Someone really needs to make a proper cellphone extension; I've been using an Asus mobile display with Samsung DEX and a wireless Keyboard and Mouse. The touchpad samsung dex provides is also very usable. I haven't needed a laptop in many years; the Portable screen gets several hours, my phone gets several hours in dex mode, and It gives me more budget for a nicer phone. Win win!
strange. Miracast can be used two-way and i had a remote screen for my phone that used touch, so it's strange the touch screen isn't working without bluetooth.
Hey guys. Just wanted to point something out. Wireless is only 30Hz, but wired pushes that up to 60Hz. Also, the touch pad experience loses latency when in wired mode, though you still have some goofiness on the dex side with unintended swipe gestures registering in normal use.
Its much better using the Wired connection, especially on the Original Nexdock due to a small delay if you use something like Chromecase/Microsoft Wireless Adapter.
It would fix most of his issues indeed. I used the Microsoft Wireless Adapter once and the whole Miracast experience straight up sucked and I never used it again. The store got it back the same day. The only use I found was using it to present PowerPoint, but that's it...
The whole point is that he was testing it being wireless though. In most situations where you are using it for more than a few minutes obviously it would be better to have it wired. He already tested a wired version previously as he mentioned in the video.
@@FierceElements I used dex for about 6 months, it was perfectly fine, I was impressed. The only BIG turn off for me was that I am a pc gamer and therefore, doing it all on1 machine as opposed to switching all the time made more sense. I would say it is the only reason I no longer use dex. If I was not gaming and simply working + watching movies, dex would my my 1 and only. Spending cash on both a great phone and a pc does not make sense to me, so pc it is.
@@heltoncwb I think it' s flip cooling issues at play here. My Flip 4 doesn't support it either and on video calls or camera use it can get really hot&slow.
I have one of these, I actually use it to plug into servers and control them without needing to carry a monitor plus keyboard around. It's pretty useful for very niche cases
@@SPG25 I also use it a lot with my switch, when I'm traveling. It's also pretty good with the steam deck and it immediately recognized the keyboard and touchscreen
"Pretty useful for very niche cases." 100%agree. There have been times where this would have been perfect for my day to day needs, but other times where a $200 laptop does the job. It really is going to depend, and while mobile devices being our computer is likely, the infrastructure and manufactured demand is not there yet.
@@PhysicsGamer The model can play into that but there are some cool things you can do like using box32 or box64 which lets arm chips run 32/64 bit x86 programs on them. Taki Udon ran some games on a RK3588 using them, which included stanley parable, l4d2 and some other games. So as phones get faster and faster this could become a thing.
All the latency issues are probably entirely due to Miracast. That protocol is notoriously laggy. You really should have connected the phone to the lapdock with a USB cable and compared the latency. I'll bet it's like night and day.
yeah, wireless is a gimmick at this point. You'd also get rid of the mouse lag if you wired in. Of course there will be lag if display, keyboard, and mouse all have to connect via bluetooth
Unfortunately, with the move to USB C a lot of even flagship phones have quietly dropped back down to USB-2 speeds thanks to USB C using the same connector for USB-2 and USB-3 capable cables. Makes me miss USB Micro-B... Good luck attempting to run what's basically a dock over a 480Mb/s connection.
Yeah it comes down to it defaulting to Bluetooth over wireless but with support for detecting routes through cabled infrastructure. They should have gone with a USB cable. That said if your staff are on laptops miracast is the best affordable option for meeting rooms, the other good options are all expensive HDMI to 5.2GHz wireless.
Please ensure that you test each device FULLY in the future. In this case, you failed to connect the phone via a dex dock/USB C cable, which might have made the touchpad more accurate.
@ItsHatlolOfficial that's like saying "I tested x on the last generation, so I don't need to test it on the new generation". The TouchPad could be better on the new one than compared to previous models. Also, wired dex behaves - performance wise - notably different from wireless dex.
@@ItsHatlolOfficialand, if he would have connected wired, he'd see that it's 60hz when wired. Dex itself DOES have the ability to go up to 120hz though
I believe the screen is 60hz but only does 30 when casting wirelessly. Also with these lapdocks once you get a new phone, you get a new 'laptop' as well.
@@Teh-Penguin there's nothing to look at, really. It's 60Hz, no latency, and it works. The trackpad is the same, aside from latency. There's lots of wired NexDock 360 coverage out there if you're curious.
@@nickthaskater People shouldn't have to look at *another video* to see what *this one* should have covered. It was just not a good presentation on their part. There should be a direct compare and contrast between wireless and wired, especially if a single device has the functionality for both.
Touchpad issues aside, I feel like we’re a few hardware generations away from a phone/PC hybrid being actually feasible for daily use. Hell, Apple Silicon is already based on mobile architecture.
I've been using my samsung dex connected to a monitor / tv for a couple years now as a daily driver. Even light gaming is ok with geforce now and the like. The upside is i only need a dock and i have my pc with me everywhere i find a monitor to hook up to.
The Asus zenfone transformer thing from a few years ago had a phone, a tablet and a laptop all powered off the phone. It didn't sell well but it was easily 10 years ahead of its time.
@@GH0STST4RSCR34M Not even remotely the same thing? They're both ARM based SoCs, no? That's remotely the same thing, I'd say it's even in the same ball park, if you so will!
Honestly my fold 4 with dex has never once slowed down while using it on a monitor. Latency is non existent and it even has really fast wired internet if I want it too.
I have the (wired, 360) Nexdock and absolutely love it in combination with my S21 ultra. Using parsec or teamviewer I can work on the go. Also the shown latency issues are from that wireless streaming. When connected via cable I can even play FPS games (with mobile 5G and gigabit connection at home)
THE use case for these are temporary/guest desks. You don't have to deal with the technical issues of ensuring PC's that hardly get used are kept updated or need replacing as this hardware updates as people update their mobiles. So if you have staff who are out of the office for 70% of the time but HAVE to come in to do essential stuff this is absolutely one of the best ideas. That said they just don't seem to market them to the right audience
@@mushieslushie It should be considered, imagine if they could also connect to a virtual machine server. That’d be a whole extra niche it can cover for little additional cost.
I have the slightly older wired-only version of this 360-hinge model and absolutely love it. I paid $300 shipped. It pairs VERY well with Steam Deck (and likely AyaNeo, ROG Ally, and other handhelds), and I advocate for the combination every chance I can to owners of such handhelds. Such as right now. I've used this, a Steam Deck, and a dock dongle to make my Deck my main computer for a weekend.
I bought an original motorola one after they crashed and still use it as a mobile, battery-operated screen for debugging e.g.: servers. Extremely useful.
If the goal is to not carry around a laptop and charger and all that stuff, what’s the difference here? You still have to carry the same amount of stuff around…but the laptop shaped object is just thinner…
I believe you're right, but... The cost is much reduced compared to a laptop. Also, you don't need to login again in the same services from another device. Plus, you are assured to be able to continue your work from phone to laptop(dock) and reverse. Not to mention the fact that you don't need another data connection other than the one you already use anyways on your phone. Not saying that the experience is excellent, it's still in its infancy, but it is also very promising.
I think the point is not that you're carrying this around instead of a laptop, but that there would be docks wherever you would need a setup like this. Just carry your phone around to work or to an internet cafe, and there would be these already there for you to plug into.
To me, the main point is price. These should be cheaper than laptops of similar build quality and for many people and tasks, modern phones (or gaming handhelds) have more than enough processing power. So this is a cheaper, thinner and lighter alternative to a laptop.
@@BriefNerdOriginal I mean you don't need a second data connection for your laptop either. If you have your phone with you always you can just use your hotspot, or usb tethering to get your data on your laptop otherwise, and you can run Dex on windows anyways, so the only argument for this vs a regular laptop is cost.
That's not the goal. The goal is that if you have a good phone and don't wanna pay extra for an actual Windows laptop, you can use this. And people like to have all their data and apps they use on 1 device (not everyone has an unlimited data plan so doing everything in the cloud isn't the best option for everyone). It's definitely a niche product but for some it can be useful. The price is way to steep at 300 dollars for what you're getting so imo this particular product is not worth it (just buy a chromebook for 300 bucks and you're way better off with a usable trackpad and 60Hz)
14:40 NOTE this article is NOT talking about the hardware, it's talking about how google puts EXPIRATION DATES on supporting their products, so schools are left with tons of WORKING chromebooks that they can't use since their support has expired They even point out later that this isn't the problem, and that with any laptop (even a regular windows laptop), “Students are very hard on devices,” and "they’re going to destroy it. Any device after five years of being with a middle school or high schooler is going to be in bad shape.”
