ROG Ally X USB-C Guide: Connecting External Devices & Docks

So, you’ve got your hands on the new ASUS ROG Ally X. What a machine! This powerhouse handheld PC isn't just an upgrade; it's a complete rethink of portable gaming in South Africa. But its true potential isn't just in the specs... it’s hiding in plain sight. We’re talking about its two versatile USB-C ports. This ROG Ally X USB-C guide will show you exactly how to transform your handheld into a full-blown desktop rig. 🚀

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R18999.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL iPad & Android Tablet Gaming Controller / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Fits Phones and Tablets up to 10” / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-05470100-R3M1

R5199.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Pro Gaming Controller / Supports Android, iPhone & iPad Mini / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Fits Phones and Tablets up to 8” / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-05460100-R3M1

R4199.00In Stock

Lenovo Legion Go S 8APU1 Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console - Black / AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Extreme / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 8.8" WUXGA (1920 x 1200), Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Display/ Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 2x USB Type-C support (DisplayPort™ 1.4 / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / AMD Wi-Fi® 6E RZ616 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.3 / SteamOS / 2 Stereo Speakers / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 55.5Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 83N6002ESA

R17499.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Gaming Controller / Supports Android and iPhone / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Dual mouse-click back buttons / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-03550100-R3M1

R2999.00In Stock

Lenovo Legion Go S 8ARP1 Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console - Black / AMD Ryzen™ Z2 Go / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM / 512B NVMe SSD / 8.8" WUXGA (1920 x 1200), Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Display/ Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 2x USB Type-C support (DisplayPort™ 1.4 / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / AMD Wi-Fi® 6E RZ616 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.3 / SteamOS / 2 Stereo Speakers / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 55.5Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 83L3004VSA

R13499.00In Stock

Understanding the ROG Ally X USB-C Ports

Unlike its predecessor, the ROG Ally X comes equipped with two USB-C ports, and they are not created equal. This dual-port setup is a massive quality-of-life improvement, finally allowing you to charge the device while using a connected accessory. It’s a small change that makes a world of difference.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Top Port (The Powerhouse): This is a Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 port. Think of it as the VIP connection. It offers blazing-fast data transfer speeds (up to 40Gbps), supports DisplayPort 1.4 for connecting to high-resolution monitors, and is the key to hooking up an external GPU for some serious graphical muscle.
• Bottom Port (The Workhorse): This is a standard USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. While not as fast as Thunderbolt, it’s still incredibly capable. It also supports DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 3.0, making it perfect for charging, connecting a dock, or plugging in an external display.

This powerful and flexible I/O is a core feature that sets many modern ASUS handhelds apart from the competition.

Connecting Essential Devices: A Practical Guide

With two ports at your disposal, you can finally stop juggling adapters. This section of our ROG Ally X USB-C guide covers the most common setups you'll want to try.

Charging and Playing Simultaneously

It sounds simple, but this is a huge win. You can plug your charger into one USB-C port and your controller, dock, or headphones into the other. No more watching your battery drain during an intense boss fight because you had to choose between power and peripherals. This feature alone brings the Ally X in line with other great devices like the Lenovo Legion Go, which also sports dual ports.

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R5199.00In Stock

Lenovo Legion Go S 8APU1 Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console - Black / AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Extreme / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 8.8" WUXGA (1920 x 1200), Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Display/ Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 2x USB Type-C support (DisplayPort™ 1.4 / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / AMD Wi-Fi® 6E RZ616 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.3 / SteamOS / 2 Stereo Speakers / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 55.5Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 83N6002ESA

R17499.00In Stock

MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console / Intel Core Ultra 7 258V / 32GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 8" FHD+ (1920 x 1200), 120 Hz, Touchscreen Display / Intel® Arc 140V Graphics / 2 x USB Type-C (Supports Thunderbolt 4 / DisplayPort / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Micro SD Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / 1x Fingerprint Reader / Intel® Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 Wireless LAN / Bluetooth 5.4 / Windows 11 Home (64bit) / 2 × 2W Speakers, Hi-Res Audio ready / 6-Cell, 80Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / CLAW-8-AI-A2VM-067ZA

