The best ROG Ally accessories in 2023

Asus ROG Ally, one of today’s most powerful portable PCs. But unlike the Steam Deck, there isn’t as robust of an accessory ecosystem for buyers. This makes sense, considering the Asus handheld has been available for less than a year, and has a significantly higher price point than Valve’s handheld.

However, there’s a silver lining. Thanks to the ROG Ally’s design similarities to the Steam Deck, many of those same accessories work just fine with the Asus handheld. This includes things like microSD cards, JSAUX’s docking station, and even some cases.

So, if you’ve decided to make the ROG Ally your portable PC of choice (or you’re the kind of person who has multiple handhelds — no judgment!), here’s a short list of accessories that the Polygon staff enjoys.

This starter kit includes Asus ROG Ally Accessories

This three-pack of amFilm tempered glass screens protectors is one of the best accessories to buy for your ROG Ally. These will keep your screen safe from scratches and other minor cosmetic damage, and they’re easy to apply. Best of all, they’re affordable. Amazon offers the 3-pack of pens for only $12.99.

If you’re using the ROG Ally primarily as a handheld (as opposed to docking it to a monitor or TV), you may wish to make its thumbsticks a little cozier. If so, Skull & Co. makes a set of $10.99 thumbstick grips that are up to the task. While modeled after the sticks on the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally’s are close enough in size to be compatible with these grips as well. Once applied, they provide a bit more surface area for your thumbs, and certain grips can adjust the height if that’s something you prefer.

The easiest and least expensive option for expanding the ROG Ally’s storage is using a microSD card, which are available in sizes ranging from 32 GB to 1 TB from a number of reliable brands. The model we recommend is the 512 GB SanDisk Extreme microSD card, which is a great value for $44.99 (we’ve linked the 1 TB model below).

While the Asus ROG Ally supports faster UHS-II microSD cards, like the Gigastone Ultimate Pro, it’s a pricey route to suggest for most people. We have a few tips to help you add faster storage on your device until more reliable brands jump on board the UHS II microSD train.

For storage that’s both spacious and fast, your best storage option (for those who want to get involved with opening their ROG Ally) is getting a 2230-size M.2 SSD. There are 1 TB SSDs and 2 TB SSDs available. If you’re looking for a 1 TB SSD, our recommendation is the MP600 Mini M.2 SSD from Corsair, which offers much faster transfer speeds compared to microSD cards for just $89.99. While 2 TB models are more scarce, you can currently find the Team Group MP44 at Newegg for $179.99, which offers comparable performance to Corsair’s MP600 Mini.

Alternatives to the Asus ROG docking station and dock

It’s no surprise that the most popular Steam Deck third-party dock is also the best choice for those who need a dock to use with the ROG Ally. The versatile $39.99 JSAUX Steam Deck dock is a simple and straightforward way to expand the handheld’s connectivity options, allowing you to hook up monitors, keyboards, and other wired peripherals. The JSAUX Dock features three USB-A port, one USB-C power port and an HDMI 2.0 out and ethernet ports. All you need to do is place the ROG Ally into the dock and plug in USB-C.

The docking station can deliver up to 100W of power. This is sufficient to charge the ROG Ally at 65W (plus all connected accessories) Even the ROG ally can be run in Turbo mode using this dock. To ensure operation (and Turbo mode support) with a wall charger of 100 W, you only need to make sure that the handheld you are using is running BIOS 323. However, to use that high-speed mode with 65 W chargers (like the one included with the ROG Ally), you’ll both need to update the dock’s firmware with a PC (link accessible within this post) and have BIOS version 323 on the handheld.

If you’d rather hook up some accessories to a more compact hub, Anker’s 332 USB-C hub is cheaper at $24.99. The docking station offers similar connectivity to Jsaux’s, though its power output is lower (85 W).

ROG Ally can expand its ports with one last trick. The ROG XG Mobile external GPU dock not only adds ports, but it can greatly boost performance with its built-in Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card — at a high cost of $1,499.99. Originally designed for select Asus gaming laptops, this dock can also plug into the ROG Ally’s proprietary connector, allowing the handheld to benefit from the additional rendering power of the RTX 3080 (the 2023 edition of the XG Mobile includes an RTX 4090). This ridiculously priced eGPU is out of budget for most people, but it’s there in case you want to get the most out of your handheld.

Best ROG Ally Controllers

If you’re planning to use the ROG Ally docked or hooked up to an external monitor, you might want a Bluetooth controller. If you’re tempted to spend a lot of money on a high-end controller like the DualSense Edge or Xbox Elite Series 2 ($129.98), it might be worth the investment. There are also less expensive options that work equally well.