I remember seeing ads for the first iPhone and thinking that by the time I finished grad school, laptops would just be portable accessories to plug your phone into. I'm 100% on the same page as this guy.
Droid 4 was one of the best phones ever. Doubled as a laptop, had hdmi out, full keyboard. I bought one on ebay just to push those sweet buttons one more time.
Second post, but they have desktop monitors that can power everything with USB C. If you get one of those and a Bluetooth keyboard I think it would do what this does but better. Just use the phone as a mouse.
His vision of not having to carry both a phone and a laptop at the same time but use the phone itself is honestly quit legitimate. With more arm chips coming out, I don't see why it's impossible to happen not so far in the future
I love my NexDock 360 (it's exactly the same but without the wireless options) If you connect with a Windows device, the trackpad is better (still not perfect though) The best part is that it can be used with so many devices. Personally, I usually connect my old Samsung Note 9, Nintendo Switch, or an Intel NUC. It's also great as an additional screen for a Windows laptop or tablet. I used to travel a lot for work and it was so great to be able to use my switch in hotels without messing around with the TV, or as a second screen when using my work laptop. This device is not for everyone, but for switch or steam deck it is amazing. I used to use it on raspberry pis as well. With just one or 2 connections (raspberry pi is pretty difficult to get video over USB-C, so you use that for keyboard and mouse and the mini HDMI for video) you get so much.
I use mine for that as well and it is pretty good - but it won't charge the Deck from the Dock (slow charger connected) so I go through a USB-C hub with power delivery first. It is a nice, portable setup for travelling. Phone, Steam Deck and Nextdock (in my case Uperfect X pro) are great companions.
@@ribaldbohling2107I'm strongly considering this as my next gaming laptop alternative-- I need a new laptop but want to be able to play games while out about. You mention slow charging, without your USB-C adapter setup does the device battery drain or does it stay stable/charge very slowly?
This thing is great for setting up and configuring computers. keyboard,mouse and monitor in one. I have the nexdock 360, which is the same as this but no wireless feature.
I believe, too, Riley. I've moved pretty much exclusively to my phone and tablet for work, and anything that makes them more PC- like and modular is great by me.
This really makes me wish Razer actually went ahead with Project Linda beyond the protoypes shown. Loved the idea of docking the phone to use it as a touchpad for the laptop shell.
As long as this plays nice with a VGA to HDMI adapter, the non-wireless one of these mostly makes sense to me for server management. One of these on a cart in the data center would be great for a quick connect to any server for local setup.
I've used this for university since I have a desktop. It was great for google docs, and when the wifi went out, I was last to know since my phone went to data instead. Other perk is when I need specs, I'll remote into my pc from my phone. Shame about the price tho
I'm withj Riley as a SteamDeck owner: I have already commited to not buying a new Laptop once my current one becomes unusable, since my Steamdeck can do everything I need it to. A very portable dock with a larger screen, ok keyboard and good trackpad would absolutely be something I'd buy. But this hardware at 350 is just not it. I could DIY something better, or heck, strip a broken ultralight laptop and find a usbc-dock that fits in place of the broken motherboard with all the needed adapters.
I currently use the non-wireless one with my steam deck. It's extremely convenient, I love it a lot. I did have to RMA my first unit though cause the input port was loose and would constantly disconnect and reconnect (and man, the time that it was gone, I missed it dearly lol). It's such a wonderful addition to my steam deck experience for both desktop mode and gaming mode. You do have to deal with the slower 15w through charge as opposed to the 45w native deck charge, so it will drain faster than it charges. Not a huge deal for me personally because I don't mind swapping back to the deck display if I really don't want to stop gaming then, but YMMY.
@@shadowflash0 you'd probably be better off getting a dongle and not using the pass-through power at all imo, that CAN'T be good for the longevity of the deck's battery (or anything, really. underpowered trickle-charging is never a good idea)
This is a product that actually interests me. I moved from using a Windows laptop at work to using a Samsung S8+ and it's generally been very good and a mostly easy switch. I work in IT and the biggest issue I've had was finding a USB-C Ethernet dongle that worked for those onsite calls. But pretty smooth sailing and the display on the S8+ is great! 120hz! I love it. But yeah, trackpad jank and 30hz! That's a deal breaker for me. But I am excited for someone to get it right.
My phone, a SteamDeck, and the NexDock 360 are my work travel set up and honestly it works pretty well. I've got a little portable dock to plug that all into and really the only downside is managing the cables. Sure a gaming laptop is a one stop shop that is way more powerful but a gaming laptop is also $TEXAS and less flexible. I think there is something to the future of a more modular, docked future. It's really gonna come down to the phone desktop modes being taken more seriously and maybe someone like Framework {*cough cough*} releasing a shell with fully replaceable components And a track pad that isn't ass.
@@RichardJActon If you direct connect the Deck and NexDock it all works great. I have a basic dock in the mix because then I can charge the deck at full speed while using the NexDock as a bigger screen however that does remove the ability to use the NexDock's kbam but I'm on a gamepad either way and I can always hook up my travel kbam to the dock so it's fine.
Riley is a dreamer, but he's also a practical guy. I appreciate his balance, there are some things that should come as standard, if not bare-minimum, for lap-docks like these.
I would like these much more if they had an actual dock/slot for your phone. So you could actually use it’s 2in1 functionality without a cable hanging off the side and getting in the way.
That's the whole point of the wireless option. You don't need to have the phone anywhere near the lapdock to use it. You can put your phone in your pocket or otherwise use it as a normal phone while it's connected to the lapdock.
I have the NexDock 360 and I like it. I got it to go with my with my steam deck. I like the versatility it gives me. The trackpad issue is solved with an external mouse and it works great for games that you need a larger screen, like strategy/ city building games.
As someone who only needs a laptop occasionally. I'm really down with this concept. If I could take my Pixel 7 Pro and this little flippy book thing and use it to remote into my workstation or just do normal android thingys... hell yes.
@@mushieslushie Yea, the desktop experience on the pixel would be interesting to see. I wonder if the new "tablet" stuff they are adding would load up with it. Mainly, I'd be Remote Desktoping to my workstation.
@@kvendy It's there but it sucks. Not even remotely as capable as Dex. I was hopeful Google would support it more but with their release of the new tablet it's very clear Google has no interest in a desktop mode.
I have the Nexdock touch with the 360 degree hinge and it's been useful in a lot of niche cases, because I can connect pretty much anything with a video out to it. I've used it to control a Mac Mini before I bought a keyboard, mouse and monitor for the Mac, I've used it to play video games, I've used it as an extra monitor for my laptop and I've used it for my apple TV before I bought a TV. I hardly use the track pad, but that doesn't bother me because I always have a Bluetooth mouse connected to whatever device I've connected to the Nexdock. I'm excited about a future where I'm using a folding phone and a Nexdock as my main devices.
I desperately also want a hardware dock for my phone to make it more usable. But when you are selling hardware, but the hardware is essentially junk, that only sets your potential customers off. I think this compony should go balls to the wall, make an amazing uber-tier doc, and then start to create lower-end hardware like this after they have a base to proselytize their products.
This is already an incredibly niche product that costs a lot for what it gives you. I doubt they'd be able to meet minimum order quantities if they tried to sell a $1000+ version of one of these things.
I actually bought one of these last week. The battery life leaves a lot to be desired and when in use/charging there is a high pitched electricity whine that is quiet that sometimes gives me a headache. BUT... otherwise I enjoy it. I think it's a valid future we could expect. I didn't think I'd like the speakers or the wireless mode, but the speakers aren't nearly as bad as I expected and I also forget when I'm using wireless mode. I love being able to get more out of my phone that I already have and can't fully utilize without a product like this. I love that I can let my mom use it when she needs a bigger screen without a separate profile or anything. It's just her own layout natively. I natively have cellular internet that isn't throttled or limited by using hotspot. Imo right now this product suffers from the "early adopters tax" and is more expensive than it should be. But I think in time the entire experience will evolve to be much better.
Dude, I saw your comment on Juan's video just the other night. Thanks for the insight. I have the 360 and rarely use it, but when I DO, it's a game changer
This is a wild idea, but with Windows 11s Android app support, effort going into better touch and ARM support, right now it would be prime time for Microsoft to try one last time with a mobile operating system like Windows Phone. Will never happen but I won't let that dream die just yet..
They don't even need a special OS, just straight up Windows 11 at this point. The Windows 11 project on the Surface Duo is proof of this, not to mention the Windows on Lumia project.
