Kunai 3 Gamepad and TwinView Dock 3 – Accessories complete the mobile gaming ecosystem

amazon Kunai 3 Gamepad and TwinView Dock 3 reviews

Besides creating gaming smartphones, ASUS also offers accessories like TwinView Dock 3, Kunai 3 Gamepad, and ROG Gaming Clip.

ASUS ROG Phone 3 is the best-designed and most worth-buying gaming smartphone at the moment. This long-standing ASUS lineup features hardware and software features that offer a rare level of sophistication and depth. ROG Phone 3’s competitors may be making better gaming smartphones day by day, but none are on the same level as ASUS.

ROG Phone 3 deserves praise from the base kit – AeroActive Cooler 3. However, the ROG Phone 3 accessory ecosystem is truly impressive when it comes to providing users with an experience that goes beyond any other opponent.

There is absolutely nothing like the ROG Phone 3 ecosystem on the market. You can choose from 6 to 8 different ASUS-provided accessories for ROG Phone 3 to enhance your gaming experience. Although the accessory is offered as an add-on, it is integrated with the device as a whole. That is the result of the constant efforts of the ASUS engineering team, typically featuring a proprietary 48-pin Type-C side port whose sole purpose is to incorporate accessories.

ASUS has also ensured that many ROG Phone 2 accessories are compatible with the new device. It sounds simple, but it’s not easy. ROG Phone 3 has the same design as the ROG Phone 2 while being better than its predecessor in many respects.

TwinView Dock 3

TwinView Dock 3 is the most advanced accessory and has a rather expensive retail price of about 300 USD. With this price, users can completely buy a new smartphone device. ASUS ROG Phone devices are not so pocket-friendly.

TwinView Dock 3 is the most expensive accessory because it owns a 6.6-inch secondary screen, a cooling fan, a 5,000mAh battery, and a Type-C port and headphone jack.

As can be seen, TwinView Dock 3 is almost identical to TwinView Dock II but has a faster 2340 x 1080 pixel OLED screen, 144Hz instead of 120Hz. That can match the original refresh rate of the ROG Phone 3 panel.

In contrast, connecting the ROG Phone 3 to the TwinView Dock II is still compatible but will force the device’s screen to drop to 120Hz to accommodate the accessory. There is almost no big difference, so users do not need to upgrade to a new dock if they already own an old one.

TwinView Dock II solves most first-generation TwinView with a new and more open design. That makes many of the phone’s features more apparent when accessories are docked, including the AirTigger 3 ultrasonic touch sensor. While not the same as the physical triggers on the original TwinView, the device’s feedback, plus the flexibility of additional gestures, separate zones, fine-tuning the pressure, make this element a logical move.

The bottom half of TwinView Dock 3 still has quite a bit of hardware. The fan works similarly to the AeroActive Cooler 3 and can be controlled by software. The built-in fan even sounds the same, making a pleasant hum that isn’t loud or distracting at full speed. The RGB logo on the back of the display remains the same and works similarly to the previous generation.

TwinView Dock 3 comes with a 5000mAh battery. When put together with the 6000mAh already included in the ROG Phone 3, you get a total of 11,000 mAh. Since the usual standard battery endurance test does not apply in this case, the device will have to drain both battery types on the two screens. The test lasted 6 hours with Asphalt 9 – the official version that supports dual-monitor configurations.

You can even choose the order in which power is used – use the accessory’s 5000mAh battery first and keep your phone’s battery full, or use it in parallel. The 30W charger for ROG Phone 3 is enough to power and charge the phone and the TwinView Dock 3 simultaneously. TwinView Dock 3 also has a Type-C port located on the back of the device for convenient porting. Plug it in a while playing games.

Open the slider just above, insert the phone, and then lock to start using. The slider has a rather stiff spring-loaded mechanism that works with the 48-pin connector and stably holds the phone in place. In addition to providing security, this key can also help increase the user experience.

The two buttons on the bottom-right edge of the second TwinView Dock 3 screen are the phone’s power and volume buttons for easy operation. Asus has ensured that everything is streamlined and convenient in terms of usability.

The final piece of hardware on the TwinView Dock 3 is the 3.5mm audio jack conveniently located for the headphones: front and center. Finally, it is impossible not to mention Asus’ RGB light strip. At the top of the bottom, the latch mechanism is a sort of RGB strip that changes color according to the ROG logo on the back.

Using TwinView Dock 3

Use TwinView Dock 3 with compatible games for a great experience. Two 144Hz OLED panels are in the top UX of the already famous ROG Phone 3. The device provides a seamless experience without any lag.

TwinView Dock 3 requires games to be tailored specifically for the system. ASUS has also tried its best to set things up in the best possible way, given the realities and limitations of Android at the moment. You have two independent environments, complete with their launcher, that can run two apps simultaneously. In most cases, the apps themselves won’t even realize they’re running in a strange configuration.

