Elgato Stream Deck + Review: Dials Make the Difference

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The Elgato Stream Deck + is the rare desktop controller that makes a convincing case for fewer controls, provided they are the right controls. Eight customisable LCD keys would be unremarkable on their own; the four push encoders and touch panel are what give this model a proper point of view. It is built for people who want quick commands alongside adjustable controls, rather than a vast button matrix. The trade-off is straightforward: this is a carefully curated control surface, not a one-box answer for every shortcut in a sprawling workflow.

My view is that the Stream Deck + makes most sense where keyboard shortcuts have become a nuisance rather than a productivity badge of honour. It puts selected commands, app controls and adjustments in a dedicated place, while retaining enough flexibility to change role between applications.

The dials justify the plus sign

The headline hardware is eight customisable LCD keys, four 360-degree encoders with push function, and a 108 × 14 mm LCD touch panel. That combination is more purposeful than simply adding more buttons. A button is ideal for a distinct command; a rotary encoder suits an assigned setting that benefits from incremental adjustment; and a press on the encoder adds another available action.

Elgato says the touch panel supports touch control, page swiping and dial information display. In practical terms, that gives the rotary controls a visible layer of context instead of turning them into anonymous knobs that need a cheat sheet beside the monitor. It is an intelligent layout for a desktop controller intended to handle more than launch commands.

There is a limit, and it matters. Only eight keys and four dials are physically available at one time. Elgato provides pages, folders and Dial Stacks for additional assignments, but anyone determined to expose every command at once will find this restrictive. That is not the audience this design serves best. Its strength is in making regular, high-value actions accessible without making the desk look like a flight deck.

Profiles stop it becoming a shortcut graveyard

The Stream Deck app uses drag-and-drop assignment for keys and dials, with single or multiple actions available for the touch screen and multifunction dials. That is important because a controller like this succeeds or fails on whether it can reflect a real workflow rather than force one.

Smart Profiles are the particularly useful part of the proposition. They can automatically switch action layouts when the active application changes. Instead of reserving a fixed set of buttons for commands that only make sense in one program, the available controls can follow the software in front of you.

Elgato also supports app control through keyboard shortcuts or dedicated plugins. The keyboard-shortcut route is the quietly valuable feature here: the controller is not limited solely to applications with a bespoke plugin. It remains sensible to establish that the important commands in your chosen software can be triggered as intended, but the scope is wider than a plugin catalogue alone suggests.

A proper desk device, not a standalone studio

At 140 × 138 × 110 mm and 465 g, this is designed to occupy a permanent, reachable spot on a desk. Elgato includes a 150 cm USB-C-to-USB-C cable. The base unit is a computer controller, however, not a standalone streaming system, audio interface or general expansion hub. Its function depends on the free Stream Deck software and a compatible computer.

The compatibility requirement deserves more attention than the attractive controls. Elgato specifies Windows 11 or newer, or macOS 13 or newer, along with a USB-C 3.0 port. A machine outside those requirements makes this the wrong purchase regardless of how neatly the hardware fits a setup.

Expansion is optional, not built in

Buyers considering an XLR microphone should not assume the controller itself has an XLR input. Elgato’s optional XLR Dock MK.2 adds a mono XLR input, 3.5 mm stereo headphone output and 48 V phantom power. It connects directly to the Stream Deck + by USB-C without an extra cable. It also requires Wave Link, and Wave FX processing has its own requirement of Windows 11 64-bit or newer, or macOS 14.2 or newer.

Likewise, the separate USB Hub for Stream Deck + is the relevant add-on for extra ports, memory-card access or laptop charging. It adds two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, SD and microSD slots, with 5 Gb/s combined downstream bandwidth. Full use requires a separate 100 W PD 3.0 minimum USB-C power adapter; up to 65 W is available upstream. Choose that accessory for its specific job, rather than expecting those connections from the base controller.

Who should buy it?

I would recommend the Stream Deck + to creators, editors, streamers and serious shortcut tinkerers who value adjustable controls as much as launch buttons, and who are prepared to arrange profiles around their actual software habits. The four encoders are the decisive advantage: they make this a more specialised proposition than a button-only controller.

I would steer occasional shortcut users towards something simpler, while anyone unwilling to use pages, folders or Dial Stacks should look for a larger physical control surface. The one condition that changes my recommendation is compatibility: the computer needs the required operating system, USB-C 3.0 connection and Stream Deck software, and the key apps need suitable shortcuts or integrations. Meet that condition, and this is a focused, unusually well-considered bit of desktop kit.

Pros

• Four 360-degree push encoders add adjustable and press-based controls alongside the keys.
• Eight customisable LCD keys provide a compact programmable command area.
• Touch panel supports touch control, page swiping and dial information display.
• Smart Profiles can switch layouts when the active application changes.
• Keyboard shortcuts broaden control beyond dedicated plugins.

Cons

• Only eight keys and four dials are physically available at once; larger setups rely on pages, folders or Dial Stacks.
• Requires Windows 11 or newer or macOS 13 or newer, a USB-C 3.0 port and Stream Deck software.
• XLR audio and expanded ports/card reading require separate optional accessories.
• The optional USB Hub needs a separate 100 W PD 3.0 minimum USB-C power adapter for full use.

Check the exact UK variant, current price and availability before ordering.

View Stream Deck + desktop controller on Amazon.co.uk →

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