Every smartphone I've ever owned has been used mostly naked, apart from the occasional dbrand skin, and the same holds true for most of my devices. The one exception was with the ASUS ROG Ally, though, as dbrand's Killswitch case was too good to ignore. It let me personalize my ROG Ally handheld, improved its ergonomics, added new features, and protected it from everything I could throw at it. Alas, dbrand has won me over again, despite my vows not to spend any money this Black Friday.
I've upgraded to the more powerful and beefier ASUS ROG Ally gaming handheld, and after hours of back-and-forth I finally gave in to the inevitable and pulled the trigger on a new dbrand Killswitch case, screen protector, and unique skin for it. It turns out, I simply couldn't say no to dbrand's Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts, which score you blanket discounts on all Killswitch products, enhanced savings for special skin designs, and even free skins. For a limited time, you can pick up a dbrand Killswitch case from $49.95 at dbrand; I certainly took advantage, so now I'm passing that tip on to you.
• Check out our LIVE hub for all the best PC gaming handheld Black Friday deals
Disclaimer
Dec. 3, 2024 @ 2:30 p.m. ET — Final update now that Cyber Monday is concluded. This deal is still live and will be live until next Monday (6 days from this update). However, the ASUS ROG Ally X sale I also linked to has concluded.
🔥The hottest post-Cyber Monday deals🔥
- 💻HP EliteBook 14 (Ryzen 7 PRO) | $899 at HP (Save $2,023!)
- 🎮Xbox Series X Digital Edition (1TB) | $398 at Walmart (Save $52!)
- 🕹️Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3-months) | $29.29 at CDKeys (Save $11!)
- 🎮Lenovo Legion Go (Z1 Extreme) | $534.44 at Amazon (Save $166!)
- 💻Surface Pro 11 w/ keyboard (X Plus) | $999.99 at Best Buy (Save $350!)
- 💽Seagate Xbox Series X|S Card (2TB) | $199.99 at Best Buy (Save $160!)
💽More Cyber Monday deals that won't quit💾
- Dell: Lowest PC prices of the year for a little longer after Cyber Monday
- HP: Aggressive "Cyber Week" deals on laptops while supplies last
- Lenovo: Still save up to 68% on laptops, desktops, and select doorbusters
- Samsung: Week-long holiday deals on laptops, TVs, phones, and more
More than just a face lift, more than just added protection
The ASUS ROG Ally fully converted me to the promise of PC gaming handhelds and made me fall in love with the portable form factor, but ASUS outdid itself with the upgraded ROG Ally X. A handful of crucial upgrades improves performance and stability, ergonomics, and battery life to unexpected degrees, even if the device as a whole remains fairly similar to its less expensive sibling.
In our ASUS ROG Ally X review, my colleague Rebecca Spear concluded, "There is no denying that the ROG Ally X is better than the original Ally in several different ways. The battery lasts much longer, the black casing looks better, the handheld has better ergonomic grips without being too heavy, and the updated buttons and joysticks are responsive." I adore this handheld, but it has been missing something.
You only have to look at our dbrand Killswitch review to understand what I'm talking about. Rebecca Spear returns once again, this time concluding, "It's a bit costly, but the ROG Ally Killswitch from dbrand definitely improves upon the gaming handheld experience. The rubber casing makes the device less likely to slip from your hands, while also providing a slightly thicker grip for a more comfortable hold. A kickstand with built-in microSD card storage slots is also very nifty. Additionally, being able to protect the screen, joysticks, and buttons with a removable covering makes the ROG Ally easier to travel with without needing a bulky carrying case to do so."
The Killswitch made my ASUS ROG Ally better, and it remained compatible with the Syntech ASUS ROG Ally Travel Case I trust for long trips. My ROG Ally looked unlike any other, was more comfortable to hold, and boasted a handy kickstand. More than anything, the Killswitch looks and feels great. Every part is precisely designed for the ROG Ally's exact dimensions, and when it's all put together even the tempered glass screen protector disappears. I missed the Killswitch when I upgraded to the ROG Ally X and its different dimensions, but I couldn't quite bring myself to pull the trigger on such a pricey accessory.
Well, I don't have to worry about that anymore. I confirmed my order for an ASUS ROG Ally X dbrand Killswitch case, thumbstick caps, travel cover, tempered glass screen protector, and two dbrand skins a few hours ago. I'm excited to get it, but it's only because of dbrand's compelling Black Friday sale that I was truly tempted. After all, I told myself not to spend any money this Black Friday — bills come first, you know?
The dbrand Killswitch normally starts at around $65 just for the case and a basic skin, and upgrading to a special skin design or throwing in any of the add-ons all add to that price — up to $130 for a complete package. Right now, though, I got that ultimate Killswitch setup and a free Triple Black Damascus skin on top of my unique Obsidian skin for a little under $83. Yes, that includes free shipping, too. If you just want the basics, though, you can pick up an ASUS ROG Ally X Killswitch for as little as $49.95 at dbrand, and upgrades to dbrand's special skin designs come at no added charge.
That exact sale also applies to dbrand's Killswitch cases for the Steam Deck and original ASUS ROG Ally, too, if that's the handheld of choice for you. You can find those links below. If you're looking to upgrade to the ASUS ROG Ally X, right now is the best time to do that, as well! You can buy the ASUS ROG Ally X for $699.99 at Best Buy, a $100 discount that brings the premium flagship handheld to its lowest price ever — and you can shave off an additional $230 just by trading in your original ROG Ally and its charger.
For more information, you can refer to my ultimate Black Friday guide on PC gaming handhelds and handheld accessories.
When did Black Friday end?
On paper, at least, Black Friday ended the moment Midnight chimed on Nov. 29, 2024, or the Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA. However, that didn't necessarily mean all the deals up and disappeared at that time. Many persisted throughout the weekend and into Cyber Monday, even as many others ended or went out of stock. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become more of a four-day sales event than two separate days.
When did Cyber Monday end?
While it feels that Black Friday and Cyber Monday seemingly start earlier each year, the four-days sales event tends to end its annual run on a similar note. Cyber Monday marks the tumultuous finale on Dec. 2, 2024, ending when the day does. The vast majority of deals do tend to end when Cyber Monday is over, and the deals that remain often become less aggressive, with smaller price cuts. You're not likely to get another chance at most of those deals until next Black Friday rolls around.
Are there still deals after Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
It's not as if the entire world returns to MSRP after Cyber Monday ends, but many of the best deals absolutely do end before Tuesday arrives. Some retailers and companies will continue Cyber Monday promotions throughout the week, but even then, many of those discounts won't be as steep. You can keep an eye on Windows Central's deal coverage for help finding the sales that are still worth your time, since the majority of Black Friday and Cyber Monday coverage online will now be concluded or out of stock.
