this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2025
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Steam Deck

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I have a Samsung Tab 6 with a very nice 8" oled screen. I want to use it in combo with my Bluetooth controller for my Steam Games (for a little more reading room). I've tried Steam Link and it works, but the lag of my wifi make it quite unplayable so, since i already have a dock and an hdmi cable, i was thinking of buying a second dock ( as the one in the photo). Anyone has done anything similar? Can you suggest any free android app to do the mirroring from the deck to my tablet??

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

You need a smaller monitor for this, full stop. A tablet isn't a monitor. Anything you try will lag like hell.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The HDMI port on any dock is output only. You would have to get an HDMI capture adapter to go that route, and watching those live with low lag is problematic. Beware of capture adapters that are USB 2.0 (a lot of cheapos will lie about this).

Another way to go would be Steam Link over wired ethernet.

One last way, which involves only one higher-end USB-C cable, would be to directly plug the deck to the tablet. One (or both) would act in a CDC-ether role to network the two together. (How do you simultaneously access the internet/Steam's servers?). This setup is very fussy on the software side. I have been remarkably unsuccessful at connecting the deck to a laptop in this fashion, but Android is more open to doing "dual role" usb stuff.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Steam Link over wired ethernet seems doable. I'll check that. TY.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

A tablet isn't set up to act as a display for another device. Any solution you find is going to have to involve software running on the tablet to decode and display the video stream, which is going to add significant lag. You'd be better off buying a small monitor. Something like this: https://a.co/d/2hmCX3q

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

Your dock won't work, as its most likely HDMI out only (not in). Even a lot of the capture cards that do have HDMI in tend to have a lot of delay, same with a lot apps that would encode a signal over USB, which would also have a performance hit on your Steamdeck as well. I unfortunately can't think of a good solution except maybe upgrading your wifi access point and using a wired network connection with your Steamdeck, but by then you mind as well just buy an external USB-C display.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That thread was mostly people saying it was too laggy over USB methods (capture card etc) or that the only solutions are windows only apps.

This video from that thread shows the capture card method:

https://youtu.be/xlmAsNZDwjU

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Oh that sucks :(

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Most of the external portable screen projects I've seen for the deck use devices that can directly receive video over usb-c, like XR glasses or portable screens. I don't know of a good way to convert video over usb-c (or hdmi from a dock) into something that your Android tablet can receive and play. There are some windows only apps that can stream video via usb to a tethered tablet, but I don't know of a linux/steamOS compatible option. If anyone does, I would love to hear it.

The easiest thing to try next would be to install Sunshine on your deck, and Moonlight on your tablet. It will still streamed over wifi, but a lot of people get better stream quality/less lag than with steam streaming.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Dude I have the exact one in the photo for my 2nd dock and it works, which surprised me for the price. IDK about the mirroring but I have it plugged into my spare work monitor

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

I don't know about your specific use-case, but I've successfully used the pictured hub as a Steam Deck dock.