As both a passionate gamer and aspiring streamer, few tools excite me more than Elgato‘s ingenious Stream Deck controllers. These LCD-packed panels put the power to launch apps, trigger scenes, and activate stream assets like lights and audio entirely at your fingertips. But Elgato upped the ante recently with a shiny new Stream Deck Plus model that challenges their flagship XL unit.
Let‘s geek out over an in-depth feature face-off between the svelte Stream Deck Plus against the tactile powerhouse Stream Deck XL! I‘ve tested both controllers extensively for streaming Warzone and Apex Legends gameplay from my battlestation. Here‘s the epic tale of how these two streaming sidekicks compare – from their designs and functions to performance and companion software.
The Rise of Elgato Stream Decks
Before analyzing the Plus and XL variants, it helps to understand Elgato‘s journey towards dominating the content creation controller space. Their first plain Stream Deck arrived in 2014 packing 15 LCD-enabled shortcut keys. Gamers latched onto it for simplifying game capture and complex live streaming commands.
Elgato kept refining – making the keys more vibrant while expanding software integration. By 2018 the princely Stream Deck XL debuted, framing a formidable 4×8 grid of 32 tactile keys under vivid full-color displays. Its spacious footprint and wealth of programmable controls hit a sweet spot amongst power streamers and producers.
Both models fostered passionate fan bases thanks to deep ties with broadcasting apps like OBS Studio plus Elgato‘s own streaming products. But the formula remained unchanged – until 2022‘s stealthy Stream Deck Plus dropped to shake things up.
Stream Deck Plus Design – Sleek Looks With Clever Extras
My first impression unboxing the Stream Deck Plus? Sexy. Just look at its slimline profile and jet black finish! Elgato managed to shrink the width down substantially from the XL‘s bulky frame. Stacked vertically, the Plus stands just 5.5 x 3.3 inches yet retains a recognizable mini-bank of 8 vibrant LCD keys.
But peering closer reveals some special surprises…
Firstly, tapping those keys elicits a satisfying click – because they are fully touch-sensitive displays! It modernizes the interface but I do miss the precise mechanical presses of traditional keys.
Additionally, a clicky volume dial and mixer knob sit conveniently along the top edge for manually controlling audio, while 4 dedicated buttons underneath fast-switch your Elgato lights or mute mics. These physical controls for core streaming elements felt ingenious – no more fumbling with apps to tweak lighting or music levels mid-stream!
At 0.9 lbs the Plus weighs about half of the lumbering XL. With its slimmer design, I found it easier to position the Plus creatively around my gaming gear. Want to overlay a visual reference of shortcuts above your webcam view? The Plus gets the job done without hogging real estate. For travel-ready creators, it could be a superb sidekick compared to the XL‘s imposing footprint.
Behold the Mighty Stream Deck XL
Now for a victory lap of Elgato‘s pièce de résistance – the magnificent Stream Deck XL. Flanked by an imposing 4×8 grid holding 32 backlit keys, this thing means business! It still looks pristine after years of loyal service triggering Hotkeys and OBS workflows from my streaming HQ.
At 9 x 5 inches wide, the matte black Stream Deck XL has noticeable heft at 1.8 lbs resting sturdily on your work surface. But that spacious frame also provides tons of space to customize shortcuts. I‘ve happily reserved quadrants for scene switching, media controls, TweetDeck shortcuts, and Hue light presets. With convenient labels under each display, it keeps my frequent streaming/podcasting actions easily accessible without fumbling with apps mid-show.
The responsive mechanical keys deliver crisp, clicky feedback. I vastly prefer their precision to avoid mis-presses compared to the Stream Deck Plus touchscreen. Perhaps decades typing on mechanical keyboards has biased me! But the XL‘s spongy base keeps it firmly planted during intense gaming sessions, ready to unleash macros at my every command.
While the XL lacks the dedicated audio/lighting controls seen on the Plus, expanding my setup with Elgato peripherals like the Wave XLR mic and Ring Light means syncing everything through Stream Deck software works smoothly. More on that exciting ecosystem synergy later!
