dBrand ROG Ally and ROG Ally X Killswitch review: This accessory fixes one of the biggest problems I had with these gaming handhelds

The ROG Ally, and now the newer ROG Ally X, have become my go-to gaming devices since they launched. I love taking these handhelds with me on trips or simply relaxing with them on the couch after my workday. While they are very impressive gaming handhelds, neither one is perfect. With any luck, its flaws will hopefully be improved upon with the upcoming ROG Ally 2. However, having the right accessories can improve the original ROG Ally and the ROG Ally X without making you purchase another handheld. Enter the dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch.

I installed these rubber case accessories onto my ROG Ally and my ROG Ally X and have been using them for a while now. Here's why you should definitely consider getting one for yourself.

• dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch at dBrand for $59.95
• dBrand ROG Ally X Killswitch at dBrand for $67.90

Disclaimer: This review was made possible thanks to a review unit provided by dBrand. The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.

Reiew updates

UPDATE Dec. 11, 2025: I originally only reviewed the dBrand Killswitch for the original ROG Ally. I have since updated this page to include information about the newer ROG Ally X Killswitch, which I have also reviewed.

dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch: Price and availability

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There are a few options when purchasing the dBrand Killswitch. When it comes to the original ROG Ally, you can get the Essential Kit for $59.95 or the Travel Kit for $74.95. Meanwhile, the ROG Ally X's Essential Kit is $67.90 while the Travel Kit is $92.90. All versions can only be purchased at the dBrand website. Here's what is included in each purchase:

• $59.95 ROG Ally Essential Kit: Killswitch Case, a kickstand, a cleaning cloth, and an adhesive skin design of your choosing.
• $74.95 ROG Ally Travel Kit: Killswitch Case, a kickstand, a cleaning cloth, an adhesive skin design of your choosing, a Travel Cover, and stick grips.
• $67.90 ROG Ally X Essential Kit: Killswitch Case, a kickstand, a cleaning cloth, and an adhesive skin design of your choosing.
• $92.90 ROG Ally X Travel Kit: Killswitch Case, a kickstand, a cleaning cloth, an adhesive skin design of your choosing, a Travel Cover, and stick grips.

Obviously, $59.95 or higher for a ROG Ally or ROG Ally X 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.

Just remember that you need to purchase the case that matches your handheld. The ROG Ally X is thicker than the original Ally, and it has different buttons and port placement. As such, the original ROG Ally Killswitch case will be too small to fit on the newer ROG Ally X, and it will block access to important areas.

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.

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dBrand ROG Ally X Killswitch

You can also wrap the newer and improved ROG Ally X in this form-fitting case. It helps make the handheld easier to hold while also providing a helpful kicktsand.

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dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch: What I like

How to Install a dbrand ROG Ally Killswitch - YouTube

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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 the device. The Killswitch fits very snuggly onto the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X, so the installation process for either handheld took a bit of effort on my part, but it didn't scratch or otherwise damage my devices. 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.

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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 and ROG Ally X won't slip from my hands. Plus, I honestly think my fingers get a little exfoliated after each play session without ever getting sore.

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 my handhelds 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 and ROG Ally X's ports, buttons, and vents. As such, I know that either system will continue to breathe 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

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I was sad when I saw that the ROG Ally and newer ROG Ally X 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 or ROG Ally X, and I can tell you that it has definitely come in handy for me. I've used it to prop up my handhelds when I want 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 or ROG Ally X 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 these handhelds against a stack of books or something, but just having the kickstand built-in adds a lot of convenience on the go.

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 both the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X down flat on their backs without the kickstand getting in the way and making them wobble.

In the weeks that I've been using either Killswitch, I have found it easy to get my gaming handhelds propped up vertically or reclined back a decent amount. The rubber casing makes it so these devices don'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

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Since I personally reviewed the Travel Kit version for both ROG Ally and ROG Ally X, these Killswitch cases also came with the Travel Cover and grip sticks. The 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 my handhelds to prevent pressure from being applied to the screen. It also 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 these gaming devices, 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 in case you do need to uninstall the casing later. I just threw these stickers back in the Killswitch box for safekeeping, so I suggest you do, too.

Obviously, the difficulty of 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

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. Meanwhile, I personally did our JSAUX ModCase and Power Bank bundle review for ROG Ally X and really appreciated the added convenience it gave me. This bundle sells for $79.99 at JSAUX.

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 or ROG Ally X and want to provide slim protection for them.
• 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 or ROG ally X from the case.
• You prefer to carry the ROG Ally or ROG Ally X in a hard shell carrying case.

• dBrand ROG Ally Killswitch at dBrand for $59.95
• dBrand ROG Ally X Killswitch at dBrand for $67.90

There's no denying that the dBrand can easily make your gaming handheld more convenient to use with the ROG Ally Killswitch or the ROG Ally X 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 your handheld 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 gaming device on trips. Traditional carrying cases are bulky, but that covering keeps the gaming handheld slim while still preventing damage 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 or ROG Ally X Killswitch.