The Elgato Stream Deck Plus introduced dials and a touch strip, but in 2025, the VSDinside Stream Dock N4 Pro arrives with a far more advanced design — more keys, a true Touch Bar, dynamic backgrounds, RGB encoder rings, and even built-in USB expansion ports. And the biggest surprise? It costs about half as much.

This in-depth comparison explains why many creators are now choosing the N4 Pro over the Stream Deck Plus.

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1. More Keys: N4 Pro Has 10 Keys vs Stream Deck Plus’ 8 Keys

The Stream Dock N4 Pro includes 10 high-brightness LCD keys, giving creators two more visible actions per page compared to the Stream Deck Plus (which has 8).

More keys = fewer page switches = faster workflow.

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2. Dynamic Background System — Exclusive to N4 Pro

This is one of the N4 Pro’s biggest breakthroughs.

Unlike Stream Deck Plus, which only displays icons on static keys, the N4 Pro uses a layered display system:

• Foreground layer: key icons
• Background layer: full-screen dynamic video or animation

This allows:

• Animated themes
• Waveform backgrounds
• Ambient motion graphics
• Game-style UI effects

Stream Deck Plus cannot display animated backgrounds at all.

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3. True Touch Bar — Not Just a Slider

The Stream Deck Plus has a basic horizontal touch strip. The N4 Pro has a fully interactive Touch Bar with dynamic UI elements.

It supports:

• System controls (volume, brightness, playback)
• Custom action buttons
• Timeline scrubber
• Emoji input
• Dynamic visualizers (music spectrum, meters)
• Animated widgets

This is closer to a MacBook Touch Bar than the simple slider on the Stream Deck Plus.

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4. RGB Lighting Around the Encoders — Exclusive to N4 Pro

The N4 Pro features RGB light rings around each encoder, creating a futuristic look and improving usability in dark setups.

Perfect for:

• Flight simulators
• Music studios
• Nighttime streaming
• Sci-fi themed desk setups

Stream Deck Plus has no encoder lighting.

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5. Built-In USB Hub — N4 Pro Doubles as an Expansion Dock

Unlike any Stream Deck product, the N4 Pro includes a full USB 3.0 hub on its base:

• 2 × USB-A 3.0 ports
• 1 × USB-C 3.0 port

This reduces cable clutter and replaces a separate USB hub — a massive practical advantage for desk setups.

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6. Adjustable Viewing Angle

The Stream Deck Plus has a fixed-angle stand.

The N4 Pro offers adjustable angles, allowing creators to position the deck precisely, whether for streaming, audio mixing, or editing.

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7. Price: About 50% of the Stream Deck Plus

The Stream Deck Plus typically sells for $199–$229.

The N4 Pro costs roughly half that price — while offering:

• More keys
• Dynamic backgrounds
• Touch Bar features
• RGB encoders
• USB hub functionality

In terms of pure hardware value, the N4 Pro is unmatched.

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Software & SDK: Both Compatible with Stream Deck Plugins

The N4 Pro uses an open SDK and is highly compatible with most Stream Deck plugins.

Developers get:

• Open WebSocket protocol
• Full GitHub SDK with examples
• Faster plugin development
• Direct support from VSDinside engineers

SDK: 👉 VSDinside Plugin SDK

Support: 👉 VSDinside Discord

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Conclusion — N4 Pro Is More Advanced and More Affordable

With dynamic backgrounds, a real Touch Bar, RGB encoder lighting, more keys, built-in USB expansion, and a lower price, the Stream Dock N4 Pro outperforms the Stream Deck Plus in nearly every category.

For creators looking for maximum functionality per dollar, the N4 Pro is the clear winner in 2025.

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Get the Stream Dock N4 Pro

👉 Buy Stream Dock N4 Pro
👉 Join the Discord
👉 Share your setup on Reddit

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