eXtremeRate Face Clicky Kit for Steam Deck Handheld Console, Custom Dpad View A B X Y Menu Keys Face Buttons Mouse Clicky Kit for Steam Deck LCD Console - Without Console

Short quick tip before the review: Just in case you're reading this and aren't aware, there are two different kits, this kit is for the LCD steam deck and there's another on extremerate's store for the OLED version of the steam deck.I was a little nervous to purchase these given I heard some mixed experiences around clicky kits, but wow am I glad I did. I always hated the mushiness of the steam deck d-pad, this kit is what the steam deck dpad should've been.I've seen comments around it being "fatiguing to push" and I just can't relate at all - the button stiffness is less than that of a vita (what I'd call very stiff) and even less than something like a 3DS. It's most similar to something like a Switch, but with more "depth" and spring (in a great way). To me it's just about perfect in terms of pressure required.I thought the install process was incredibly straightforward and easy. If you've assembled a PC (which if you're buying a steam deck I assume you've done at least once), you can easily do this mod. Just take your time and be careful - the whole thing from beginning to end took me less than a couple casual hours with lots of coffee breaks.Extremerate's youtube channel has a step-by-step guide that shows you every single disassembly and reassembly step. It's possibly the best video guide I've ever watched - extremely thorough and well shot. Big props to extremerate for this - I'm very impressed at how much time and thought went into all aspects of instruction.The main caveat/downside you need to know with this is that if you decide to go back to "non-clicky" you'll likely need to get replacement "sticker sensors" for your dpad/face buttons. This is unavoidable if you want to try clicky buttons as the "click" is built into extremerate's contact sticker. I guess you could try to reuse the originals after peeling them off, but I wouldn't recommend it.Speaking of which, I've seen the peeling of the button/dpad sensor sticker mentioned as the "hardest part" of the process, and I honestly can't imagine why. As the guide instructs, simply use a blow dryer to get the original sticker sensor off the face button/dpad plate. You by NO MEANS need to use a heat gun or anything intense. Just hold a blow dryer on its hottest setting for a minute or two (I was probably a few inches away while holding), and the contact sticker will peel right off.All in all, if you're a little disappointed with the Steam Deck's face buttons and/or d-pad you MUST try this kit, it is absolutely incredible. Above and beyond my expectations!

Love the clicky buttons. Fairly easy install, came with everything needed plus replacement screws for everything. Excellent

Took me 4 hours to do it right but it was absolutely worth it.Important things to note:- There at least 3 seperate times in which you must use a specific (shorter) screw in a specific place (center bavkplate, center aluminum shield, off-center of daughter boards).- If you have the JSAUX case with the aluminum plate on the back then you will have to carefully peel back the thermal pad on the aluminum shield to reveal the screw covered by the foil.- Make sure the ABXY buttons / D-pad is aligned correctly. If they aren't the buttons will be sunk into the shell and feel terrible to press or won't be usable at all.- The D-pad has a "windswept" curvy bit on one of the directions. This bit should point outwards from the Deck.- The "bumper assembly" is imo the trickiest bit to work with. If you don't reinstall it correctly then your buttons / d-pad / bumpers will not be flush with the case and or will not properly click or actuate. This is what caused me to take 4 hours to figure out why my buttons felt awful.I did this mod specifically to play Tomb Raider Remastered 1-3 and its AMAZING!!The stock D-pad on the Deck is just sttaight up unusable.As a bonus my buttons have less pre-travel and don't wiggle around in-place as much. They're less noisy and don't rattle as much either.

The media could not be loaded. If you play retro games you know the stock dpad is absolutely trash, making diagonals and circle movements on the dpad impossible. This completely fixes that. To say it’s an improvement isn’t fair to just how much better this is than stock.That said while the dpad is perfection, for racing games that require the A button to be held down and the need to tab B for boost (like fzero x) you REALLY have to jam your finger down on A as when your thumb rolls to B (X on the steam deck) you have a good chance of your thumb lifting from A. Unlike the stock membrane that stays down easier with less force at an angle.I’m sure on most games this isn’t an issue but just be aware you’ll have to adjust how you play your games as much like a mouse click the difference between a click and a non registered click is very very small. I honestly might just recommend keeping the membrane buttons instead. Frankly, I’d go back but since you have to peel off the stock sticker pcb thing I can’t even go back now which absolutely sucks.Please note the mic makes the click sound far louder than real life. It’s very tolerable and not super clicky sounding like a Neo geo pocket color joystick or something.If the manufacturer knows how I could get a stock sticker for membrane button support please let me know…

Definitely just a feeling type mod, but I had this installed for about a year now, and no complaints whatsoever! It's a nice mod and is pretty easy to do if you've done previous electronic tear downs. Still the same click for over a year and responds great and fast! It's dirt cheap for a easy mod, and its built really well and I can see it lasting for years to come! It fits perfectly with no modifications needed.

Sadly after only 2 weeks of use, the clicky button left imprints and ripped through the membrane (pictured) causing the clicky buttons to be mushy and not register some button presses