ROG Ally Killswitch from dBrand fixes one of the biggest problems I had with the gaming handheld
Quick list
- Price and availability
- What I like
- What I don't like
- Competition
- Should you buy it?
The ROG Ally has become my go-to gaming device since it launched. I love taking it with me on trips or simply relaxing with it on the couch after my workday. While it's a very impressive gaming handheld, the ROG Ally isn't perfect. With any luck, its flaws will hopefully be improved upon with the upcoming ROG Ally X and ROG Ally 2. But having the right accessories can improve the original ROG Ally without making you purchase another handheld. Enter the dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch.
I installed this rubber ROG Ally case onto my gaming handheld and have been using it for a few days. Here's why you should definitely consider getting one for yourself.
dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch: Price and availability
There are two options when purchasing the dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch, you can get the Essential Kit for $59.95 or the Travel Kit for $74.95. Both versions can only be purchased at the dBrand website. Here's what is included in either purchase:
$59.95 Essential Kit: Killswitch Case, a kickstand, a cleaning cloth, and an adhesive skin design of your choosing.
$74.95 Travel Kit: Killswitch Case, a kickstand, a cleaning cloth, an adhesive skin design of your choosing, a Travel Cover, stick grips, and a tempered glass screen protector.
Obviously, $59.95 or higher for a ROG Ally casing is a lot of money, but I do think it's worth it for those who want the protection and convenience provided by the Killswitch. The case doesn't add much to the overall weight or thickness of the device, so it's possible your current carrying cases or other ROG Ally accessories could still work with it. You'll just have to double-check to make sure.
dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch
Wrap your gaming handheld in a rubber protective case that makes the device easier to hold. There's also a kickstand, grip sticks, and a Travel Cover to improve upon the playing experience and keep the device safe while traveling.
dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch: What I like
If you've ever purchased something from dBrand before, you know the company always does a phenomenal job with packaging. The stylish black Killswitch box features a schematic drawing of the Killswitch and this package is covered in a soft material that gives an overall air of refinement. Opening the box reveals your included skin and screen cleaning cloth within a pocket on the lid, while the Killswitch itself is entombed in soft foam.
Installation isn't the easiest thing in the world, but it's straightforward when you know what to do. You can watch the official installation video above if you want, but basically, I placed my gaming handheld into the bottom of the casing and then pulled on the yellow sticker tabs looped around the top of the Killswitch to slide the casing over my gaming handheld. The Killswitch fits very snuggly onto the ROG Ally, so the installation process took a bit of effort on my part, but it didn't scratch or otherwise damage my ROG Ally. Just note that if you do want to use one of dBrand's skins or its tempered glass screen protector, then you'll need to install these things before installing the rubber Killswitch case.
But how is the gaming experience once installed? I personally love the feel of the Killswitch rubber. It's weird to say it, but the gentle abrasive material almost feels like soft sandpaper, but in a good way. No, I'm not a masochist. With the Killswitch in place, I am more confident that the ROG Ally won't slip from my hands and I honestly think my fingers get a little exfoliated after each play session too, but they are never sore.
I know that the system will continue to breath while this case is in place.
Additionally, my hands can cramp up pretty easily while playing gaming handhelds, but this hasn't happened as much with the Killswitch in place. The rubber makes the grip area a little fuller, which, in turn, makes the handheld a bit more ergonomic and more comfortable to hold. Plus, that extra rubber layer makes it so the M1 and M2 buttons on the back of the ROG Ally don't stick out as far and thus don't get in my way as much.
Speaking of buttons, dBrand expertly planned the casing to provide all of the openings necessary for the ROG Ally's ports, buttons, and vents. As such, I know that the system will continue to breath while this case is in place and I can continue to access all controls and the USB-C connection as needed.
Boy do I love that kickstand
I was sad when I saw that the ROG Ally didn't have a kickstand like its Nintendo Switch and Legion Go competitors. This seemed like a major oversight, even though the device doesn't have removable controllers like those handhelds do. Thankfully, the Killswitch fixes this problem.
Now, you might be wondering why you'd want a kickstand on ROG Ally, and I can tell you that it has definitely come in handy for me. I've used it to prop up the ROG Ally when I wanted to play with an Xbox Controller. I've used the kickstand when watching YouTube videos during lunch. I've even used an adapter to connect my wireless keyboard and mouse to my ROG Ally, and have used the kickstand to stand the device up while using it as a more traditional computer. Obviously, I could do all of these things while leaning the ROG Ally against a stack of books or something, but just having the kickstand built-in adds a lot of convenience on-the-go.
