The JSAUX RGB Docking Station is an awesome addition to my desktop, allowing me to quickly dock my portable devices like the Steam Deck, iPad, and laptop. This setup enables me to utilise a larger screen, keyboard and mouse, making them easier to use at home. The added RGB is also great for adding extra colour to my desk.
I was excited about unboxing the unit, but I had to wait a little longer to release the white model. It was, however, worth the wait; the crisp lines and aesthetic match my desktop, and I am oh so happy. Unboxing the unit was quick and easy, as was the delivery from the team at JSAUX. Upon opening the box, I was presented with the RGB dock, a single white USB-C to USB-C 90-degree cable, manuals, and stickers. The dock has twelve ports to use, and flowing from left to right, includes a network port, USB-C PD input, two USB-A 3.2, DisplayPort Out, HDMI Out, two USB-C 3.2 Ports, one USB-A 2.0, one 3.5mm audio jack, one SD card reader, and one Micro SD Card reader. This massive variety of ports covers more than enough connections for the average and more than-average user. I have used the dock primarily with the HDMI out and with a wired Mouse. The dock also has a touch button on the top to turn off the RGB when it is not required or not in use, which was good for at night when I had shut down my PC.
When I got the dock, I had some issues, such as it would drop in and out of charging the attached device. After some testing, I discovered that the dock was ok, and it was a faulty device supplying the charge. The dock hasn’t missed a beat after replacing the power with a better-quality unit. Maintaining up to one hundred-watt charge to my devices when it was connected. Once I sorted this, it was time to play with the RGB settings. JSAUX have made this easy by utilising the open-source software OpenRGB. This program is easy to find on their website or the Discover tab in desktop mode on the Steam Deck. With only a few simple clicks, I could set up the profiles I wanted to use, changing the colour, intensity, strobe, and many other effects. Setting the default to Orange, I also had blue, red, and rainbow profiles to match the Steam Decks RGB rear plate. This dock has been great, and the connectivity is awesome. The only downside is that it isn’t compatible with the Nintendo Switch.
The dock would be a great addition to most setups, especially for those with portable gaming handhelds, as the panel at the front pops out to reveal a stand to hold your device. It is compatible with many devices, including the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, iPad, iPad Pro, many of the AYANEO devices, phones and much more, excluding the Nintendo Switch. The dock even assisted me when I was updating my laptop to Windows 11, where I was having issues with the internal wi-fi and ethernet not being recognised; plugging in the dock and using the ethernet connection meant I could finish the installation. The dock also features two outputs for video. I mainly used HDMI, but both support up to 4K resolutions at 120hz, which has been a boon when using it with 4K TVs when travelling. The dock ensured that I didn’t need to sign into the streaming services on the hotel’s TVs and allowed me to play my Steam Deck or Laptop on the larger screen. The dock supports 100W charging, which means it worked fantastically as a fast charger, and the high-speed data transfer meant that any of my connected devices, such as SD cards, Portable USBs, or USB HDDs, always kept up to my pace.
Overall, this has been my favourite dock I have tested and reviewed from the JSAUX range; it comes in a couple of models to suit the user’s needs; this one is the 12-in-1, but there is also an 8-in-1. It comes in Black and White, and the range includes RGB colouring. The pop-out device stands at the front, which is solid and sturdy, and the dock supports up to 100W power, making it great for use with various devices and fast charging. The fast data transfer means that it’s perfect for daily use. The simple open-source software makes lighting effects fun and easy to adjust. The only thing I would and did change was the cable to my device; the supplied 90-degree angle covers either the power or vent when using the Steam Deck. I changed this to one of the straight cables.
(A review unit was supplied for the purposes of this article.)