Riley might just be my favorite tech reviewer on RUclips. It always feels like he approaches devices from the perspective of a real-world user, rather than those fringe use cases a lot of reviewers are concerned with, yet he's fair even to devices where he's clearly skeptical going in; funny and lighthearted as well. Keep up the good work, bud!
I feel like the Nexdock steps on the toes of other products that companies would rather sell you year over year (i.e. Chrome Books, Tablets etc) instead of this one where all you're replacing is the phone.
I really love this. Especially for 2nd screen on steam deck. The biggest positive is that you can upgrade other devices and it will always use the same interface. If you like the screen and keyboard you can infinitely use its interface and only buy a new phone every couple years or so (which we all do anyway)
Im confused, a future where you don't have to lug a phone and a laptop round with you. Just lug around a laptop sized dock that doesn't have the full functionality of a laptop, and a phone with you to drive it? What's the benefit?
I see benefit in it's versatility, you don't really have to just use it for your phone, you could also just use it as an external display. I could see myself connecting this to my PC and using it as a laptop to go lounge on the couch. Or connect to my steamdeck and use it as a co-op display to game with friends. I think there are plenty of use-cases for it, it's just not executed very well in this scenario. 30hz is horrible, latency seems bad, and the trackpad has glitchiness with zero future of updates to fix it. for 350$ it's just not worth it.
@@randomuser-vs3oe A portable monitor that blows this thing out of the water is less than a third the price. Docks for handheld devices have been a perennial idea since the days of the Palm Pilot at least, and they always wind up going the same way.
@PhysicsGamer except for the battery and keyboard. Portable monitors aren't too expensive, but I got one with a built in battery and the price jumped a lot. I got it for use with my laptop so I don't need a keyboard, but if you wanted it for your phone then you also then have to buy a separate keyboard. My issue is that how much is cost compared to a cheap laptop
I use dex a lot for streaming video to tvs, wirelessly on my laptop, and with a dock at my main desk, for simple tasks, it's a great experience having your phone apps and all your logins on one device, drawbacks being games, and apps that dont work on phones like music production, video editing, and coding. Its gonna be fun to see a lot of these hardware intensive tasks move to cloud based power and make the "phone as your only computer" more viable.
The argument of not wanting to carry a phone AND a fully fledged laptop doesnt make sense. The phone-top is still physically the same as a laptop, youre still carrying two things...
Plus it uses and degrades your phone battery life at a much higher speed, meaning you'll have to either replace the battery or change phones more frequently.
would guess the only argument for not having two separate devices in this case would be to have your data and files on the same device when you do whatever you want to do on the laptop thingy. Instead of having to transfer the files to the laptop to write the text document or.. i still dont really know for what that really is would like some sort of place to put the phone tho like magnet or something😅
"She's always cold" whispered can have multiple connotations. For the product, it has to start somewhere. As different iterations come out, it might end up being super useful.
Razer had that concept where the phone became the track pad in a dock like this. It was a really interesting concept and I thought it was the closest to an actually decent implementation of this, although it makes the phone and dock dependent. Like most razer concepts though nothing came of it
Would be hard because it should be device specific for the dimensions. The idea is pretty cool tho. A screen is very accurate so you would have a A tier trackpad and if the phone is in the "laptop" anyway, you can just make it wired so you have no latency
The downside is that it precludes you from using the phone as a phone while it's in use. The wireless NexDock allows you to keep using your phone however you like while it projects the desktop mode to the lapdock.
@@nickthaskater I think the idea is that you still had full phone functionality while it was in Laptop mode? So you could type your SmS messages, have access to all of your apps, and if you were already using your bluetooth headphones, make and receive calls.
Dex is amazing. I just wish app developers would adapt a "Dex Mode" for some apps. LumaFusion with full mouse/keyboard integration would be an absolute game changer. And Reaper for Android (and Dex) would mean I could use 1 device (my phone) for literally everything I do for work.
That would be cool but he focused too much on phones in this review. He almost got it at the end when he tried the Ayaneo but he didn't use the USB-C cable. With display extension on M1/M2 iPads, you can use these lapdocks with Stage Manager and have a crappy Mac 🤣Honestly though, the price of the lapdock can be compared to the price of a 12.9" Magic Keyboard and then people would understand the value proposition. The trackpads are so bad though. We need a big company to come in and make a good one.
The NexDock's are perfect for people that use Samsung phones, Nintendo Switch and handheld PC's. I use it with my Nintendo Switch all the time when I'm out of my house 🤙
I could totally see myself having something like this in my camper car and not have to worry about bringing a laptop when going on impromptu road trips.
The concept of this IS the future. However the price is laughable. You can get really usable laptops for $300 and even better ones on the used market. They really need to target the 100-150 price bracket to make this a viable option for people. As you can easily make a similar setup with a Portable Screen & Bluetooth keyboard/trackpad combo for a fraction of the cost... Which I've been rocking for a few years now. But always on the lookout for an all in one solution like this.
The whole point is that your phone is the PC. It's not about "there are cheaper used PCs on the market" since that's overlooking the point that the phone is the PC. No syncing, no transferring, no additional OS to manage. You're also comparing used with new, so there's that... You can typically find used NexDock 360s (non-wireless) for $200 USD.
@@nickthaskater That's still an insane price for what amounts to a low-quality portable monitor, a low-quality portable keyboard and trackpad, and a low-quality USB hub bolted together. Plus a battery.
@@PhysicsGamer there's nothing low quality about the chassis, keyboard, or screen. It's also a low volume product that's not being subsidized by shovelware are telemetry. The wired version is $300 USD which is entirely reasonable.
@@nickthaskater I bought a better portable monitor a few months ago for $70 - 1080p, 60Hz, ~8hr battery. Add a keyboard that doesn't flex and has much more comfortable keys, an actual mouse or standalone trackpad to replace the one even the host was complaining about, and a bag to put it in since you'll need one of those for this dock anyway... and you're still nowhere near what this costs.
@@PhysicsGamer congrats. You created something that is multiple components instead of one. If you prefer that, you do you. Others want a cohesive device such as a lapdock.
As someone that has been doing a full samsung DEX station setup for more then a year now, this is a very exciting product. That being said the wireless performance, comes off as not a feasible option. Perhaps one day it can be, but using a wired connection turns it into a completely usable device.
I like the concept, because most people upgrade their phones more often than their computers. And with the gains arm makes year on year, having a chassis like this will eventually mean you can always count on your computer performance being acceptable, without fussy upgrades or creating more ewaste (apart from all those old phones)
I've not had any latency with the Touch version in wired mode. I use the UPerfect dock, which seems to be the exact same device as the NexDock one. I bought it as it serves a lot of different use-cases for me. It's light enough I can keep it in my backback, turning my phone into an on-demand computer. I use it to work with my Raspberry Pi boards, rather than setting up a whole station for it. I use it to interact with my home server, which otherwise just has power and ethernet plugged in. I use it when I want to work with my Steam Deck. The dock will also (slowly) charge the input device over USB-C, so it can also be used as a battery bank/power donor in a pinch. They're sold primarily with Samsung's Dex in mind but they're actually very useful for a number of use cases. The only real frustration I've had is that the lapdock seems to report the trackpad as a mouse rather than a trackpad. That then has knock-on effects in terms of what settings are available and it also means that the settings will be shared with any wireless/bluetooth mice you use.
You are not the only one to think about that... I built my own out of portable monitor, extra slim keyboard, power bank and small mouse. If i didn't go with nextdock it's mainly because of the high price tag ! And that a perfect set-up for travelling with out carrying a heavy laptop !
I remember Motorola did something like this back in the day and it was the coolest thing I've ever seen but man was it slow, its actually pretty cool to see it still lives on in some way shape and form
The nexdock works as a monitor for RPi, as second monitor for a pc/laptop and as an android dock. This is not just a laptop without a computer. It still needs polish, I have the touch right now. It's a quite an army knife of a device
Samsung Dex is really cool, I don't know why it's not more popular. For basic office work, it's extremely good. You just need your phone and a tiny docking station, and you can connect any monitor or mouse and keyboard to it, and it's ready to go. It won't replace a proper PC for things like software development (yet), but it's impressive for what it is. Microsoft tried this concept with Windows Mobile, and if that OS hadn't failed, I think this concept would have been very popular. It was ahead of its time.
I can see these being good for stuff like education. Like, optical type c going back to the brains of the computers elsewhere, less theft, modularity for students needing more power and less waste when the keyboard or screen eventually go bad
I bought one a few months ago and am pretty satisfied with it. The brightness is lacking, the track pad sucks, but it does what I need it to do and works pretty well for chilling on the patio or working out
you mentioned the future where you don't need to lug stuff around, but in terms of cables, its here with USB-C, and even this, you still have to lug around the laptop as a screen.