For a reliable controller that doesn’t skip on essential features, we recommend checking out the $69.99 8BitDo Ultimate Controller. This Switch Pro-like Controller comes equipped with a dock for charging and connects to many devices using Bluetooth or 2.4GHz wireless. Best of all, it’s equipped with Hall effect joysticks that are resistant to drifting over time.

8BitDo Ultimate, an app that allows users to customize inputs and adjust stick sensitivity as well, also has remappable options.

If you’re looking for a less-expensive, more portable option, check out 8BitDo’s SN30 Pro, which has been inspired by the SNES and is available at a regular price of $44.99. While the SN30 Pro lacks 2.4 GHz connectivity and Hall effect joysticks, it’s compatible with Bluetooth-enabled devices, like the ROG Ally.

Best ROG Ally Portable Batteries

Like all portable handhelds, battery life isn’t the ROG Ally’s strongest suit. If you’re playing games, the battery tends to drain rather quickly. To keep your ROG Ally topped off, or to recharge it in a jiff, we’d recommend going with the Baseus 30,000 mAh power bank. This 65 W battery bank is powerful enough to recharge your ROG Ally even while gaming. A handy LED screen shows the voltage and power level. While this large power bank features four USB-A ports in addition to micro-USB and USB-C inputs, make sure only the ROG Ally is plugged in to ensure it gets all of this battery’s power.

If you’re looking for a less expensive option, we’d recommend checking out the 20,000 mAh model from Baseus. This model has the same 65W charging capability, but a smaller battery, less ports and a cheaper price of $47.99.

Keep in mind that just about any power bank with a 65 W or beyond recharging capability will work, so head here if you’re looking for more portable charger options.

The best Asus ROG Ally Cases

Asus produces its own carrying cases for the ROG ally. The $39.99 zip-up case isn’t included with the handheld, which is frustrating given its $699.99 price. If you’re looking for other options, we’d recommend checking out the $45.99 JSAUX carrying case at Amazon. The hard-shell bag was originally designed for Steam Deck. It features an enclosure that is soft and exclusively made for your handheld. A separate compartment has pockets to hold all your accessories. It’ll fit the ROG Ally just fine.

However, if you’d prefer something a little classier, the ROG Ally CitySlicker case from Waterfield is great for people with room in their budget. They are also available in waxed nylon and ballistic canvas.

There isn’t anything quite like Dbrand’s Project Killswitch yet for the ROG Ally (that said, Dbrand confirmed to Polygon that it’s working with Asus on one, targeting this winter for a launch). The closest thing we’ve managed to find as a stand-in is this $19.99 case from Amazon. This case is designed to fit over the Ally’s back, and features cutouts in the sides and top for air intakes and exhausts. This thermoplastic polyurethane case has textured grips that are very comfortable. The built-in kickstand, at this price point is also a nice addition. However, the fit on this case isn’t great, making it annoying to adjust the volume or use the fingerprint reader.

Optoslon’s ROG Case Ally is a similar case that offers better fitting and uses silicone in place of TPU. The $16.99 price tag makes it a great option. We found the silicone to be a magnet for dust and hair, making it tougher to keep clean of debris, if that’s important to you.

Best wall mounts for Asus ROG ally monitors or displays

We don’t consider the Allymate adapter bundle to be essential for most people. At $49, the kit is a great way to fix some of the shortcomings with the handheld computer. This bundle comprises an adhesive plate which sticks on the ROG Ally’s back and allows it to be connected to several mounting options included with just a click. Included in the mounting options are a wall bracket, a VESA-mount for monitor arms and a Kickstand. The package also includes a set of adhesive-backed universal pucks which can be used to mount or remove any item to the rear of your device. This is especially helpful for items that are awkward in shape, such as battery packs, USB-C hubs and external SSDs.

If you’re looking for a VESA mounting solution for your ROG Ally, consider a static monitor arm like the Wali monitor mount, which is usually available on Amazon for around $28. The Wali monitor mount can be a little difficult to adjust, but we found that smaller mounts intended for tablets or even the Nintendo Switch just aren’t up to the task.

It’s important to remember that common monitor arms with gas springs, like this model from Huanuo, are meant to hold stuff much heavier than your handheld. So, unless you’re planning to add some extra weight, or use the arm fully extended, your best option to mount your Ally at eye level is a static monitor arm.