Elgato Stream Deck Mini review: A no-brainer for game streamers

Elgato is out to prove ability tin come up in small-scale packages, with the all-new Stream Deck Mini.

Elgato'southward starting time Stream Deck has become a staple tool for video game streamers everywhere, including usa here at Windows Central. But if you thought it was either too large or as well expensive, Elgato now has a smaller, cheaper $99 option simply for you.

A pint-sized streamer companion

Elgato Stream Deck Mini

$99

Bottom line: While six buttons feel restrictive in some ways, robust software mitigates the limitations. This is a great companion for whatever streamer.

Pros:

High-quality materials and construction.
Brilliant, polished software with persistent updates.
Add tons of flair and charm to your streams.

Cons:

Information technology's as well light, button presses cause it to migrate.

What yous'll dearest virtually the Elgato Stream Deck Mini

The Elgato Stream Deck is a wonderful tool for any streamer, that even I, as a casual broadcaster, tin't imagine life without. The original Stream Deck has xv configurable buttons consummate with individual mini LCD screens, and an adjustable base frame. When combined with the robust Stream Deck software, it adds a broad array of control and flair to your streams, complete with deep support for all popular platforms and dissemination software. But what if 15 buttons are but too much? Say hi to the slimmed-down Stream Deck Mini.

The Stream Deck Mini retains many of the features of its bigger blood brother, including glossy, LCD buttons, USB-interfacing, while utilizing the same software platform. Prepare upwardly scene swaps, postal service pre-written chat letters, send out broadcast tweets and even prepare gifs and sound issue popular-ups on your streams — right at your fingertips. The only existent difference here is that there are half-dozen buttons, rather than xv.

The Stream Deck Mini is well synthetic, with solid plastics that don't creak, complete with a rubberized base to reduce drifting on your desk-bound.

Drivers are available through Windows Update, making set up-upward as quick and piece of cake every bit plug-and-play. The software is simple and piece of cake to use too, detecting and integrating your broadcast software, bachelor scenes, and beyond.

The LCD buttons can be programmed with your own icons, and even animated gifs, creating fun, attractive displays. Many of the congenital-in functions have visual cues likewise, so yous know when you've muted your mic or when an attempted function has been properly received past your stream services.

What you'll dislike about the Elgato Stream Deck Mini

There's very niggling to complain virtually with the Stream Deck Mini, but in that location are a couple of design problems that I hope get looked at in a future version.

While information technology does seem like there has been some effort made to give the Stream Deck Mini some hefty weight for its size (to foreclose sliding), button presses nonetheless crusade it to drift around on my desk-bound, even with the safe feet. A little bit more weight or mayhap softer action on the buttons would help rectify this in future revisions, simply information technology's a tiny gripe.

Additionally, I discover the six buttons to be a tad restrictive for my personal stream set up. Even if you're a coincidental streamer, you may find that you lot'll outgrow vi buttons quite quickly. This problem can be offset somewhat by using button folders or contour toggles, simply and so you're reducing the number of available buttons per screen even further, just to navigate effectually your folders and profiles. I think it would have been cool if the Stream Deck came with a smaller dedicated push button for pagination or profile swapping, but again, that's a subjective complaint based on my personal needs. Y'all may find six buttons is more than plenty!

Should yous buy Elgato's Stream Deck Mini?

The Stream Deck Mini takes the first-class Elgato Stream Deck and slims it down into a smaller, cheaper package. Not every streamer out there is going to need 15 configurable hotkeys, and if you lot're one of them, this Deck is for you.

Since the Stream Deck software is and so easy to integrate not only with broadcasting software, only indeed any Windows software cheers to its ability to perform macros and hotkey deportment, you might even want to look at the Stream Deck Mini for use with creative programs like Adobe Photoshop, or while using inking tools like Sketchable.

The Stream Deck Mini is an awesome piece of kit, and whether you're later six buttons or even more, either version is a solid purchase. The Elgato Stream Deck Mini should be available from today for $99, from various online retailers.

So should you buy it? Absolutely.

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