Agenda
Your Steam Deck joystick inputs are off. Your character walks on its own, the camera turns unprompted, and you feel like you're fighting your own hardware instead of in-game enemies. Or perhaps drift isn't even the issue - you simply want different colors, or your sticks are broken or just feel worn out after two years of intense use.
In all of these cases, you eventually arrive at the same question: GuliKit or eXtremeRate? Both are available as Steam Deck joystick replacements, both cost less than an AAA game - but they solve very different problems. To ensure you don't buy the wrong one, we'll clarify it here.
Steam Deck Joystick Issues: What's Behind Them?
Before comparing, it helps to understand what can break - or what simply deserves an upgrade.
Joystick Drift
Drift is the most well-known problem: the joystick reports movement to the game even though you're not touching it. This happens because the original potentiometers (the sensors inside the stick) experience physical wear and tear. Over time, the conductive contact surfaces wear down - and the sensor reads faulty values. This is a mechanical problem that can be temporarily improved by cleaning, but not permanently fixed.
Broken, Worn, or Sticky Surface
No drift, but the rubber on the stick cap has become smooth, sticky, or just unsightly after many hours of gaming? Did your Steam Deck fall and the stick broke off? This is purely a surface problem - and here lies the crucial difference between the two products.
eXtremeRate: Fresh Look, Familiar Feel
The eXtremeRate joysticks for Steam Deck LCD & OLED are replacement caps - meaning the visible, tangible part of the stick that rests directly under your thumb. The internal electronic module remains untouched.
What Makes the eXtremeRate Set Special?
The decisive advantage is the retained capacitive touch function. This may sound like jargon, but it's important: The Steam Deck detects whether your thumb is on the stick or not - some games and, most importantly, gyro controls use this to automatically switch between controller input and gyro aim. Cheap plastic or silicone joystick caps block this signal. The eXtremeRate caps are designed so that this detection works reliably.
- Price: From €9.99
- Compatibility: Steam Deck LCD & OLED
- Installation Effort: Moderate - solder 1 cable per stick, attach, done
- Solves Drift? No
- Capacitive Touch Retained? Yes
- Ideal for: Visual upgrade, worn surface, color change
For €9.99, you get a quick, stylish upgrade that either repairs your Steam Deck or simply enhances its color. If your Steam Deck is technically flawless but you want fresh sticks, this is the best solution. You can find the sticks here.
GuliKit Hall Effect: The Technical Solution to Drift
GuliKit approaches the problem from a completely different angle. Instead of the cap, the entire internal joystick module is replaced - the core component where the actual sensor sits.
What is a Hall Effect Sensor?
The original Steam Deck joystick uses potentiometers: two small resistive surfaces that touch when the stick moves. They wear out due to friction - and eventually, the sensor registers movements that aren't actually happening. GuliKit, on the other hand, uses electromagnetic sensors: a magnet moves in a magnetic field, and the sensor measures the field change without contact. No physical contact means no wear - and no wear means no drift.
What Exactly Does the GuliKit Module Offer?
- Price: From €27.50 (LCD) / €26.50 (OLED)
- Compatibility: LCD and OLED available as separate versions
- Installation Effort: Moderate: Steam Deck must be opened (no soldering required)
- Permanently Solves Drift? Yes, through complete sensor replacement
- Capacitive Touch Retained? Yes!
- Ideal for: Existing drift, long-term protection against drift, precision upgrade
After installation, a one-time calibration is necessary - instructions can be found directly on the GuliKit website. The installation itself requires no soldering skills; GuliKit deliberately designed it for plug-and-play replacement. Nevertheless, the device must be opened, which makes a difference for some. You can find the GuliKit sticks here for Steam Deck LCD and here for Steam Deck OLED.
The Direct Comparison
| Criterion | GuliKit Hall Effect | eXtremeRate |
|---|---|---|
| What is replaced? | Internal joystick module | Outer joystick cap |
| Price | €26.50 - €27.50 | €9.99 |
| Joystick Drift fixed? | ✅ Yes, permanently | ❌ No |
| Device needs to be opened? | Yes | Yes |
| Soldering required? | No | Yes |
| Capacitive Touch Detection | ✅ Yes, like the original | ✅ Yes, fully retained |
| Optical Customization | Only standard look | Various colors |
| Durability | Very high (no wear due to magnetism) | Normal |
Who is Each Suitable For?
Go for the GuliKit Hall Effect Joysticks if...
- you are already experiencing joystick drift or know that you play intensely and want to take preventive measures
- you are willing to open your Steam Deck once (no soldering, but a screwdriver is needed)
- durability and technical precision are important to you
- you have a Steam Deck OLED and want to retain the full touch function
The eXtremeRate Caps are the Right Choice if...
- your Steam Deck is technically flawless, but the stick surfaces are worn, defective, or sticky
- you want to change color or texture - often, both components are addressed at once when the Steam Deck is already open
- you are looking for a quick, inexpensive solution without significant effort
- you use the capacitive touch function for gyro control and want to retain it
Conclusion
GuliKit and eXtremeRate are not direct competitors - they solve different problems. If you have drift or want to prevent it long-term, you can't get around the GuliKit Hall Effect modules. If you just need fresh caps or want a color change, the eXtremeRate caps are a more affordable option.
In some cases, a combination also makes sense: install the GuliKit module and then install the eXtremeRate cap on top - if you mod, you mod thoroughly.
You can find both products at decky.net with shipping from Germany - usually 1-2 business days to your doorstep.
