One year later, this Steam Deck SSD mod is still keeping my new gaming handheld envy at bay

News
By published

WD Black SN770M makes for a reliable Steam Deck storage upgrade.

WD Black SN770M SSD on top of Steam Deck LCD sitting on a woodgrain table.
(Image credit: Phil Hayton)

I've owned a Steam Deck from day one, but I've managed to avoid a distracted boyfriend meme scenario with the best gaming handhelds. That's largely thanks to various mods and tweaks that have kept Valve's portable powerhouse pulling punches in the ring, but out of all the upgrades I've made so far, modding the tiny rig with a larger SSD has made the biggest difference.

Last year, I upgraded my original LCD Steam Deck with a WD Black SN700M SSD, ramping up its storage from 512GB to a massive 2TB. Even the priciest handhelds out there cap out at 1TB, so while Valve's portable is rocking an older custom RDNA 2 AMD Ryzen APU, it's already beating the Asus ROG Xbox Ally when it comes to capacity.

WD Black SN700M 2230 M.2 SSD | from $79.99 at Amazon

WD Black SN700M 2230 M.2 SSD | from $79.99 at Amazon
The SN700M is exactly the right size for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, but will boost your storage up to 2TB. While you'll need to crack your portable open to upgrade the drive, the mod will save you thinking about on-the-go storage for a good while.

512GB | $79.99 at Amazon
1TB | $139.99 $89.99 at Amazon
2TB | $199.50 $169.99 at Amazon

UK: £183.99 £119.99 at Amazon (2TB)

View Deal

I want to hammer home that this Steam Deck SSD mod isn't technically 'plug and play', meaning you'll have to crack your handheld open to install the drive. If you're not used to tinkering around inside compact tech, you might want to ask someone more experienced to give you a hand.

Hand holding WD Black SN770M SSD with Steam Deck in backdrop

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

That said, I'd still say this is one of the simplest mods you can carry out on your Steam Deck, largely because you won't have to rip out the main board or any front-facing components. The job boils down to removing the back shell and metal shielding surrounding the M.2 slot, disconnecting the battery, then unscrewing the SDD just like you would with a gaming PC.

The one additional step that might catch you out is making sure to retain the original Steam Deck drive's metal shielding. It can be removed gently with a pair of tweezers and applied to the new SSD, and while it might feel unnecessary, it'll prevent interference from the handheld's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals.

WD Black SN770M next to Kingston Steam Deck SSD in palm of hand

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

Once you've got the Deck buttoned back up, you'll also want to re-image SteamOS, as your new drive will be completely blank. Valve actually provides instructions for this since it comes in handy even if you aren't upgrading an SSD, but the process will effectively boot into the operating system just like you'd get with a box-fresh handheld.

It's worth noting that while I chose to upgrade Valve's original Steam Deck, you can arm virtually any handheld with a '2230' M.2 SSD with this beefier drive. That includes the Steam Deck OLED and the OG Asus ROG Ally, and I feel like the latter will appeal to anyone hoping to buy the portable instead of the cheapest incoming Xbox flavor.

WD Black SN770M sitting on Steam Deck touchpad

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

I want to stress that the SN770M is far from being the only Steam Deck-compatible SSD out there. You'll find plenty of 2230 M.2 drives at Amazon, and you can grab the likes of Teamgroup's MP44S for $75.99 at Amazon. You'll be stuck with PCIe 3 Gen 3 speeds on Valve's handheld regardless, and while the ROG Ally will leverage any PCI 4 drive you throw at it, the WD Black boasts slightly higher read speeds.

By and large, most 2230 SSDs are going to provide the same handheld benefits, but Western Digital does go the extra mile with a five-year warranty. I wouldn't value that benefit if the drive tapped out after a year, and the one within my Deck is providing reliable. But, in the instance that something catastrophic does occur, it's nice knowing I won't have to fork out for a new drive to get the portable back on the ground.

I'm not saying upgrading your Steam Deck SSD is going to save you from thinking about new handhelds, and it probably shouldn't. New contenders are set to emerge that will change the performance bar, and Valve's iconic portable could look pretty puny by comparison. However, I'm also wary that prices are getting astronomical, so if you'd rather hold on to your Deck for a while longer, a drive swap can make all the difference.

Upgrading your handheld setup? Check out the best Steam Deck accessories and best Steam Deck docks for great add-ons. Alternatively, take a peek at the best retro consoles for ways to emulate the classics and use your physical old games.

Phil Hayton
Phil Hayton
Hardware Editor

Phil is the Hardware Editor at GamesRadar+ who specializes in retro console setups, choosing the latest gaming handhelds, and navigating the choppy seas of using modern-day PC hardware. In the past, they have covered everything from retro gaming history to the latest gaming news, in-depth features, and tech advice for publications like TechRadar, The Daily Star, the BBC, PCGamesN, and Den of Geek. In their spare time, they pour hours into fixing old consoles, modding Game Boys, exploring ways to get the most out of the Steam Deck, and blasting old CRT TV visuals into their eye sockets.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.