gap and subtle design differences may sway you either way.
The really obvious ace up the Razer Handheld Dock's sleeve is its Chroma RGB getup. Like a moth to a really colorful flame, I know some of you will be instantly drawn to the more expensive dock's vibrant strip lighting, and I'd be lying if I said it doesn't look purdy on new-age, rainbow-drenched desks. As you'd perhaps expect from a device by LED lighting pioneers, it also dazzles far harder than the Jsaux RGB docking station, and while you're getting more ports with the latter, it comes in at a loftier $85 at Amazon. Ouch.
The Handheld Dock Chroma also has elegance on its side, with its soft-touch plastic body and foam-padded metal cradle adding an appropriately premium feel. The Baseus 6-in-1 features a pretty similar construction, but opts for a more rounded silver frame with grey rubber that doesn't look quite as bougie. That said, its choice of harder plastic and a proper rubber pad means it's actually far more resistant to scratches, whereas Razer's hub starts to look quite rough if it comes into contact with anything.
Razer's more elegant materials mean that the Handheld Dock Chroma is better suited to the permanent safety of your desk, as slinging it into a bag will result in some stuff. That's not the only element that hampers its travelability, though, as its built-in USB-C cable also lacks proper retention. Yes, you can sort of tuck it into the cradle gap, but Baseus's dock has its own faux port that keeps the wire in place, which is *chef's kiss* for both travel and keeping chaotic cabling away from your surface.
If you're using a Windows 11 handheld like the ROG Xbox Ally X, the Razer dock will harass you with automatic software popups, just like when plugging peripherals into your main gaming PC. Sure, using Razer Synapse is what will give you full command over the accessory's 16.8 million colors and their respective patterns, but additional apps aren't really a vibe on lower-spec, portable machines, especially ones that like to haunt your sessions or pop up as soon as you've plugged in.
Effectively, we're talking about two extremely similar docks with the same primary objective. I personally think saving $30 on a docking station with more useful design elements and more robust materials is a no-brainer, but having a preference for flashy RGB lighting is valid.
If you are set on trying to grab the Razer dock over Baseus's hub while still spending less, there are "renewed" units for $49.99 at Amazon. Just keep in mind that even minor encounters with other objects will scuff up the dock's soft plastics, and while the listing promises "excellent" condition, I'd be shocked if these hubs look box-fresh.
