Elgato Stream Deck MK.2
Your PC’s best pal or annoying neighbor?
HAVING BEEN AROUND since 2017, Elgato’s quirky little macro switches have made a name for themselves in the creative, live streaming, and gaming circles. If you like keeping your desktop setup neat and tidy, the idea of adding another peripheral may not be appealing. However, this one is designed primarily to streamline your work and to make your PC experience as efficient as possible. So, should you add a Stream Deck to your desk or stick to the old school mouse and keyboard method?
There are several variants in Elgato's Stream Deck lineup. There is the original model, the XL version, the Mini, the mobile app, and the pedal accessory. The one we have on test here, the MK.2, is a revamp of the original version. It now features 15 physical LCD macro keys and comes in a white variant. What it gives you over the original model is a nicer 45° detachable kickstand, interchangeable faceplates for more customization, and a removable USB-C cable.
The Stream Deck MK.2 is a freshlooking peripheral that sits discreetly on your desktop. The detachable kickstand looks much cleaner than the MK.1, although the old one had different levels of adjustment. The clarity of the LCD screens isn’t revolutionary, but they clearly display the keys’ icons.
The Stream Deck has 15 customizable action buttons that allow you to complete a variety of different tasks. These are all chosen and customized within Elgato's Stream Deck app, which is where all the magic happens. Opening it up reveals a simulated version of your Stream Deck on screen. Although there are only 15 physical keys on the device, here you can create an infinite amount of keys and actions—more than you’ll ever need.
You can add additional pages to your Deck, which adds a ‘next page’ button to the bottom corners of your device. Each new page gives you even more blank keys to play with. You can also create folders within these pages and to take things even further, you can create folders within folders, much like File Explorer. And as if that wasn’t enough, you can set up different profiles on the Stream Deck, which is handy if you want a setup for streaming and one for gaming, or if you have multiple users on a specific PC.
So there are tons of possibilities and more than enough real estate space within the Stream Deck. This makes the larger XL model a bit of a harder sell, but we prefer this version over the Mini as 15 keys is a good middle ground in our opinion. So, what sort of actions can you create within the app?
IN CONTROL
The right side of the interface features all of the functions which you then drag and drop onto the virtual Stream Deck interface. Some of these functions include Elgato game capture shortcuts, such as scene, record, screenshot, stream, and others. You get similar controls with OBS Studio, Twitch, and Streamlabs options too.
The more generic controls are found in the system and Stream Deck menus, where you can set a key to open a specific application or a website. You can create hotkeys that are perfect for creative tools such as Photoshop, change the brightness, add multi-media controls to adjust the playback of your PC, and more.
During testing, we set up one page to open specific Google programs, one for PC functionality, and another for gaming and streaming. For more customizing options, we changed the icons too—you can add anything you like as long as it's 72x72px resolution. You can also download tools, icon packs, and sounds from the Stream Deck store to make the device even more productive—anything from a Spotify plug-in to Minecraft stats.
Of course, the Stream Deck MK.2 doesn't give you anything that you wouldn’t already have access to. What it does, though, is make performing that action so much easier with a simple press of a button, bringing speed and efficiency to your workspace. Whether you’re streaming, being productive, gaming, or simply procrastinating, it's a handy device. The only question remaining is whether it is worth handing over some of your desktop real estate to this device.
When considering whether to purchase the Elgato Stream Deck MK.2, you may ask yourself whether you’ll actually use it. The thought had crossed our minds too but, after giving it a try, we’re hooked. Maintaining a minimal desk setup is difficult, but if you want to improve your rig, you should make room for this little tool.
Elgato Stream Deck MK.2
STREAMING Endless functionality; bright keys; grippy base; big app store; clear and easy application.
FLOUNDERING Bit pricey; only one level of angle adjustment.
$150, www.elgato.com