Introduction

UGREEN has been around for 12 years, in that time, the company has developed into one of the best suppliers of consumer electronic devices such as chargers, power banks, power and data cables, and USB hubs. Recently, the company has started to broaden its portfolio in the form of NAS devices and handheld docks. UGREEN products are characterized by solid build quality, a modern industrial design, and competitive pricing.



Today, we're testing UGREEN's 9-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station, made primarily for the Steam Deck but offering support for a wide range of PC gaming handhelds, as well as tablets and smartphones, such as Samsung devices with support for Samsung Dex. Before we start the review, I'd like to thank UGREEN for providing the review sample.

Packaging and A Closer Look

The dock is packed inside a relatively thick cardboard box that's pretty well sealed. The front of the box bears the most important features of the dock, such as an adjustable stand, a 1 Gbit/s Ethernet port, support for 100 W USB PD, and 10 Gbit/s USB ports. You can find more information about the dock, various certificates, and a massive HDMI logo on the sides. The bottom lists detailed specs along with UGREEN's contact info.


Once you open the box you're greeted with a cardboard lid that protects the device. The dock itself is packed inside a plastic bag and tucked inside a cardboard cutout that, along with the aforementioned lid, the lid of the box itself, and the plastic bag does an excellent job of protecting the dock.


Removing the dock and the cardboard cutout reveals the USB-C data cable for connecting your handheld to the dock, packed inside a plastic bag. Other contents include a user manual, a recycling call to action, and a user instruction leaflet.


The selling package includes:

• One UGREEN 9-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station
• One 25 cm/0.8 ft USB-C 10 Gbit/s data cable
• User Manual
• User Instruction Leaflet
• A recycle call to action leaflet

The docking station features a simple industrial design with a gunmetal finish that's quite pleasing to the eyes. Most of the chassis is made of metal, with only the top side below the cover being plastic. You can see the UGREEN logo on the front and a "More for You" slogan printed on the topside.


The metal lid is adjustable and plays the role of the stand, providing support for the handheld device. It's made of two parts, both independently adjustable. The longer section is connected to the dock station's body with a sturdy hinge and ends in another sturdy hinge made of metal that connects it to the second part. The larger section has a 90-degree adjustability, while the smaller portion has an almost 180-degree range of movement.


The smaller part of the lid is covered with a fine rubber coating that provides support to and secures the docked handheld. The rubber's grippy and pleasant to the touch, but it's also a dust magnet, as you can see in the photos. A relatively thick rubber strip is glued to the end of the rear side of the cover, providing protection when the dock's closed and a satisfying "thump" sound when you close the lid.


The handheld device cradle has two grooved rubber strips that protect your handheld. Both strips are super grippy and completely prevent the cradled device from coming into contact with the docking station's body. The cradle is quite wide, with the gap between the rubber strip's inner edges measuring 28 mm in total. On the bottom, you can find four grippy rubber feet that keep the docking station firmly in place, making it very hard to move when sitting on a table or some other surface.


The rear side hosts a USB-C port for connecting to the docked handheld, a 100 W USB-C power input, an HDMI 2.0 port, a 1 Gbit/s Ethernet port, one USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbit/s port, and a single USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbit/s port. The right side, looked at from the front, hosts an SD and TF (microSD) card slot, while the left side provides a home for two USB-A 2.0 ports for connecting a mouse and a keyboard.


The USB-C Gen 3.2 Gen 2 cable is 25 cm long, very thick, and bendable enough not to cause issues when using it to connect handhelds to the docking station.


Thanks to its metal construction, the docking station feels rather hefty and substantial. The total weight is 417 grams, and the station is rather compact. The build quality is excellent. The dock is sturdy; it doesn't creak or deform even under extreme pressure.


Both hinges are made of metal and are very stable; you need to apply a good amount of force to move them. When you dock a handheld into the station, you can rest assured that its weight won't displace either hinge, even if you use a thicker and heavier device such as the Zotac Zone.

PC Gaming Handheld Compatibility

Regarding handheld compatibility, UGREEN claims that its 9-in-1 Steam Deck docking station supports most PC gaming handhelds, and we tend to agree.


Devices that are slimmer in the middle, such as the Steam Deck, have more maneuvering space. You can position it to sit at an almost 90-degree angle to the dock or adjust it to sit at up to about a 45-degree angle.


The same works for the ROG Ally, which is a bit thicker than the Steam Deck in the middle.


Proper thick boys, such as the Zotac Zone, can also be cradled in the dock, but you won't have as much maneuvering space. You can push it down to sit at about a 75-degree angle to the dock, but that's pretty much it.

This doesn't hurt the usability when running a dual-screen setup (an external monitor along with the handheld's display) since the display is perfectly readable no matter the angle the docked handheld is sitting at.