a boon for ROG Ally and Steam Deck players
Our Verdict
The JSAUX 6-in-1 docking station is an essential piece of kit for any handheld PC owner. Whether you’re using a Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, or Lenovo Legion Go, JSAUX’s versatile docking station gets the job done with a simplistic form factor, with a sturdy aluminum chassis that fits snug onto most desks and TV stands. While the absence of 120Hz support is disappointing, the value for money offered by JSAUX makes this docking station hard to ignore.
- Aluminum casing for protection
- An array of ports to use
- Seamless connection
- Value for money
- Lack of 120Hz support
- Form factor isn’t wide enough for cases
The convenience of playing my Asus ROG Ally in bed or curled up on the sofa is never lost on me, but sometimes I just want some big screen goodness. From simple USB-C dongles to beefy stands, there’s plenty of choice out there, but the JSAUX 6-in-1 docking station hits the sweet spot. Even in the absence of one key feature for any monitor connoisseurs, you shouldn’t overlook this affordable accessory.
You’ve likely heard of JSAUX before or at least have seen the name during your late-night scrolls through Amazon. But this little guy stands out from the sea of generic listings. What’s surprising about this docking station at first touch is its build quality, with the tech brand opting for an aluminum chassis that wraps all of the important stuff. Aside from a plastic opening for a handy ethernet port, the rear of the docking station sees three USB-A 3.0 docks, an HDMI 2.0 port, and a USB-C input for all your 100w fast charging needs. Inside the chamber to rest any of the best portable gaming consoles you may own are two textured grips, ensuring your handheld rests in place without any slippage.
However, there’s a little caveat. To protect my handheld from bumps and scrapes, I’ve got a hardshell grip, adding some chunkiness to the form factor. Because of this, you may find that your handheld PC doesn’t quite sit perfectly. It isn’t completely unusable, but it’s something to be aware of. JSAUX’s addition to the docking station market is compact too, barely encroaching on my desk space. It also slots nicely on a TV stand, finding a rightful place alongside your other consoles. JSAUX is going pound-for-pound when it comes to size and quality, but the real highlights lie within how it operates.
This is the definition of ‘plug and play’ functionality. Transferring the image from my ROG Ally display to my monitor takes mere seconds, with no need to mess around with resolutions or refresh rates afterward. It also kicks into effect the dock’s charging capabilities, meaning you can go right ahead and crank the wattage up on your device to get more juice for those extra frames.
JSAUX bundles in multiple adapters for the dock’s plug, which I highly appreciated as I initially recoiled in terror at the thought of trying to dig up the correct adapter. By default, JSAUX supplies you with a type-C 2-pin head, but you can swap it out for a type-G 3-pin head instead.
Naturally, given the demand of any handheld PC in action, the plug itself can run a little hot. During my time with the dock, I embarked on a three-hour Sniper Elite: Resistance session. I didn’t encounter any disconnection issues, and despite how warm the plug was, it didn’t pose any concerns. Across my fix of sniping foes in visceral firefights, the convenience of the three USB-A 3.0 ports shone through. Using the wireless dongle for the GameSir Cyclone 2 was painless, while the other ports enabled me to hook my keyboard and mouse for a spot of YouTube browsing afterward. In fact, I wrote portions of this review using the docking station.
Heftier tasks like moving large files from hard drives and USB sticks were also delightful speedy, as JSAUX packs in a 5Gpbs transfer speed into this dock. Whether I was moving movies or offloading games for space, pace was never an issue. his docking station has a lot going for it, but where it falters is the refresh rate. Don’t get me wrong, 4K 60Hz is respectable, but if you happen to own a monitor that exceeds this – which most monitors do these days – then you won’t be getting the most out of it.
It’s an admittedly niche issue, but when competitors are offering 4K 120Hz for ever so slightly more out of your wallet, it’s a shame JSAUX hasn’t gone the extra mile. That being said, the affordability of the JSAUX 6-in-1 docking station is budget-friendly. I know what it’s like when you’ve just got your handheld PC. The rush of searching for accessories and building up a shopping list is exciting. A docking station is a must-have purchase, and at $39.99/£39.99, the value here is fantastic.
For more gaming accessory breakdowns, be sure to check out our guides for the best gaming iPhone, the best gaming phone options around, the best phone controllers, and the best Steam Deck docks available. We have also rundowns of other handheld PCs in our Asus ROG Ally X review and our Lenovo Legion Go review.
