The ASUS ROG Ally I use to review games on and make videos for the RetroResolve YouTube channel isn’t the first ASUS ROG Ally I bought. As embarrassing as this is, I actually broke my first one. You know the air vents along the top of the Ally? I managed to spill Pepsi directly into them.
The liquid managed to completely fry the insides of the console and stopped the battery from working, rendering the device unusable. Yes, I’m an idiot. Thankfully, I was able to return it and swap it for a new one.
Where am I going with this? Simply put, even when you take perfect care of your handhelds, accidents happen. Whether it’s a small knock to the screen or emptying a can of soda into the vents, no one is impervious to breaks.
That’s why when I heard JSAUX was making a modcase for the ROG Ally (available from here), I had to try it out. I’ve already got the Killswitch case for the Steam Deck, and that thing has stopped me from causing any major damage to my Deck.
Is the JSAUX version as good as the Killswitch? Is it a solid investment for clumsy ROG Ally owners like myself? Let’s dig in.
Look and Feel.
If there’s one thing I’ve noticed when reviewing JSAUX products it’s that the little touches matter the most. Take the top of the Ally modcase, for example. The gap where the power button rests is slightly angled so when you run your finger along the top, you know exactly what button you’re about to press. The hole is also sized perfectly. I can jam my finger in there with minimal effort.
Then there’s the charging area gap. This section is large enough to get the charger in with ease, and it’s large enough to accommodate an XG Mobile, which is surprising. Given how niche the XG Mobile is, it’d be easy to expect companies to forget it’s part of the ROG Ally family, and just size the gap for a charger and nothing else. See what I mean about those little touches?
On the sides of the modcase you’ll find a slightly textured grip. It’s not as rough and sandpaper-like as the dbrand Killswitch modcase, which means if your hands get sweaty, it will be more slippery. The trade-off of that is the JSAUX version ends up feeling much nicer to hold.
On the back, you’ll find two sets of upper vents and two ROG logo-shaped vents on the middle back of the modcase. So far my own testing shows temperatures have remained the same with the modcase on and off. That means the case isn’t blocking any vents or affecting the heat dissipation in any meaningful way. Good stuff.
You’ll also find the kickstand on the back, which I can only describe as a high-tech Switch kickstand. Size-wise, it’s on par with the Switch kickstand, but that’s where the comparisons end. This thing isn’t cheap and falls off just by looking at it. It’s solid, and at 65 degrees, is able to hold the Ally up with ease.
What I found especially inventive about this kickstand is it’s got a small magnet on the inside that causes it to snap shut when you pick up the modcase or turn it upside down. Again, it’s the little touches that really help make this modcase feel like a fully fleshed-out product rather than a quick cash-in.
One final quick point, the space around each of the openings is large enough that nothing gets stuck. I only mention this because I’ve reviewed a few Steam Deck shell replacements where, due to the shell not lining up correctly, the triggers end up getting stuck. With the modcase, there’s around an eighth of an inch around the triggers to ensure they never get stuck.
JSAUX Modcase vs dbrand Killswitch.
It goes without saying, given the Killswitch is designed for the Steam Deck, it won’t fit the ASUS ROG Ally. That said, the Killswitch is the single best modcase out there, so it is worth comparing the two to see what JSAUX has and hasn’t got right.
So, let’s talk mateirals. JSAUX went with a softer grip area that feels nicer but will be more slippery in damp or wet hands. When I hold my Killswitch, I feel like it would take a severe amount of force to knock it out of my hand. I don’t have that feeling with the JSAUX modcase, but I’m also less concerned about dropping a device, so in the end, I prefer the feel of the JSAUX offering.
Along the top of both cases are very similar setups. Both modcases go with angled areas and spacious gaps. The only major difference is the extra peaks on the Killswitch. It’s the same for the bottom of the case as well. If you drop the Killswitch vertically, those hardened peaks will absorb the impact first. The JSAUX case lacks these, so if it lands top-down, the triggers or volume buttons could still be damaged.
The Killswitch also has a larger, more robust removable stand. The JSAUX version looks nicer, but it is easier to knock back in by accident.
The dbrand version is a much more snug fit as well. When you’re putting the Steam Deck in, you really have to put some force into pulling it over the triggers. The reason here, I’d wager, is to help with shock absorption. The JSAUX modcase, meanwhile, is much easier to fit it. I didn’t need to pull anything with any real force, but I’d also assume it won’t have the same level of shock absorption as the Killswitch.
Overall, the Killswitch is the better product. However, we’ve got a massive price disparity in play in. The Killswitch comes in with a recommended retail price (RRP) of $79.99 (you can get it for $59.95 when it’s on offer), while the JSAUX modcase costs just $29.99. That’s half the price of the Killswitch when it’s reduced in price and $50 cheaper than the RRP. That’s a huge difference!
The way I see it, the Killswitch is designed for clumsy people who are likely to drop their Steam Deck and the JSAUX modcase is geared towards people who are worried about cosmetic damage. And Pepsi spillages. I can’t see the JSAUX modcase offering much protection from accidental drops, but for knocks and scrapes it most certainly will. Plus it makes the ROG Ally feel more comfortable to hold and the protective shell houses space for microSD cards, so it’s more than just a modcase.
Should You Buy It?
I’ve tried out silicon jackets for the ROG Ally, and while they’re fine, I end up taking them off. The biggest compliment I have for the JSAUX modcase is I haven’t taken my ROG Ally out of it. It’s made the Ally more comfortable to play on and being able to set it upright when I’m using it in docked mode means I don’t need an extra stand. I just flick the stand out and plop it down.
Plus the fact you can pair it with the JSAUX powerbank, that means you can get more usage out fo the Ally before you need to plug it in. The power bank does add some serious heft to the overall weight (it is a giant battery after all), but it’s meant I don’t need to sit near a power outlet all the time, and that’s great!
The bottom line is this: The JSAUX modcase may not be as premium as the dbrand offering for Steam Deck, but out of all the myriad ROG Ally modcases or silicon jackets out there, it’s the one I’m going to recommend moving forwards and is a must for owners looking for more comfort.
Disclosure: Review sample provided by PR on behalf of JSAUX | All photos captured by Wesley Copeland. To learn more about our review policy click here. | Alternatively, click here to find out why you can trust me.
