Has ASUS lost its marbles? This ‘Bulwark’ handheld dock is $140 — spend that cash on a better ROG Ally instead.

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As an analyst, I’ve been closely watching the handheld gaming PC market, and it’s clear these devices are here to stay. While Valve’s Steam Deck was the first big player, the ASUS ROG Ally is a serious contender, especially for those who prefer Windows. I’ve been using both extensively, and honestly, the Ally is quickly becoming my go-to device, even though SteamOS does offer some performance benefits.

No matter which laptop you pick, you’ll likely wish you had a bigger screen at some point. While you can use adapters to connect to a monitor, a docking station is a much more reliable and convenient option. I recently tested the ASUS ROG Bulwark Dock to see how well it performs.

We received a review unit from ASUS ROG for this review. ASUS ROG did not have any input into the content before it was published.

ROG Bulwark Dock: Price and availability

The ASUS ROG Bulwark Dock is now available at Best Buy for $139.99, which is the price recommended by the manufacturer. We might see discounts in the future, potentially lowering the price.

The package includes very little – just one 25cm USB-C cable that has a bent connector on one side.

This cable is made to work with the ASUS ROG Ally, including models like the ROG Ally X and future versions such as the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X.

As an analyst, I want to point out that this dock doesn’t include a power adapter. You’ll need to supply your own USB-C charger – something like the 65W charger that comes with the ROG Ally would work perfectly.

If you plan to connect to an external monitor and enjoy content or games in 4K resolution at 144Hz, you’ll also need an HDMI 2.1 cable. While it might not be common for a handheld gaming PC, older HDMI cables (2.0 and older) simply can’t handle that level of performance.

While ASUS heavily promotes the Bulwark dock with its ROG Ally handheld, it also works with other Windows and Linux-based devices like the Lenovo Legion Go and Steam Deck. Keep in mind that the customizable RGB lighting effects might not sync properly with non-ASUS devices using the Armoury Crate software.

My first impression of the ROG Bulwark dock wasn’t great – the box didn’t contain much. I didn’t expect it to include a power adapter, but the 65W USB-C charger that came with my ASUS ROG Ally isn’t powerful enough to run all of the Bulwark’s features, as it needs over 100W.

Using the Bulwark dock at its fullest could cost you a shocking $240, which is far too expensive.

Before connecting any devices to the USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, you should think about getting a separate power adapter. Even the ASUS ROG 140W charger, which costs around $100, is an extra expense. Plus, if you want the device to operate at its maximum power, you won’t be able to use all the extra ports on that charger.

Even my preferred brand, Anker, charges almost $100 for a powerful USB-C charger, meaning affordable options are limited. Using the Bulwark dock with all its features could easily cost you $240, which is a lot of money. So, let’s see what this device actually does to determine if even the lowest price is justified.

After plugging a powerful USB-C charger (100W or more) into the designated port, you’ll have one USB-C port left for the included 25cm cable connecting to your gaming device. You’ll also have three standard USB-A ports: one that can deliver 7.5W of power and fast 10Gbps data speeds, and two more that provide 4.5W of power at the same fast data speed.

You can also use a standard Ethernet cable (RJ45) to connect to a local network, with speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second (1Gbps). It’s not faster than that-it doesn’t support 2.5Gb or 5Gb speeds-but it’s a common wired internet connection. While the fast Wi-Fi 6E on my ASUS ROG Ally is usually enough, I still like having the option to connect with Ethernet on any gaming device.

The dock also includes a standard headphone jack, but it’s probably the least exciting feature. Most gaming handhelds still have this port, so it’s mainly helpful if you’re connecting a device that doesn’t, such as a phone or tablet. You can still easily use the headphone jack on a ROG Ally even while it’s connected to the Bulwark dock.

The Bulwark dock is one of the best-designed accessories I’ve tested for the ASUS ROG Ally and Ally X. It’s incredibly well-built, making it much more travel-friendly than other docks I’ve tried, which often have cables that get tangled in my bag. While the clear cover is mostly for resting the device, it cleverly includes a rubberized surface to prevent slipping.

This is incredibly durable, and I’d much prefer to travel with it compared to other similar products I’ve tried before.

The colorful lights actually look pretty good when you see it in person, though you likely won’t be staring at them for long. The main idea is to connect an external screen or TV and focus on that instead. Still, it’s a sleek, portable device that looks nice next to my TV. I usually turn off the lights around the thumbsticks on my ROG Ally, but the ASUS Aura Sync feature is tempting enough to make me want to turn them back on.

ROG Bulwark Dock: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if …

✅ You already own a 100W+ USB-C power adapter and an HDMI 2.1 cable

✅ You regularly travel with a gaming handheld and multiple accessories

You shouldn’t buy this if …

❌ You just need to play your ROG Ally handheld on a TV

❌ You want Thunderbolt data transfers or 2.5Gb+ Ethernet speeds

ASUS ROG products often balance practicality with bold features, but they tend to be quite expensive. The Bulwark dock works well, but its price is surprisingly high compared to competitors like the JSAUX 6-in-1, which sells for just $29.99 and offers similar performance, including support for 4K displays at 120Hz with minimal compromises.

If you’re looking for a top-tier way to expand the ports on your handheld, laptop, or any USB-C device, I’d recommend a Thunderbolt docking station. These offer support for 4K and higher resolution displays, faster data transfer speeds, and improved power delivery. The Bulwark dock performs well, but it’s very expensive.

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2025-09-15 17:10