Stream Deck Software & Integration
A major consideration beyond the hardware itself is the Stream Deck platform software. This app unlocks the true magic – allowing you to configure each key with custom icons and power actions across apps and web services using “profiles”.
Both the Plus and XL variants leverage the same software suite. I‘ve had zero issues pairing either model with the app for complex integrations. Support forgrouping keys into folders to form pages or multi-action sequences makes both units highly customizable, despite their physical key discrepancies.
The recent 6.1 software update added handy tools for the Plus like rapid volume/mute controls plus lighting and mic presets for Elgato peripherals. But robust underlying OBS, Twitch, Spotify, and other 3rd party actions I rely on remained intact. Kudos to Elgato for enhancing Plus functionality without breakingbackwards compatibility!
For mobile creators, iOS/Android options unlock Stream Deck versatility on phones/tablets too. But touch latency seems improved on the native Plus touchscreens. Either way, unlocking this software platform multiplies what these slick boxes can achieve exponentially.
Ideal Use Cases – Who Should Consider Each Model?
With both sharing the same software environment, physical design plays perhaps the biggest role choosing between the Stream Deck Plus and XL for your personal streaming mission. Let‘s explore ideal applications where each device would excel:
Stream Deck XL
The king Stream Deck XL caters perfectly to my own solo gaming stream hub. Packing 32 responsive mechanical keys split into pages for OBS scenes, media playlists, chat bots, etc keeps the broadcast humming slickly. Its spacious footprint harbors all the shortcuts I could need always within reach off-camera.
Other power users like podcaster buddies of mine have filled XL profiles with audio effects racks in apps like Reaper. The 32 keys make room for a complete mobile sound engineering rig!
Creative pros editing video in Premiere seem to dig the XL too – dedicating keys fortimeline zoom presets, color grading tools, exporting sequences and more to majorly boost editing productivity.
Stream Deck Plus
I gifted the snazzy Stream Deck Plus to a globetrotting journalist friend who crafts YouTube field reports on his travels. He loves how the slimmer Plus easily slips into his gear bag, yet still grants quick access to switching multicam feeds and titles during recording.
The eight touch keys – while fewer than the XL – actually work great as a mobile rig given their spontaneity. And having hardware dials that immediately control his Rode mic levels and small LED light on-scene feels almost like cheating!
I also envision the Stream Deck Plus as an ultimate command station add-on for current XL owners like myself. Having the Plus physically stacked atop my XL grants me quick access to mute discord chats or adjust my Wave XLR levels without leaving games. For $200 it feels like an easy way to augment my existing Stream Deck setup versus buying a whole second XL.
Benchmarking Streaming Performance
When it comes time to step up for a demanding multi-hour marathon stream, only proven stability and speed will do. Both the veteran Stream Deck XL and sophomore Plus models have proven themselves plenty capable streaming rig managers during my grueling trials.
In terms of raw computing grunt, the XL and Plus hardware seems virtually identical. I noticed no performance lag or software hiccups even juggling hectic OBS transitions, Spotifty tracks and Chatty bot moderation across six straight hours of playing Apex Legends. Either Stream Deck variant can truly drive an extensive live production without breaking a sweat!
The biggest difference emerged in the physical user experience. Over long sessions, the XL‘s spacious design and crisp mechanical keys kept all shortcuts precise and comfortable for my fingers. I felt perhaps a tad more confidence activating tweaks quickly thanks to each key‘s stellar tactile feedback.
By contrast the Stream Deck Plus touch keys induced a few accidental presses mid-match as my thumbs grazed buttons. And cramping emerged slightly earlier without the ergonomic angles provided by the XL‘s staggered key rows. Portability trades off a bit of user experience. But responsiveness remained excellent over hours of intense streaming thanks to Elgato‘s optimization.
Reliability & Durability Factors
Stream Deck controllers practically live on your desk once integrated into any serious creative workflow. Unlike mice or headsets, you just can‘t afford these things crapping out mid-production. I‘m happy to report both the XL and shiny new Plus models seem rock solid after months of use.