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Unlike the Steam Deck Killswitch, which uses magnets to keep it from flopping around, the ROG Ally Killswitch kickstand clicks into place against plastic clasps on the casing. I was happy to find that I can still lay the ROG Ally down flat on its back without the kickstand getting in the way and making it wobble.
During my time using the Killswitch, I was easily able to get the gaming handheld propped up vertically or reclined back a decent amount. The rubber casing makes it so the ROG Ally doesn't slip. However, you'll want to make sure not to exert a lot of pressure on the kickstand when it's fully extended, or it might just snap if pressed past its max pivoting angle. I doubt it will break under normal use-cases, though. As another perk, if you take a look at the base of the kickstand, you'll see that there are two slots for microSD cards. So, if you want to travel around with more game data, the kickstand facilitates this.
Travel Kit adds extra protection and convenience
Since I personally reviewed the Travel Kit version, the Killswitch also came with the Travel Cover, tempered glass screen protector, and grip sticks. Both the glass and grip sticks are very easy to install, and I especially appreciate the added level of control I feel while using the joysticks now. Meanwhile, the Travel Cover doesn't take much work to use. It slides on and off of the ROG Ally to prevent damages to the screen and provides a protective pocket over the joysticks and buttons so they don't get smashed in transit.
In the past, I've used hard shell carrying cases to take my gaming handheld on trips, but this is a far slimmer option that prevents damages from occurring while taking up less room in my bag. Obviously, you don't want to step on the Travel Cover because it will shatter with that much weight applied, but it is sturdy enough that it shouldn't crack or break during normal use.
dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch: What I do not like
As I previously said, the Killswitch fits very snuggly onto the gaming device, and so it takes a lot of effort to pull it off again. In fact, dBrand specifically says to keep the yellow sticker tabs that are used for installation handy in case you do need to uninstall the casing later. I just threw these back in the Killswitch box for safekeeping, so I suggest you do too.
Obviously, difficulty removing the casing isn't a problem if a long-term solution is exactly what you're looking for. However, if you think you might want to remove your ROG Ally from its casing frequently, then the Killswitch might not be a good fit for you.
dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch: Competition
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The closest competitor to the dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch is probably the JSAUX ModCase for ROG Ally. You can get it in either white or black, and it comes with both a protective front covering and a kickstand. It has a far more economical MSRP of $29.99, but at the time of writing it was only selling for $25.99 at Amazon.
If you're more interested in a protective hard shell carrying case rather than a formfitting case, then you ought to check out our own Zachary Boddy's Syntech ROG Ally Carrying Case review. Zachary has also verified that the ROG Ally Killswitch fits inside the Syntech case with the kickstand perfectly slotting into the bottom storage area. So if you wanted to get both the Killswitch and Syntech case this could be an option. The Syntech case has a handle for easy carry, it doubles as a kickstand to prop the gaming handheld up, and it has an MSRP of $25.49. As is often the way, this case is currently on sale for just $22.99 at Amazon at the time of writing.
Anyone who is specifically looking for a good travel bag for their gaming handheld should take a look at my Tomtoc Arccos-G47 Travel Bag review. It fits the ROG Ally easily in its soft, padded walls. What's more, there are multiple pockets and storage areas to fit my best ROG Ally accessories. Seriously, I was able to fit an Xbox Controller, charging cables, and a small docking station in addition to my gaming handheld. You can purchase this over-the-shoulder bag for $49.99 at Amazon.
dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch: Should you buy it?
✅ You should buy this if...
You like to travel with your ROG Ally and want to provide slim protection for it.
You'd like something that gives you a better grip on your gaming handheld.
You're looking for a case that has a kickstand.
❌ You should not buy this if...
You'll frequently want to remove the ROG Ally from the case.
You prefer to carry the ROG Ally in a hard shell carrying case.
There's no denying that the dBrand can easily make your gaming handheld more convenient to use with the ROG Ally Killswitch. The textured rubber makes it far less likely for the expensive gaming device to slip from your hands, plus it provides a kickstand so you can prop the ROG Ally up for various activities.
The protective Travel Case that comes in the Killswitch Travel Kit is especially useful for those who tend to bring their ROG Ally on trips. Traditional carrying cases are bulky, but that covering keeps the gaming handheld slim while still preventing damages to the buttons, joysticks, and screen. If you're looking for something that feels good in your hands and provides extra protection, then you definitely should consider the dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch.
dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch
dBrand has done it once again with a beautiful ROG Ally case that manages to improve upon the user experience with the inclusion of a kickstand. It doesn't weigh much, but it makes the device easier to hold and provides a protective covering for when you want to travel with your ROG Ally.