I really like the concept of this, it does what the cloud does in a way, it gives you the opportunity to have your information with you at anytime regardless the device
For input, I've noticed that using the Dex mode with a mouse is way better than using a touch pad because there's no smoothing of the movement and the input has been optimized for touch so any input on the trackpad just gets immediately interpreted as an input. And using another device completely mitigates that since you have to click purposely. Sure, you need to get another device now, but disable the trackpad so you can rest your wrist without doing phantom touches and having the mouse be in a more comfortable position, it's almost completely smooth
Riley, we have the same dream! I really want one device for all, carry your phone around, dock it when you want work on something or gaming. A mobile phone that powerful enough to do all. Well maybe when it dock it can add more horsepower to it, but my point still stand. Maybe in the future, everything is possible with one device.
I think the logo means something along the lines of "You plug your phone to it and it becomes a complete laptop", just like the circle does when you plug the square in
I have the NexDock 360 and what annoys me most are the touchpad gestures that can't be deactivated. So I have to run Key Mapper to map something like "Left Meta + Down" to nothing if don't want my window minimized every other minute.
Just to clarify, the screen is 60Hz when wired via USB-C or HDMI. It's just that they tested only the wireless part which is Miracast in which this particular variant can only run at 30fps.
If there's no laptop inside, it better be packed with other useful features or super cheap. It should have a 99 watt hour battery bank, super good io (add ethernet, usb a, fullsize HDMI, etc).
One thing I do enjoy with a dock like this (I have the uperfect x, which seems to be an nextdock without a third usb-c port): It is completely silent, charges your phone over usb, albeit slowly, and has an amazing battery life. I do pair a bluetooth mouse, though, because the trackpad really is unusable.
I have the non wireless version of this. Believe me, I never had issues with the touchpad when wired in. It's an awesome device. It pairs excellently with a handheld PC or using Dex. It also helped save my child's life but that's a different story.
I like this category it’s like getting tablet functionality out of the phone you already have. Probably a better market to go after than the laptop market
I wish a large company would make one of these. Samsung, Asus, or LG please make one of these to elevate the build quality of this class of product. These are portable monitors on steroids. I love mine, but every time I touch it; I know it could be so much better. They are great for travel if you bring a tablet to be the actual brains and reverse the conventional portable monitor paradigm. You can check your clamshell and if it gets lost, all you lost was your display, trackpad, and keyboard.
As a college student who had a far less elegant solution several years ago, this would have been perfect for taking notes. Beats a crap chromebook that's guaranteed to be e-waste in a few years, and wouldn't have to buy a new one if my phone got old or slow. As a college graduate and professional, I could still see this being able to do most of the work I do on the go and would allow me to leave behind a bulkier laptop while traveling. Either I'm glad the Samsung Dex idea has persisted.
Really niche situation, but im going to be on a boat for a long time and i wanted to bring a mini pc to game on when im bored. This is awesome because it allows me to use the pc in my bed like a laptop but have the full performance of a mini pc.
There are a few niche cases in which I really like this: Of course, working with a phone, but I also have a Surface go 3, and this would give me a keyboard + trackpad + additional screen for it, and I have an Optiplex set up like a home server. I don't think in it's current config that I could just plug it into a lap dock and have it work but it could in theory if I need to directly get into it without SSH or remote desktop.
Its great to show its wireless capabilities intensively (and i super appreciate that), but omg could you PLEASE show the wired performance as well like holy crap I was waiting to see that TOO 😪 I just held my breath for the wired section and basically died....
The concept is to potentially have a 'forever laptop' that you only upgrade your phone, so it becomes the last laptop you ever buy for the rest of your life. We're not quite there yet, but I do see this as the future. Here's what's needed: 1 - Flagship phones need to reach parity with what laptops can do on their own in processing power. I think we're really close to that, actually. It's not unusual for someone to already own a smartphone that outperforms their (older) laptop. 2 - To be a future proof laptop it needs to have top specs as far as display. Very high resolution and refresh rate are a must. Touchscreen with fine control is a must. 3 - It must be versatile, have a 2 in 1 design where the display is essentially a tablet that can be used without the keyboard, and the keyboard connection is strong enough it still can look and function like a regular laptop, turned into a 'tent' position for presentations, etc. 4 - Wireless connection to your phone with high upload/download speeds (this is here already, but not all of these lapdocks offer wireless yet). Needs to be as little complications to setting up and running it as possible; ideally you shouldn't have to pull your phone out of your pocket to use it, just open it and off you go.
Literally the only thing I've ever used Samsung Dex for is to watch RUclips videos on my TV when my home internet is down. But for someone with more businessy needs than me, I can totally see the appeal of it. It could be insanely useful. Even just regular stuff like showing pictures to a group of people on a large screen could be a great use for it. I'm really glad Samsung is continuing to develop it instead of just abandoning it because hardly anyone uses it.
not sure but the mouse glitches could also come from the dex software maby you could dig deeper into it. to the whole concept i have to say its a great idea and well done from nexdock but the problem is that they are getting hold back from the bad desktop software on Android phones
![KAYTRANADA - Witchy (feat. Childish Gambino) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jGK3YVmGZ3Y/mqdefault.jpg)
Better sleep makes a better you! Check out Eight Sleep at www.eightsleep.com/lmg and use code LMG for $150 off the Pod Cover.
Someone really needs to make a proper cellphone extension; I've been using an Asus mobile display with Samsung DEX and a wireless Keyboard and Mouse. The touchpad samsung dex provides is also very usable. I haven't needed a laptop in many years; the Portable screen gets several hours, my phone gets several hours in dex mode, and It gives me more budget for a nicer phone. Win win!
strange. Miracast can be used two-way and i had a remote screen for my phone that used touch, so it's strange the touch screen isn't working without bluetooth.
you arent foolish, you're paid
Can this be connected to Intel NUC?
Hey guys. Just wanted to point something out. Wireless is only 30Hz, but wired pushes that up to 60Hz. Also, the touch pad experience loses latency when in wired mode, though you still have some goofiness on the dex side with unintended swipe gestures registering in normal use.
I feel like wired connection to the screen would most definitely fix most of the problems Riley has
Its much better using the Wired connection, especially on the Original Nexdock due to a small delay if you use something like Chromecase/Microsoft Wireless Adapter.
Yeah, he should have tried the wired connection. I mean, it came with the USB C cable.
It would fix most of his issues indeed. I used the Microsoft Wireless Adapter once and the whole Miracast experience straight up sucked and I never used it again. The store got it back the same day. The only use I found was using it to present PowerPoint, but that's it...
IKR?!
The whole point is that he was testing it being wireless though. In most situations where you are using it for more than a few minutes obviously it would be better to have it wired. He already tested a wired version previously as he mentioned in the video.
Pretty sure dex allows for your actual phone screen to be the touchpad and it works really well.
That's right.
If only Dex was supported on A series phones.
My note 9 released is 2018 is far weaker than my brand new 2022 A73, however Dex is not supported :(
@@FierceElements it gets on my nerves that the Flip3 doesn't support Dex whereas the Fold3 does, and they both use the same processor
@@FierceElements I used dex for about 6 months, it was perfectly fine, I was impressed. The only BIG turn off for me was that I am a pc gamer and therefore, doing it all on1 machine as opposed to switching all the time made more sense. I would say it is the only reason I no longer use dex. If I was not gaming and simply working + watching movies, dex would my my 1 and only. Spending cash on both a great phone and a pc does not make sense to me, so pc it is.
@@heltoncwb I think it' s flip cooling issues at play here. My Flip 4 doesn't support it either and on video calls or camera use it can get really hot&slow.
I have one of these, I actually use it to plug into servers and control them without needing to carry a monitor plus keyboard around. It's pretty useful for very niche cases
Probably should target the handheld PC as well. That would be more relevant.
I was thinking portable screen for gaming PC, pricing is prohibitive.
Well, that answered my " who is this even for" question. I mean...I guess it has a use. Other than that I mean, tablet would do the same thing.
@@SPG25 I also use it a lot with my switch, when I'm traveling. It's also pretty good with the steam deck and it immediately recognized the keyboard and touchscreen
"Pretty useful for very niche cases."
100%agree. There have been times where this would have been perfect for my day to day needs, but other times where a $200 laptop does the job. It really is going to depend, and while mobile devices being our computer is likely, the infrastructure and manufactured demand is not there yet.
