• Pricing & specs
• The good
• The bad
• Final thoughts
When I was preparing for my trip to San Francisco for GDC 2024, I knew I wanted to bring my ASUS ROG Ally. Sure, I read a book during a lot of my leisure and travel time, but I also wanted to continue playing Hollow Knight and other games while I was away. For that, I needed a carrying case to protect the handheld, and I landed on this product from Syntech.
Weeks of use later, and it turns out I chose right. Syntech's hard carrying case for the ASUS ROG Ally is a high-quality, well-designed carrying case that offers great protection and helpful extra features, and it's available at an excellent price. It's on the large side and so isn't for those that need as compact of a case as possible, but the case protected my ROG Ally for thousands of miles of travel, and I know it would protect yours, too.
Syntech ROG Ally case: Pricing and specifications
Pricing highlights
- Syntech's ASUS ROG Ally hard carrying case retails for just $25.49 at Amazon, which nets you the carrying case and nothing else.
- It's a great price for a genuinely high-quality product, and compares favorably with the competition.
• Price: $25.49 at Amazon
• Materials: Polyester fabric, polyurethane handle, EVA hard shell, velvet lining
• Design features: Waterproof zipper, built-in kickstand & screen protection, mesh pocket, hidden storage
• Dimensions: 306.1 x 146.1 x 88.9mm (12.05 x 5.75 x 3.5in)
The ASUS ROG Ally is an expensive product, one that's absolutely worth protecting to the best of your abilities. A bag or case shouldn't be as expensive as the tech it holds, though, making it important that you find a good bargain that doesn't skimp on quality. Syntech's ROG Ally bag firmly fits in both categories, falling in line or even undercutting its competition without feeling cheap.
Syntech's carrying case uses a combination of quality materials here, but don't expect any extra goodies beyond the case itself. For the grand total of $25.49 at Amazon, you get the Syntech ASUS ROG Ally Hard Carrying Case in extremely simple packaging and... That's it! That's not a con, though. Syntech isn't overcharging you; this is a well-priced carrying case that won't disappoint you.
Syntech ROG Ally case: The good
The pros highlights
- The carrying case feels very well-built, offering excellent protection from all manner of potential hazards.
- The built-in screen protection and mesh pocket doubles as a kickstand, too, which can be very handy.
- Extra storage below your handheld is perfect for a charger, earbuds, or other small items.
The outside layer of polyester fabric has handled everyday wear and tear without issue, even though it does have a tendency to pick up dust. The middle EVA (a polymer) provides rigid protection from bumps and drops, while the velvet interior prevents unwanted scratches. Everything feels nicely tailored to the ROG Ally, with indents for the joysticks and just enough space for everything to be snug.
Even the zipper feels thoughtfully planned. It's a hidden double zipper that is both water and rustproof; it's a little tight and difficult to open or close at times, but that's worth it for the added protection. The handle is also comfortable and solidly attached, and I was confident in it even swinging the case around.
The build quality is excellent, but how is this carrying case in action? The ROG Ally nests neatly inside, and you can protect the screen with a simple flap secured via velcro. There's another partition that folds out, containing the mesh pocket for simple accessories like microSD cards or cleaning cloths, and can fold up to be a makeshift kickstand. The kickstand feels solid, enough that you can trust it to withstand some jostling and keep your ROG Ally rooted.
Underneath your ROG Ally is a decent-sized cavity big enough for the ROG Ally's charger, or maybe a pair of Bluetooth earbuds, or other accessories. This obviously adds bulk to Syntech's carrying case, but it does mean you can store everything you need for the ASUS ROG Ally in one place. It's all easy to understand and access, and it doesn't feel like Syntech threw anything together here.
Syntech ROG Ally case: The bad
The cons highlights
- This is a well-built and protective carrying case, but it's definitely not the most compact on the market.
- The kickstand is also useful to have, but being built into the case makes it a lot less convenient and bulkier than an integrated kickstand would've been.
It's obvious from images that Syntech's ROG Ally carrying case is not a small affair. This is meant to be an all-in-one solution, but those needing something slim and light that can slide into practically any bag on the way out the door may be disappointed by Syntech's offering. Extra storage means extra size, but it's still something worth keeping in mind if you're in the market for an ROG Ally case.
In that case, you may be better served by the more expensive tomtoc case for $32.99 at Amazon, or the JSAUX ModCase for $29.99 at Amazon. Syntech's hard carrying case is a far better value than the former, though, and is more consistent in quality than the latter.
Finally, while the kickstand is great to have, it does mean having the carrying case sitting out, too, which takes up a considerable amount of space (it'd cramp an airplane tray, for example). It just makes me wish ASUS would've built a kickstand into the ROG Ally, instead. Maybe we'll see it with the ASUS ROG Ally 2, but until then a kickstand built into your carrying case is still better than none at all.
Syntech ROG Ally case: Final thoughts
You should buy this if ...
✅You want an all-in-one solution to protect your ASUS ROG Ally
Syntech's hard carrying case is intelligently designed, expertly constructed, and more than capable of protecting your ROG Ally from bumps, drops, scratches, and even splashes. It's a great all-in-one carrying case with a good amount of storage, and even boasts a built-in kickstand for when you want to prop your ROG Ally up.
You should not buy this if ...
❌You want a slim case for lightweight traveling
The Syntech hard carrying case for the ASUS ROG Ally is awesome, but it's certainly not small. It prioritizes storage and protection over portability, so those needing a highly compact case to throw into a bag on the way out the door may be better served by slimmer alternatives, often at the expense of quality, features, or value.
This is hardly the most exciting review. The Syntech ASUS ROG Ally Hard Carrying Case may be an important accessory for one of the best gaming handhelds, but it's hardly a major financial decision. Still, Syntech impressed me with the quality and thorough design of its carrying case, which offers excellent protection and some helpful features and storage.
This is one of the best ASUS ROG Ally accessories you can buy; at just $25.49 at Amazon, it's also one of the easiest ROG Ally accessories to buy. You can also bundle Syntech's ASUS ROG Ally USB hub for $54.99 at Amazon to save some cash on another useful peripheral. Unless you're certain you need something extra compact that just protects your ROG Ally and little else, the Syntech ASUS ROG Ally Hard Carrying Case is a reliable, trustworthy way to transport your valuable handheld and all the accessories you need for it.
Excellent protection, reliable build quality, useful extra storage, and even an extra built-in kickstand make the Syntech ASUS ROG Ally Hard Carrying Case a fantastic option for transporting your expensive handheld worry-free. Just make sure there's enough room in your bag, first.