R18999.00In Stock

Turtle Beach Atom Mobile Game Controller with Bluetooth for Cloud Gaming on Android Mobile Devices with Compact Shape, Console Style Controls, Low Latency Bluetooth - Red / TBS-0766-05

R2499.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Gaming Controller / Supports Android and iPhone / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Dual mouse-click back buttons / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-03550100-R3M1

R2999.00In Stock

SteelSeries Stratus + Wireless Anroid Controller / Android & Chromebook Wireless Gaming Controller / Bluetooth LE + USB-C PC Support / Adjustable Slim Phone Mount Included / 90-Hour Battery Life with Fast Charge (15 min = 12 hrs) / ALPS Thumbsticks with L3/R3 / Hall Effect Magnetic Triggers for Lifetime Precision / 69076

R999.00In Stock

External Displays for a Big-Screen Experience ✨

Want to take your Helldivers 2 session from the couch to your 4K TV? Easy. Both USB-C ports on the ROG Ally X support DisplayPort 1.4. All you need is a USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort cable/adapter. Plug one end into your Ally X and the other into your monitor or TV, and you're ready to game on the big screen.

Unleashing Desktop Power with Docks and Hubs

This is where the magic really happens. A single USB-C docking station can turn your ROG Ally X into a complete desktop replacement. By connecting a dock to one of the USB-C ports, you can instantly add:

• Multiple USB-A ports (for your keyboard, mouse, and headset)
• An Ethernet port for a stable, low-latency internet connection
• HDMI and/or DisplayPort outputs for one or more monitors
• An SD card reader
• Power pass-through to charge your device

Suddenly, your handheld isn't just for gaming on the go; it's the brain of your entire home setup. It’s this level of versatility that makes the current generation of handheld gaming consoles so exciting.

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R4199.00In Stock

Adata SC735 1TB High-Performance External SSD with USB-C / 1,050MB/s Read & 1,000MB/s Write Speeds / Cable-Free Mobile Phone Compatibility / Gaming Handheld Compatible / Supports Latest Game Consoles / Multi-OS Support / SC735-1000G-CCBK/GY

R2199.00In Stock

Logitech F710 Wireless Gaming Gamepad / 2.4GHz Wireless / Broad Game Support / Familiar Button Layout / 940-000142

R849.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL iPad & Android Tablet Gaming Controller / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Fits Phones and Tablets up to 10” / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-05470100-R3M1

R5199.00In Stock

Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller - Carbon Black / Hybrid D-Pad / 3.5mm Stereo Headset Jack / Textured Triggers And Bumpers / Compatible for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Android And iOS / QAT-00009

R1599.00In Stock

SteelSeries Stratus + Wireless Anroid Controller / Android & Chromebook Wireless Gaming Controller / Bluetooth LE + USB-C PC Support / Adjustable Slim Phone Mount Included / 90-Hour Battery Life with Fast Charge (15 min = 12 hrs) / ALPS Thumbsticks with L3/R3 / Hall Effect Magnetic Triggers for Lifetime Precision / 69076

R999.00In Stock

The Ultimate Upgrade: External GPUs (eGPUs)

For the ultimate performance enthusiasts, the Thunderbolt 4 port opens up a thrilling possibility: connecting an external GPU (eGPU). An eGPU enclosure allows you to connect a full-size desktop graphics card, like an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, directly to your ROG Ally X.

This setup bypasses the Ally X's internal graphics, delivering desktop-level frame rates and enabling features like ray tracing at high settings. It's an expensive upgrade, but it effectively gives you two systems in one: a powerful handheld for the road and a high-end gaming desktop at home. This is a feature that really pushes the boundaries, and something we're eager to see on more devices, including the promising MSI Claw.

Mastering the ROG Ally X USB-C ports is key to unlocking the device's full potential. Whether you're just looking to charge and play or build a full eGPU battle station, these connections make it all possible.