Riley’s dystopian future of “just docking our mobile devices” sounds pretty good actually
Why is it dystopian
I don't think this is competitive with using chrome remote desktop on an equivalent $350 laptop
I've loved this idea since the day the iPhone came out and I'm still waiting. Someday.
@@Ignacio.Romero Phones are ludicrously locked down compared to other devices.
@@PhysicsGamer The model can play into that but there are some cool things you can do like using box32 or box64 which lets arm chips run 32/64 bit x86 programs on them. Taki Udon ran some games on a RK3588 using them, which included stanley parable, l4d2 and some other games. So as phones get faster and faster this could become a thing.
All the latency issues are probably entirely due to Miracast. That protocol is notoriously laggy. You really should have connected the phone to the lapdock with a USB cable and compared the latency. I'll bet it's like night and day.
yeah, wireless is a gimmick at this point. You'd also get rid of the mouse lag if you wired in. Of course there will be lag if display, keyboard, and mouse all have to connect via bluetooth
Yes, but the point here is that it's the wireless version. There's already coverage of the standard (wired) NexDock 360.
Of course the wireless is probably the issue. The sad thing is for many phones released today that's the *only* option for things to work.
Unfortunately, with the move to USB C a lot of even flagship phones have quietly dropped back down to USB-2 speeds thanks to USB C using the same connector for USB-2 and USB-3 capable cables. Makes me miss USB Micro-B...
Good luck attempting to run what's basically a dock over a 480Mb/s connection.
Yeah it comes down to it defaulting to Bluetooth over wireless but with support for detecting routes through cabled infrastructure. They should have gone with a USB cable. That said if your staff are on laptops miracast is the best affordable option for meeting rooms, the other good options are all expensive HDMI to 5.2GHz wireless.
Please ensure that you test each device FULLY in the future. In this case, you failed to connect the phone via a dex dock/USB C cable, which might have made the touchpad more accurate.
This is the NexDock *Wireless*, why would they not test the feature they're trying to sell? They already reviewed one with a wired connection.
@ItsHatlolOfficial that's like saying "I tested x on the last generation, so I don't need to test it on the new generation". The TouchPad could be better on the new one than compared to previous models. Also, wired dex behaves - performance wise - notably different from wireless dex.
@@ItsHatlolOfficialand, if he would have connected wired, he'd see that it's 60hz when wired. Dex itself DOES have the ability to go up to 120hz though
I believe the screen is 60hz but only does 30 when casting wirelessly. Also with these lapdocks once you get a new phone, you get a new 'laptop' as well.
Correct on both points.
It's disappointing they didn't even bother to look at the wired experience.
@@Teh-Penguin there's nothing to look at, really. It's 60Hz, no latency, and it works. The trackpad is the same, aside from latency.
There's lots of wired NexDock 360 coverage out there if you're curious.
@@nickthaskater People shouldn't have to look at *another video* to see what *this one* should have covered. It was just not a good presentation on their part. There should be a direct compare and contrast between wireless and wired, especially if a single device has the functionality for both.
@@InfernosReaper it's kinda strange reviewers don't review all of the feature and possibilities
Touchpad issues aside, I feel like we’re a few hardware generations away from a phone/PC hybrid being actually feasible for daily use. Hell, Apple Silicon is already based on mobile architecture.
or even an addon to a Steam Deck/ROG Ally
I've been using my samsung dex connected to a monitor / tv for a couple years now as a daily driver. Even light gaming is ok with geforce now and the like. The upside is i only need a dock and i have my pc with me everywhere i find a monitor to hook up to.
The Asus zenfone transformer thing from a few years ago had a phone, a tablet and a laptop all powered off the phone. It didn't sell well but it was easily 10 years ahead of its time.
@@GH0STST4RSCR34M Not even remotely the same thing? They're both ARM based SoCs, no? That's remotely the same thing, I'd say it's even in the same ball park, if you so will!
Honestly my fold 4 with dex has never once slowed down while using it on a monitor. Latency is non existent and it even has really fast wired internet if I want it too.
I have the (wired, 360) Nexdock and absolutely love it in combination with my S21 ultra.
Using parsec or teamviewer I can work on the go.
Also the shown latency issues are from that wireless streaming. When connected via cable I can even play FPS games (with mobile 5G and gigabit connection at home)
THE use case for these are temporary/guest desks. You don't have to deal with the technical issues of ensuring PC's that hardly get used are kept updated or need replacing as this hardware updates as people update their mobiles. So if you have staff who are out of the office for 70% of the time but HAVE to come in to do essential stuff this is absolutely one of the best ideas. That said they just don't seem to market them to the right audience
That absolutely isn't the idea behind this.
@@mushieslushie It should be considered, imagine if they could also connect to a virtual machine server. That’d be a whole extra niche it can cover for little additional cost.
I don't really see this being better than a chromebook-like of similar price.
Even in this usecase, a proper laptop beats this every time.
@@ac.creations because you can't upgrade a chrome book, with this if you get a new phone in 2 or 3 years you have also upgraded your 'laptop'
I have the slightly older wired-only version of this 360-hinge model and absolutely love it. I paid $300 shipped.
It pairs VERY well with Steam Deck (and likely AyaNeo, ROG Ally, and other handhelds), and I advocate for the combination every chance I can to owners of such handhelds. Such as right now.
I've used this, a Steam Deck, and a dock dongle to make my Deck my main computer for a weekend.
I bought an original motorola one after they crashed and still use it as a mobile, battery-operated screen for debugging e.g.: servers. Extremely useful.
Yeah, i could see it being a really cheap crashcart.
Ohhhhh that is very smart!
Oh man, I sure loved the "NexTock Dutch". 7:17 🤣
If the goal is to not carry around a laptop and charger and all that stuff, what’s the difference here? You still have to carry the same amount of stuff around…but the laptop shaped object is just thinner…
I believe you're right, but... The cost is much reduced compared to a laptop. Also, you don't need to login again in the same services from another device. Plus, you are assured to be able to continue your work from phone to laptop(dock) and reverse. Not to mention the fact that you don't need another data connection other than the one you already use anyways on your phone. Not saying that the experience is excellent, it's still in its infancy, but it is also very promising.
I think the point is not that you're carrying this around instead of a laptop, but that there would be docks wherever you would need a setup like this. Just carry your phone around to work or to an internet cafe, and there would be these already there for you to plug into.
To me, the main point is price.
These should be cheaper than laptops of similar build quality and for many people and tasks, modern phones (or gaming handhelds) have more than enough processing power.
So this is a cheaper, thinner and lighter alternative to a laptop.
@@BriefNerdOriginal I mean you don't need a second data connection for your laptop either. If you have your phone with you always you can just use your hotspot, or usb tethering to get your data on your laptop otherwise, and you can run Dex on windows anyways, so the only argument for this vs a regular laptop is cost.
That's not the goal. The goal is that if you have a good phone and don't wanna pay extra for an actual Windows laptop, you can use this. And people like to have all their data and apps they use on 1 device (not everyone has an unlimited data plan so doing everything in the cloud isn't the best option for everyone).
It's definitely a niche product but for some it can be useful.
The price is way to steep at 300 dollars for what you're getting so imo this particular product is not worth it (just buy a chromebook for 300 bucks and you're way better off with a usable trackpad and 60Hz)
14:40
NOTE this article is NOT talking about the hardware, it's talking about how google puts EXPIRATION DATES on supporting their products, so schools are left with tons of WORKING chromebooks that they can't use since their support has expired
They even point out later that this isn't the problem, and that with any laptop (even a regular windows laptop), “Students are very hard on devices,” and "they’re going to destroy it. Any device after five years of being with a middle school or high schooler is going to be in bad shape.”
I care about it. I have been dreaming of a well implemented version for decades. Back when I got my first Palm dock.
Same here, my friend...
I remember seeing ads for the first iPhone and thinking that by the time I finished grad school, laptops would just be portable accessories to plug your phone into. I'm 100% on the same page as this guy.
Right?! That time will come, my friend
Droid 4 was one of the best phones ever. Doubled as a laptop, had hdmi out, full keyboard. I bought one on ebay just to push those sweet buttons one more time.
Second post, but they have desktop monitors that can power everything with USB C. If you get one of those and a Bluetooth keyboard I think it would do what this does but better. Just use the phone as a mouse.