It is more likely that the second monitor will be used for gaming in the future. Developers could adapt their games to use secondary monitors through the APIs available in Unity.

The TwinView section is organized in the compatible Asus Armory Crate app for 23 titles, up from 3 a few months ago.

Google needs to get involved and implement some other special feature controllers/monitors and indicators in the Play Store. Dual monitors are increasingly popular in the market, not just ASUS. LG already has no less than three dual-screen smartphones, even if none are focused on gaming.

On the plus side, if you’re up for creativity, there’s still a lot of value to be extracted from TwinView Dock 3 beyond actual dual display games such as live streaming: play games on the bottom display while still being able to play. Follow the conversation on the other screen.

Also, you can use TwinView Dock 3 as an emulator. Ideally, something like a Nintendo 3D or a 3DS on both screens. However, this has not been implemented in practice yet. These two monitors can also help you play some old DOS games that require a keyboard.

Returning to the hardware, it must be said that the TwinView Dock 3 is very comfortable to hold and use. With a weight of 300 grams, dimensions of 173.2 x 111.6 x 29.2 mm, while the ROG Phone 3 is 240 grams, 171 x 78 x 9.9 mm, it certainly won’t be easy to pocket or carry.

Kunai 3 Gamepad

The Kunai 3 Gamepad is an amazingly versatile kit similar to the Nintendo Switch JoyCon. The Kunai Gamepad seems a great gaming accessory, retailing for around $180.

The standard ROG Kunai Gamepad set includes the ROG Kunai holder, middle, and handheld parts below. That is the part that contains the battery and components for connecting phones and tablets. On either side are two left and right ROG Kunai controllers. These two controllers do not have batteries, so they must be connected to the ROG Kunai holder to be used.

Both sides include ALPS control, which can be pressed down, and an identical set of triggers set up in the back. The feature buttons that support setting Start, Select are located in the middle. Above are also 4 Analog L1 R1 L2 R2 trigger comfortably used for almost any game.

ASUS offers flexible options. The trigger on each side, called the rear joystick, is perfect for this purpose. Although a bit out of the ordinary, the key works well in practice. The key position is just right for use with your middle fingers. In addition, the seamless elongated fin design avoids accidental forces of any other than overall hand pressure.

Kunai 3 Gamepad has four small buttons, including home, recent apps, menu key, and Armory Crate shortcut. All the buttons have a pretty good press and stability. Kunai 3 also has a diagonal RGB strip and a small status LED on the left side. That can also be controlled via the Armory Crate software. A small switch also allows the Kunai 3 Gamepad to USB or Bluetooth mode.

where can you get a Kunai 3 Gamepad and TwinView Dock 3 online

ASUS ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad: Buy it now

Using Kunai 3 Gamepad

The switch mentioned above has a lot to do with how the Kunai 3 Gamepad works. To the left of the control is the “main one.” The remote on the left is the only one with an internal battery that does all the connections and data transfers. The right half uses the wire to switch the inputs to the control. That’s also why you can only use the left half of the control and not the right one, not the other way around.

The clearest and lowest input lag way when using the Kunai 3 Gamepad is with a Kunai 3 case. It’s a stand that slots into the bottom USB port on the ROG Phone 3 and has the rails to slide on the sides of the Kunai 3 Gamepad. That provides optimal performance for a wired USB connection to the phone. The left controller can also charge from the phone’s battery in this mode.

The attachment mechanism feels sturdy enough, relying mostly on friction and a rather stiff ball bearing near the bottom end to keep the joysticks stationary. The Nintendo Switch is similarly designed with an additional latch mechanism to hold the JoyCon controller. However, the joystick tends to wear out because of friction, so this is not a perfect solution either. Plus, the Kunai 3 Gamepad was never disassembled during the test, so this solution is a perfect fit.

Technically, you can toggle the mode switch on the Kunai 3 Gamepad to Bluetooth while it’s still connected to the case, and if the phone and Gamepad are paired, everything should work.

When the Gamepad is removed from the phone in wireless Bluetooth mode, the Kunai 3 charger becomes an integral part of the setup process.

The charger is the only way to get the right half of the Gamepad working. Unlike the Nintendo Switch standalone JoyCons, which can be used wirelessly, the right half is figuratively and literally without power without left half.

The Kunai 3 charger, or the connecting component in the middle, does not have its battery. The component links the left and right halves together and provides a USB Type-C input for charging the battery on the left half.

Finally, the Kunai 3 Grip. The accessory is just a plastic addition that attaches to the back of the Kunai 3 Gamepad for a better and more comfortable grip once the charger is inserted. Thanks to that, playing games for a long time will be quite comfortable.

Kunai 3 Gamepad can be used as a regular USB and Bluetooth gamepad. This accessory on several phones and gamepads works great in testing because ASUS adheres to the common HID protocol. PC connection works fine both wirelessly and wired, even if the Gamepad is not officially supported. The only limitation of the accessory is that the PC receives the Kunai 3 Gamepad’s two analog knobs as basic buttons.

