I’ve never really put a protective case on my handheld consoles (NDS, Vita, 3DS). However, the Steam Deck is more expensive and weighs much more, meaning that even a small height fall could more easily damage it.
I was thinking about the Spigen “Thin Fit Pro”, which seems to be a tad more premium than what is usually on the market. It seems to be cut out to fit in an official dock, but I have my doubts.
What’s your take on this?
I have the standard Spigen case on mine (not the thin fit pro that you linked), and I like it. I have large hands, and find it quite a bit more comfortable than the caseless deck. I’ve heard of decks popping open at the seams when dropped on their sides, and having a case will protect from that. You also want one that has a ridge that sticks out above the L1/R1 buttons to help shield them from a drop, although it’s not possible to protect them from every angle. The case you linked specifically doesn’t have any protective material there, so I wouldn’t get that one.
The other case I have hands on experience with is the JSAUX mod case, which my son bought. The hand grips are more comfortable than the spigen case, and the front clip cover seems super nice. Spigen has always done an amazing job protecting my phones from drops, and I don’t know if the JSAUX mod case will give as much drop protection. But in terms of case feel and features, it’s clearly nicer than the standard Spigen case.