His vision of not having to carry both a phone and a laptop at the same time but use the phone itself is honestly quit legitimate. With more arm chips coming out, I don't see why it's impossible to happen not so far in the future
I love my NexDock 360 (it's exactly the same but without the wireless options)
If you connect with a Windows device, the trackpad is better (still not perfect though)
The best part is that it can be used with so many devices. Personally, I usually connect my old Samsung Note 9, Nintendo Switch, or an Intel NUC.
It's also great as an additional screen for a Windows laptop or tablet. I used to travel a lot for work and it was so great to be able to use my switch in hotels without messing around with the TV, or as a second screen when using my work laptop.
This device is not for everyone, but for switch or steam deck it is amazing.
I used to use it on raspberry pis as well. With just one or 2 connections (raspberry pi is pretty difficult to get video over USB-C, so you use that for keyboard and mouse and the mini HDMI for video) you get so much.
@UnjustifiedRecs which at that point you might as well use a portable larger display, rather than something with a full. Keyboard aswell
Yes, but a larger screen. @UnjustifiedRecs
i really like the idea of this as a steam deck dock. means u could use it for actual work on the go
Whoa probably the best use case I've seen in the comments so far
I use mine for that as well and it is pretty good - but it won't charge the Deck from the Dock (slow charger connected) so I go through a USB-C hub with power delivery first. It is a nice, portable setup for travelling. Phone, Steam Deck and Nextdock (in my case Uperfect X pro) are great companions.
@@ribaldbohling2107I'm strongly considering this as my next gaming laptop alternative-- I need a new laptop but want to be able to play games while out about. You mention slow charging, without your USB-C adapter setup does the device battery drain or does it stay stable/charge very slowly?
This thing is great for setting up and configuring computers. keyboard,mouse and monitor in one. I have the nexdock 360, which is the same as this but no wireless feature.
I believe, too, Riley. I've moved pretty much exclusively to my phone and tablet for work, and anything that makes them more PC- like and modular is great by me.
I'd love this for my Tab E, at least untill I get a Framework 16 at some point
This really makes me wish Razer actually went ahead with Project Linda beyond the protoypes shown. Loved the idea of docking the phone to use it as a touchpad for the laptop shell.
It would have been nice to see things actually plugged into it as well..
As long as this plays nice with a VGA to HDMI adapter, the non-wireless one of these mostly makes sense to me for server management. One of these on a cart in the data center would be great for a quick connect to any server for local setup.
They're so ubiquitous but I honestly can't believe we still use VGA. It's mind-blowing.
VGA?? What is that? 🤔🤔 - some Gen Zer
I've used this for university since I have a desktop. It was great for google docs, and when the wifi went out, I was last to know since my phone went to data instead. Other perk is when I need specs, I'll remote into my pc from my phone. Shame about the price tho
I'm withj Riley as a SteamDeck owner: I have already commited to not buying a new Laptop once my current one becomes unusable, since my Steamdeck can do everything I need it to. A very portable dock with a larger screen, ok keyboard and good trackpad would absolutely be something I'd buy. But this hardware at 350 is just not it. I could DIY something better, or heck, strip a broken ultralight laptop and find a usbc-dock that fits in place of the broken motherboard with all the needed adapters.
I'm leaning the same way. I'm not paying Apple hundreds of dollars to bump up the default 8GB RAM to 16GB, when my phone already has 12GB.
I currently use the non-wireless one with my steam deck. It's extremely convenient, I love it a lot. I did have to RMA my first unit though cause the input port was loose and would constantly disconnect and reconnect (and man, the time that it was gone, I missed it dearly lol). It's such a wonderful addition to my steam deck experience for both desktop mode and gaming mode. You do have to deal with the slower 15w through charge as opposed to the 45w native deck charge, so it will drain faster than it charges. Not a huge deal for me personally because I don't mind swapping back to the deck display if I really don't want to stop gaming then, but YMMY.
@@shadowflash0 you'd probably be better off getting a dongle and not using the pass-through power at all imo, that CAN'T be good for the longevity of the deck's battery (or anything, really. underpowered trickle-charging is never a good idea)
This is a product that actually interests me. I moved from using a Windows laptop at work to using a Samsung S8+ and it's generally been very good and a mostly easy switch. I work in IT and the biggest issue I've had was finding a USB-C Ethernet dongle that worked for those onsite calls. But pretty smooth sailing and the display on the S8+ is great! 120hz! I love it. But yeah, trackpad jank and 30hz! That's a deal breaker for me. But I am excited for someone to get it right.
And what exactly is wrong with 30Hz displays for work?..
My phone, a SteamDeck, and the NexDock 360 are my work travel set up and honestly it works pretty well. I've got a little portable dock to plug that all into and really the only downside is managing the cables. Sure a gaming laptop is a one stop shop that is way more powerful but a gaming laptop is also $TEXAS and less flexible.
I think there is something to the future of a more modular, docked future. It's really gonna come down to the phone desktop modes being taken more seriously and maybe someone like Framework {*cough cough*} releasing a shell with fully replaceable components
And a track pad that isn't ass.
I was going to ask if someone had tried this with a Steam deck. Does it all (touch screen, trackpad, keyboard, microSD) work correctly?
@@RichardJActon If you direct connect the Deck and NexDock it all works great.
I have a basic dock in the mix because then I can charge the deck at full speed while using the NexDock as a bigger screen however that does remove the ability to use the NexDock's kbam but I'm on a gamepad either way and I can always hook up my travel kbam to the dock so it's fine.
Riley is a dreamer, but he's also a practical guy. I appreciate his balance, there are some things that should come as standard, if not bare-minimum, for lap-docks like these.
I would like these much more if they had an actual dock/slot for your phone. So you could actually use it’s 2in1 functionality without a cable hanging off the side and getting in the way.
Uperfect sells a phone stand that you can attach on the side of the laptop so the phone sits upright next to the screen
That's the whole point of the wireless option. You don't need to have the phone anywhere near the lapdock to use it. You can put your phone in your pocket or otherwise use it as a normal phone while it's connected to the lapdock.
@@nickthaskater yes but miracast blows ass.
I have the NexDock 360 and I like it. I got it to go with my with my steam deck. I like the versatility it gives me. The trackpad issue is solved with an external mouse and it works great for games that you need a larger screen, like strategy/ city building games.
As someone who only needs a laptop occasionally. I'm really down with this concept. If I could take my Pixel 7 Pro and this little flippy book thing and use it to remote into my workstation or just do normal android thingys... hell yes.
too bad pixels suck and don't do video out
This might only work with a pixel wirelessly, also pixel doesn't have good desktop mode. It's really best with Samsung or Motorola.
@@mushieslushie Yea, the desktop experience on the pixel would be interesting to see. I wonder if the new "tablet" stuff they are adding would load up with it. Mainly, I'd be Remote Desktoping to my workstation.
@@mushieslushie you can force desktop mode on external display on android in developer options.
I don't know how it would look like
@@kvendy It's there but it sucks. Not even remotely as capable as Dex. I was hopeful Google would support it more but with their release of the new tablet it's very clear Google has no interest in a desktop mode.
I have the Nexdock touch with the 360 degree hinge and it's been useful in a lot of niche cases, because I can connect pretty much anything with a video out to it. I've used it to control a Mac Mini before I bought a keyboard, mouse and monitor for the Mac, I've used it to play video games, I've used it as an extra monitor for my laptop and I've used it for my apple TV before I bought a TV. I hardly use the track pad, but that doesn't bother me because I always have a Bluetooth mouse connected to whatever device I've connected to the Nexdock. I'm excited about a future where I'm using a folding phone and a Nexdock as my main devices.
I desperately also want a hardware dock for my phone to make it more usable. But when you are selling hardware, but the hardware is essentially junk, that only sets your potential customers off. I think this compony should go balls to the wall, make an amazing uber-tier doc, and then start to create lower-end hardware like this after they have a base to proselytize their products.
To be real, wireless *everything at once* is gonna be crap no matter who makes it or how good the hardware otherwise would be.
This is already an incredibly niche product that costs a lot for what it gives you. I doubt they'd be able to meet minimum order quantities if they tried to sell a $1000+ version of one of these things.
I actually bought one of these last week. The battery life leaves a lot to be desired and when in use/charging there is a high pitched electricity whine that is quiet that sometimes gives me a headache.
BUT...
otherwise I enjoy it. I think it's a valid future we could expect. I didn't think I'd like the speakers or the wireless mode, but the speakers aren't nearly as bad as I expected and I also forget when I'm using wireless mode. I love being able to get more out of my phone that I already have and can't fully utilize without a product like this. I love that I can let my mom use it when she needs a bigger screen without a separate profile or anything. It's just her own layout natively. I natively have cellular internet that isn't throttled or limited by using hotspot. Imo right now this product suffers from the "early adopters tax" and is more expensive than it should be. But I think in time the entire experience will evolve to be much better.