In contrast to Android’s lackluster dual-screen support, plenty of titles support controller input and work well with the Kunai 3 Gamepad.

For any game with native controller support, you can easily experience it without any extra steps. Through tests with Fortnite, Asphalt 9, Dan The Man, and Death Trigger 2, all work perfectly.

However, what about games that only offer on-screen controls? Overall controller support on Android is getting better and better, but there will probably always be notable exceptions. PUBG Mobile is one such game. The game lacks gamepad support and notably prohibits users from using certain workarounds to get the Gamepad working. However, the solution ASUS offered is very advanced and low. According to the information shared, the solution must be low enough that PUBG cannot detect or ban it. At least in theory.

While the long-term safety of using Key Mapping and Macros cannot be attested to in PUBG, nor can it justify what is effectively cheating in online games, it can at least confirm that the system is working. However, you may have to spend some time to duplicate the physical controls with the on-screen controls, as ASUS has never provided a seamless solution for sharing and exchanging profiles between users. You can join a specific game in Armory Crate and then import and export all or part of your settings for said game, including Key Mapping and Macros, in a proprietary .gcprofile file. These can then be used for input – either in full or in part. Meaning that you want to get your friend’s Key Mapping but don’t want to set their aggressive performance for a specific game or vice versa.

Sometimes you can find a .gcprofile file online, especially in the Asus zen talk forum. The ROG Phone also has some intergenerational compatibility, and most Key Mapping created on the older ROG Phone II will work fine on the ROG Phone 3. However, you may have to invest some time. To set everything up accordingly. The user only has to do it once and is not limited to one controller. You can unduplicated the Air Trigger keys or use all and clone the mouse and keyboard with the help of ASUS Mobile Desktop Dock or professional dongle dock.

All of this is made possible thanks to the advanced and flexible mapping system that Asus offers. It can be seen that ASUS has done very well with its products.

ROG Gaming Clip

The ROG Clip is an odd choice for forcing users to overpay from a pure hardware standpoint. Retailing for around $30, the ROG Clip isn’t cheap. You could pick up a PS4 DualShock or an Xbox controller for that money. Instead, ASUS gives you a clip to attach the controller to ROG Phone 3 via a spring-loaded universal mount. Any other phone you might want to put there.

Finally, it is worth noting that ROG Phone 3 supports wireless connection with these controllers and wired USB connection.

According to the advertisement, although you can use the accessory with any other phone, Clip Gaming has been designed with ROG Phone 3 in mind. ASUS has provided three different Clip accessories included in the package. One is for the Xbox controller; the other two are for the PS4 and Google’s Stadia controller. All 3 are different variations of the Clip Gaming bottom half, sized and designed specifically for their respective controllers. You will still get 1 top part – a spring-loaded phone holder.

However, the special factor lies in the ASUS software, not the plastic clip itself. ASUS has continued expanding the control mapping software layer as originally promised at launch. The relatively new addition is in-depth support for PS4, Xbox, and Stadia controllers.

You go through the respective Bluetooth binding process of one of the mentioned controllers, and then ROG Phone 3 does all the heavy lifting behind the scenes. The proof is the use of PS4 DualShock with the device and feels quite like it. After connecting the controller to the ROG Phone 3, all the controls started to work naturally in the launcher – the left sidebar on the Numpad for the directional keys and the X for choosing O to go back. The home key works fine. Especially in the case of PS4, the touchpad is fully functional. Sliding up provides a mouse pointer for the user interface, which you can tap naturally. Two-finger gestures also work, including things like pinch-to-zoom, which is pretty impressive.

Third-party controllers, including the main ones, will be immediately recognized by ROG Phone 3 via Bluetooth and work in the user interface with any game that supports original control. Intensive copying of on-screen controls is not available for these controllers. That gives gamers more reasons to use Kunai 3 Gamepad, fully using this feature.

Summary

With a starting price of over $700, the ROG Phone 3 is a no-brainer that makes it the ultimate gaming phone. The device also aims to be the Android gaming platform and has managed to go further than any other competitor.

Therefore, ROG Phone 3 only makes sense that the growing accessory ecosystem shares similar characteristics. ROG Gamepad must transform and come in different shapes and sizes. The accessory can be used wired or wirelessly and double as a PC controller.

The second screen attachment should have a 144Hz OLED panel that matches the phone’s panel. Only the best, most advanced, and without any lack of elements can do it

Like the ROG Phone family, we can’t imagine that the accessories will sell in bulk given the product’s price. However, even if few buy ROG Phone accessories will be difficult to please. ASUS knows how to please them.

Suppose you consider yourself lucky enough to be part of the above crowd and seek specific recommendations. In that case, ROG TwinView Dock 3, Kunai 3 Gamepad, and even the Clip won’t let you down; everything is fine. The Kunai 3 Gamepad probably prevails because of the accessory’s greater versatility, a wider range of uses, and relatively affordable price.

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