The Stream Deck XL does boast a long, reputable history on the market backing up its resilience. Fellow long-time owners I‘ve chatted with online back me up – they note little to no hardware or software issues even after years of perpetual duty driving broadcasts. I‘d expect nothing less given Elgato‘s reputation for premium quality.
And if anyone questions whether the Plus touchscreen presents a durability risk, I went the extra mile to find out! Yes, tapping firmly or sliding fingers across the Plus glass elicits no uneven panels or unresponsive spots. The touch accuracy and color pop nicely too with no washed out keys after extensive poking and prodding. Only the months ahead will tell for certain. But solid electronics and sturdy glass paneling seem highly durable so far.
My sole Stream Deck gripe applies equally to both models – rubberized base pads seem to lose grip after a year or so. But a $5 anti-slip mat solves this minor traction issue! Overall the Plus appears to share the XL‘s resilience with hopefully a similarly long lifespan.
Availability & Bundles
Given Elgato Stream Decks ubiquity amongst gamers nowadays, stock seems ample across various retailers like Amazon, Currys, or direct from Elgato.com. The Plus model having just launched may face sporadic shortages. But I secured mine quickly at market price on Amazon UK with Prime shipping.
Elgato also offers a couple hardware bundles that add value:
Stream Deck Plus w/Wave Mic Arm
This $299 pairing looks enticing for new streamers, with a sturdy boom and mount for Elgato‘s broadcast-grade Wave XLR USB microphone. Together they form an easy plug-and-play streaming audio & control combo!
Stream Deck XL or Plus w/Green Screen
Pair either Stream Deck flavor with Elgato‘s collapsible Chroma Key green screen for $289-319 based on current sales. This unlocks portable background removal without complex real-time software processing – great for solo creators!
If needing multiple Steam Decks, purchasing separately seems wise since bundles provide single units only. But the bundles with bonus hardware cater nicely to novice content producers seeking an easy path towards professional production values and control.
Rising Competition in Macro Controllers
While Elgato undoubtedly leads the streaming hardware arms race, some new macro pad challengers have rolled onto the scene lately aiming to usurp the Stream Deck‘s glory. Are any potential XL or Plus alternatives worth considering? Let‘s quickly assess:
LoupeDeck Live – A favorite of photo/video editors thanks to console-style dials tailored for Adobe app parameters ($200)
Razer Stream Controller – Packs an LCD touchscreen plus handy utility buttons, but less keys overall or software depth vs Stream Decks ($210)
Xkeys Desktop Controller – Keys fully programmable like a Stream Deck but lacks any LCD displays or dials ($200+)
Each has merits for certain niches. But currently none match the polished end-to-end solution spanning sleek hardware controls, expansive integration software, mobile apps, and overall community support that Elgato provides through their Stream Deck platform. Especially for aspiring game streamers like myself, they remain utterly unmatched!
After closely evaluating both the compact Stream Deck Plus and expansive Stream Deck XL side-by-side, a clear verdict emerges – either model still easily earns my enthusiasm (and dollars!) as a serious gamer and streaming aficionado.
The svelte Plus model introduces smart new concepts bridging Elgato‘s lighting and audio products under handy control knobs. Combined with slick LCD touch keys, it makes for an incredibly powerful portable streaming tool.
But content creation power users will keep swooning over the spatial grandeur and tactile bliss flowing from the XL‘s 32 mechanical keys. Its spacious footprint harbors endless shortcuts that can elevate any streaming, podcasting, or video editing workflow to untold heights!
For mobile creators needing to save space in their field kit, I confidently recommend the Stream Deck Plus for packing immense control in a tidy footprint. Want the pinnacle command center planted like a fortress upon your desktop? Bow before the XL‘s sprawling majesty without hesitation!
And if feasible for your setup, combining both Stream Deck variants may form the ultimate dynamic streaming duo. The Plus readily augments any XL with auxiliary functions like audio tweaks. Together they become an unstoppable production force that can elevate any creator who seizes their power!
So which Elgato general will YOU enlist to lead your next creative conquest? The choice is clear: Continue your march towards streaming glory with either (or both) of these conquering Stream Deck heroes by your side!