Dude, I saw your comment on Juan's video just the other night. Thanks for the insight. I have the 360 and rarely use it, but when I DO, it's a game changer
@J Big yeah that was me. You're welcome. I just wanted to give my thoughts and things I noticed for others like you. I'm glad it's helpful.
This is a wild idea, but with Windows 11s Android app support, effort going into better touch and ARM support, right now it would be prime time for Microsoft to try one last time with a mobile operating system like Windows Phone.
Will never happen but I won't let that dream die just yet..
Would be cool to have just 1 ecosystem but I doubt it would work out. Android is just too big
They don't even need a special OS, just straight up Windows 11 at this point. The Windows 11 project on the Surface Duo is proof of this, not to mention the Windows on Lumia project.
Riley might just be my favorite tech reviewer on RUclips. It always feels like he approaches devices from the perspective of a real-world user, rather than those fringe use cases a lot of reviewers are concerned with, yet he's fair even to devices where he's clearly skeptical going in; funny and lighthearted as well. Keep up the good work, bud!
Actually intriguing, but I’m surprised there hasn’t been a bigger push to the advent of mobile docks like this
I feel like the Nexdock steps on the toes of other products that companies would rather sell you year over year (i.e. Chrome Books, Tablets etc) instead of this one where all you're replacing is the phone.
I really love this. Especially for 2nd screen on steam deck. The biggest positive is that you can upgrade other devices and it will always use the same interface. If you like the screen and keyboard you can infinitely use its interface and only buy a new phone every couple years or so (which we all do anyway)
Im confused, a future where you don't have to lug a phone and a laptop round with you.
Just lug around a laptop sized dock that doesn't have the full functionality of a laptop, and a phone with you to drive it?
What's the benefit?
I see benefit in it's versatility, you don't really have to just use it for your phone, you could also just use it as an external display. I could see myself connecting this to my PC and using it as a laptop to go lounge on the couch. Or connect to my steamdeck and use it as a co-op display to game with friends. I think there are plenty of use-cases for it, it's just not executed very well in this scenario. 30hz is horrible, latency seems bad, and the trackpad has glitchiness with zero future of updates to fix it. for 350$ it's just not worth it.
@@randomuser-vs3oe A portable monitor that blows this thing out of the water is less than a third the price. Docks for handheld devices have been a perennial idea since the days of the Palm Pilot at least, and they always wind up going the same way.
@PhysicsGamer except for the battery and keyboard. Portable monitors aren't too expensive, but I got one with a built in battery and the price jumped a lot. I got it for use with my laptop so I don't need a keyboard, but if you wanted it for your phone then you also then have to buy a separate keyboard. My issue is that how much is cost compared to a cheap laptop
I use dex a lot for streaming video to tvs, wirelessly on my laptop, and with a dock at my main desk, for simple tasks, it's a great experience having your phone apps and all your logins on one device, drawbacks being games, and apps that dont work on phones like music production, video editing, and coding. Its gonna be fun to see a lot of these hardware intensive tasks move to cloud based power and make the "phone as your only computer" more viable.
The argument of not wanting to carry a phone AND a fully fledged laptop doesnt make sense. The phone-top is still physically the same as a laptop, youre still carrying two things...
Plus it uses and degrades your phone battery life at a much higher speed, meaning you'll have to either replace the battery or change phones more frequently.
would guess the only argument for not having two separate devices in this case would be to have your data and files on the same device when you do whatever you want to do on the laptop thingy. Instead of having to transfer the files to the laptop to write the text document or.. i still dont really know for what that really is would like some sort of place to put the phone tho like magnet or something😅
Makes sense. The only upside I see is the weight, but it's not like you're gonna break your spine because of an additional kilo or even less.
This is 350$ so it is really cheap and better than any chromebook
@@nobody.7.10.7 a 30hz screen and a laggy touchpad don't really add to this being "better than a Chromebook"
"She's always cold" whispered can have multiple connotations. For the product, it has to start somewhere. As different iterations come out, it might end up being super useful.
Riley is low-key the best presenter. The "Egyptian hieroglyphs" had me rolling. 😂
I have this and love it, use it daily. I only use the wirelessly if I am just watching some video or something, to laggy otherwise. Wired its spot on.
Razer had that concept where the phone became the track pad in a dock like this. It was a really interesting concept and I thought it was the closest to an actually decent implementation of this, although it makes the phone and dock dependent. Like most razer concepts though nothing came of it
Samsung dex has that option already. You can use the screen as a track pad
That's the best way to do this sort of thing, honestly. At one point we thought phones would be slotted into your computer/laptop, being the CPU.
Would be hard because it should be device specific for the dimensions. The idea is pretty cool tho. A screen is very accurate so you would have a A tier trackpad and if the phone is in the "laptop" anyway, you can just make it wired so you have no latency
The downside is that it precludes you from using the phone as a phone while it's in use. The wireless NexDock allows you to keep using your phone however you like while it projects the desktop mode to the lapdock.
@@nickthaskater I think the idea is that you still had full phone functionality while it was in Laptop mode? So you could type your SmS messages, have access to all of your apps, and if you were already using your bluetooth headphones, make and receive calls.
relaxing and calm without any bg music. love it
Dex is amazing. I just wish app developers would adapt a "Dex Mode" for some apps. LumaFusion with full mouse/keyboard integration would be an absolute game changer. And Reaper for Android (and Dex) would mean I could use 1 device (my phone) for literally everything I do for work.
I also want that future! But I don't want it to be Android-based. Dex is awful. Hopefully we get better Linux phones with full desktops soon.
That would be cool but he focused too much on phones in this review. He almost got it at the end when he tried the Ayaneo but he didn't use the USB-C cable. With display extension on M1/M2 iPads, you can use these lapdocks with Stage Manager and have a crappy Mac 🤣Honestly though, the price of the lapdock can be compared to the price of a 12.9" Magic Keyboard and then people would understand the value proposition. The trackpads are so bad though. We need a big company to come in and make a good one.
The NexDock's are perfect for people that use Samsung phones, Nintendo Switch and handheld PC's.
I use it with my Nintendo Switch all the time when I'm out of my house 🤙
Motorola has a great desktop mode called Ready For as well. Arguably better than DeX.
wtf 30hz display
I could totally see myself having something like this in my camper car and not have to worry about bringing a laptop when going on impromptu road trips.
The concept of this IS the future. However the price is laughable. You can get really usable laptops for $300 and even better ones on the used market. They really need to target the 100-150 price bracket to make this a viable option for people. As you can easily make a similar setup with a Portable Screen & Bluetooth keyboard/trackpad combo for a fraction of the cost... Which I've been rocking for a few years now. But always on the lookout for an all in one solution like this.
The whole point is that your phone is the PC. It's not about "there are cheaper used PCs on the market" since that's overlooking the point that the phone is the PC. No syncing, no transferring, no additional OS to manage. You're also comparing used with new, so there's that... You can typically find used NexDock 360s (non-wireless) for $200 USD.
@@nickthaskater That's still an insane price for what amounts to a low-quality portable monitor, a low-quality portable keyboard and trackpad, and a low-quality USB hub bolted together. Plus a battery.
@@PhysicsGamer there's nothing low quality about the chassis, keyboard, or screen. It's also a low volume product that's not being subsidized by shovelware are telemetry. The wired version is $300 USD which is entirely reasonable.
@@nickthaskater I bought a better portable monitor a few months ago for $70 - 1080p, 60Hz, ~8hr battery. Add a keyboard that doesn't flex and has much more comfortable keys, an actual mouse or standalone trackpad to replace the one even the host was complaining about, and a bag to put it in since you'll need one of those for this dock anyway... and you're still nowhere near what this costs.
@@PhysicsGamer congrats. You created something that is multiple components instead of one. If you prefer that, you do you. Others want a cohesive device such as a lapdock.
As someone that has been doing a full samsung DEX station setup for more then a year now, this is a very exciting product. That being said the wireless performance, comes off as not a feasible option. Perhaps one day it can be, but using a wired connection turns it into a completely usable device.
I love phone steroids
I want one, i am saving up for one, i love that every time i upgrade my phone that it basically updates my laptop
I like the concept, because most people upgrade their phones more often than their computers. And with the gains arm makes year on year, having a chassis like this will eventually mean you can always count on your computer performance being acceptable, without fussy upgrades or creating more ewaste (apart from all those old phones)
I've not had any latency with the Touch version in wired mode.
I use the UPerfect dock, which seems to be the exact same device as the NexDock one. I bought it as it serves a lot of different use-cases for me. It's light enough I can keep it in my backback, turning my phone into an on-demand computer. I use it to work with my Raspberry Pi boards, rather than setting up a whole station for it. I use it to interact with my home server, which otherwise just has power and ethernet plugged in. I use it when I want to work with my Steam Deck. The dock will also (slowly) charge the input device over USB-C, so it can also be used as a battery bank/power donor in a pinch.
They're sold primarily with Samsung's Dex in mind but they're actually very useful for a number of use cases.
The only real frustration I've had is that the lapdock seems to report the trackpad as a mouse rather than a trackpad. That then has knock-on effects in terms of what settings are available and it also means that the settings will be shared with any wireless/bluetooth mice you use.
Since when have "half sun" and "half moon" not been the universal symbol for brightness and contrast
I believe in the dream too, Riley. Better display, trackpad and/or lower price and I think this would be killer. Like $200 maybe.
You are not the only one to think about that... I built my own out of portable monitor, extra slim keyboard, power bank and small mouse. If i didn't go with nextdock it's mainly because of the high price tag ! And that a perfect set-up for travelling with out carrying a heavy laptop !
I remember Motorola did something like this back in the day and it was the coolest thing I've ever seen but man was it slow, its actually pretty cool to see it still lives on in some way shape and form
The nexdock works as a monitor for RPi, as second monitor for a pc/laptop and as an android dock. This is not just a laptop without a computer. It still needs polish, I have the touch right now. It's a quite an army knife of a device
Samsung Dex is really cool, I don't know why it's not more popular. For basic office work, it's extremely good. You just need your phone and a tiny docking station, and you can connect any monitor or mouse and keyboard to it, and it's ready to go. It won't replace a proper PC for things like software development (yet), but it's impressive for what it is. Microsoft tried this concept with Windows Mobile, and if that OS hadn't failed, I think this concept would have been very popular. It was ahead of its time.
Btw if it’s able to accept Miracast input, it does have a processor and Wi-Fi chip. There should be some way to update firmware for those.
I can see these being good for stuff like education. Like, optical type c going back to the brains of the computers elsewhere, less theft, modularity for students needing more power and less waste when the keyboard or screen eventually go bad
I bought one a few months ago and am pretty satisfied with it. The brightness is lacking, the track pad sucks, but it does what I need it to do and works pretty well for chilling on the patio or working out
you mentioned the future where you don't need to lug stuff around, but in terms of cables, its here with USB-C, and even this, you still have to lug around the laptop as a screen.
I really like the concept of this, it does what the cloud does in a way, it gives you the opportunity to have your information with you at anytime regardless the device
For input, I've noticed that using the Dex mode with a mouse is way better than using a touch pad because there's no smoothing of the movement and the input has been optimized for touch so any input on the trackpad just gets immediately interpreted as an input. And using another device completely mitigates that since you have to click purposely.
Sure, you need to get another device now, but disable the trackpad so you can rest your wrist without doing phantom touches and having the mouse be in a more comfortable position, it's almost completely smooth
been my dream as well. but now I just use a micro pc, super thin external screen, Bluetooth keyboard and a power bank. modularity to the maxxxx
Riley, we have the same dream! I really want one device for all, carry your phone around, dock it when you want work on something or gaming. A mobile phone that powerful enough to do all. Well maybe when it dock it can add more horsepower to it, but my point still stand. Maybe in the future, everything is possible with one device.
I think the logo means something along the lines of "You plug your phone to it and it becomes a complete laptop", just like the circle does when you plug the square in
I have the NexDock 360 and what annoys me most are the touchpad gestures that can't be deactivated. So I have to run Key Mapper to map something like "Left Meta + Down" to nothing if don't want my window minimized every other minute.
i can literally watch Riley talk about anything and be entertained haha
Just to clarify, the screen is 60Hz when wired via USB-C or HDMI. It's just that they tested only the wireless part which is Miracast in which this particular variant can only run at 30fps.
Best reason to get one. When someone steals you laptop you have the satisfaction of know when they got home they’re going to think it’s broken
It's like a car but Riley doesn't want an engine, he wants a hole in the floor and use his feet like the Flinstones.
Riley and his hair are at war over his face. So far his hand swipe defense has been successful, but fatigue has to be setting in at this point.
If there's no laptop inside, it better be packed with other useful features or super cheap. It should have a 99 watt hour battery bank, super good io (add ethernet, usb a, fullsize HDMI, etc).
Ive been rocking a Nexdock for over a year as my main computer and i love it.
One thing I do enjoy with a dock like this (I have the uperfect x, which seems to be an nextdock without a third usb-c port): It is completely silent, charges your phone over usb, albeit slowly, and has an amazing battery life. I do pair a bluetooth mouse, though, because the trackpad really is unusable.
I have the non wireless version of this. Believe me, I never had issues with the touchpad when wired in. It's an awesome device. It pairs excellently with a handheld PC or using Dex.
It also helped save my child's life but that's a different story.
I like this category it’s like getting tablet functionality out of the phone you already have. Probably a better market to go after than the laptop market
I wish a large company would make one of these. Samsung, Asus, or LG please make one of these to elevate the build quality of this class of product. These are portable monitors on steroids. I love mine, but every time I touch it; I know it could be so much better. They are great for travel if you bring a tablet to be the actual brains and reverse the conventional portable monitor paradigm. You can check your clamshell and if it gets lost, all you lost was your display, trackpad, and keyboard.
As a college student who had a far less elegant solution several years ago, this would have been perfect for taking notes. Beats a crap chromebook that's guaranteed to be e-waste in a few years, and wouldn't have to buy a new one if my phone got old or slow. As a college graduate and professional, I could still see this being able to do most of the work I do on the go and would allow me to leave behind a bulkier laptop while traveling. Either I'm glad the Samsung Dex idea has persisted.
Really niche situation, but im going to be on a boat for a long time and i wanted to bring a mini pc to game on when im bored. This is awesome because it allows me to use the pc in my bed like a laptop but have the full performance of a mini pc.
There are a few niche cases in which I really like this: Of course, working with a phone, but I also have a Surface go 3, and this would give me a keyboard + trackpad + additional screen for it, and I have an Optiplex set up like a home server. I don't think in it's current config that I could just plug it into a lap dock and have it work but it could in theory if I need to directly get into it without SSH or remote desktop.
I always loved the idea of the ASUS Padfone X, where the phone powered a tablet by docking into it, it sounded like a perfect solution for me
It would be cool if the phone slotted in, and became either the track pad, or a small chat screen or something. Then it would be even cooler.
Its great to show its wireless capabilities intensively (and i super appreciate that), but omg could you PLEASE show the wired performance as well like holy crap I was waiting to see that TOO 😪
I just held my breath for the wired section and basically died....
The concept is to potentially have a 'forever laptop' that you only upgrade your phone, so it becomes the last laptop you ever buy for the rest of your life.
We're not quite there yet, but I do see this as the future. Here's what's needed:
1 - Flagship phones need to reach parity with what laptops can do on their own in processing power. I think we're really close to that, actually. It's not unusual for someone to already own a smartphone that outperforms their (older) laptop.
2 - To be a future proof laptop it needs to have top specs as far as display. Very high resolution and refresh rate are a must. Touchscreen with fine control is a must.
3 - It must be versatile, have a 2 in 1 design where the display is essentially a tablet that can be used without the keyboard, and the keyboard connection is strong enough it still can look and function like a regular laptop, turned into a 'tent' position for presentations, etc.
4 - Wireless connection to your phone with high upload/download speeds (this is here already, but not all of these lapdocks offer wireless yet). Needs to be as little complications to setting up and running it as possible; ideally you shouldn't have to pull your phone out of your pocket to use it, just open it and off you go.
Literally the only thing I've ever used Samsung Dex for is to watch RUclips videos on my TV when my home internet is down.
But for someone with more businessy needs than me, I can totally see the appeal of it. It could be insanely useful.
Even just regular stuff like showing pictures to a group of people on a large screen could be a great use for it. I'm really glad Samsung is continuing to develop it instead of just abandoning it because hardly anyone uses it.
Palm developed the “lap dock” approach over 15 years ago, but it was cancelled before shipping. It was called the Foleo.
not sure but the mouse glitches could also come from the dex software maby you could dig deeper into it.
to the whole concept i have to say its a great idea and well done from nexdock but the problem is that they are getting hold back from the bad desktop software on Android phones
14:21 "Now you're playing with power!"