There have been a few distinctive merchandise making waves in our area of interest nook of the world. These are principally laptops with none internals, as a substitute, counting on you to attach a tool to it so as to give it the “brains” it wants.Nexdock has been a pioneer within the area, and the corporate’s NexDock Wireless is the most recent iteration on this concept of a conveyable computing platform that is powered by your cellphone or one other gadget.NexDock Wireless: Price and availability(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)NexDock has two gadgets which can be at present obtainable with the NexDock 360 and the NexDock Wireless. The NexDock 360 is priced at $299, and if you wish to join your gadgets wirelessly, then you definately’ll must pay an additional $50 for the NexDock Wireless. Both of those choices are at present obtainable and can ship inside three to 4 enterprise days straight from NexDock.NexDock Wireless: The fundamentals(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Whenever Samsung debuts a brand new smartphone, there’s a number of focus positioned on the digicam {hardware}, new software program options, and no matter else the corporate desires to speak about. But one thing we not often ever hear about is a characteristic that was launched again with the Galaxy S8 – Samsung DeX.This primarily turns your smartphone into a pc, full with a conventional desktop interface, all whereas utilizing your favourite Android apps. DeX is accessible on every thing from the Galaxy S23 to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, and lots of the finest Samsung tablets. And with one thing just like the NexDock Wireless, all you could do is plug within the included USB-C to USB-C cable to get began.(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)From there, your cellphone (or pill) will use the built-in keyboard and trackpad. But because the title suggests, NexDock Wireless has one other trick up its sleeve. You do not want to depend on the USB-C cable to make use of the NexDock along with your cellphone. Instead, you may simply use Samsung DeX wirelessly, and every thing will work simply as you’d anticipate.As for “specs,” the NexDock Wireless sports activities a 13.3-inch IPS touchscreen convertible show, with a 1920 x 1080 decision, and a built-in 44Wh battery. Surprisingly, there are literally just a few ports as you may discover a trio of USB-C ports (knowledge, enter, charging), a mini HDMI port, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.NexDock Wireless: But why?(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)For the previous few years, I’ve seen gadgets like those provided by NexDock, however by no means actually felt a compelling sufficient cause to seize one for myself. That all modified at some point after I was ready at an area pharmacy and a spark of creativity struck. Thankfully, I had my trusty Galaxy Z Fold 4 on me, so I simply began pecking away on the tablet-like display.Normally, I pack a lightweight bag and throw in a Chromebook or my MacBook Pro, however this simply so occurred to be one of many few occasions after I did not. And whereas really writing out the article on my Fold was simply high quality, the identical cannot be mentioned about attempting to format it for our in-house CMS. Formatting every thing was only a nightmare and a part of that may be attributed to utilizing the smaller display to try to discover pictures to insert or add.Because of that single expertise, I made a decision that as a substitute of needing to undock both a Chromebook or MacBook, my “go bag” would include the NexDock, a battery pack, and a few cables. With this, I can simply choose up my bag, head out, and be prepared for the following time that creativity strikes.Actually utilizing the NexDock Wireless is much less about coping with an advanced setup course of and is extra about ensuring that your related gadget works the best way that you simply want it to. With the Galaxy Z Fold 4, this implies diving into the Samsung DeX settings, which lets you alter the show, Taskbar, keyboard, and trackpad settings.(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)I’m not going to be protecting DeX-specific options, but it surely actually does really feel like I’m utilizing a Samsung laptop computer with entry to all of my favourite apps. Who wants Airdrop to switch recordsdata or edit images if I can simply fireplace up the Photos app or a file supervisor and seize every thing I want?Actually utilizing the NexDock Wireless is not all that totally different from a few of the finest Chromebooks or just about another gadget. NexDock managed to utterly nail the keyboard, which has been on par with my MacBook Pro and HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook. You have loads of totally different shortcuts, packed into the deck, together with the power to manage media playback, and there is even a devoted NexDock button that may open the “App Drawer” to seek for totally different apps.Admittedly, I have not actually discovered myself utilizing the “convertible” side of the NexDock, but it surely’s served fairly properly as a option to watch some movies or play some video games. If you do wish to play some video games, you’re “limited” to a 60Hz refresh price, however this should not be an excessive amount of of an enormous deal.NexDock Wireless: There are some quirks(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)There is one main gripe that I’ve with the Nexdock Wireless and it is the trackpad. I’m not going to bury the lede right here; it is simply unhealthy.Does it assist you to transfer the cursor round and click on? Yep. But it took me just some minutes earlier than I dug out a Bluetooth mouse to make use of it after I went to the espresso store. I do know that that is already a distinct segment gadget, however that ought to actually be much more of a cause for the corporate to nail all the small print.It continues to boggle my thoughts you could get a Chromebook for lower than $300 that has a greater (albeit, marginally) trackpad than what the Nexdock implements. I’m actually maintaining my fingers crossed that if Nexdock releases a brand new model, they use one thing totally different as a result of it is robust to explain simply how a lot I dislike this expertise.Less irritating, however nonetheless value stating are the built-in audio system. Even in a quiet room, enjoying music from Spotify or watching a YouTube video is virtually not possible. That makes the 3.5mm headphone jack much more necessary, however chances are high, you have already got a set of Bluetooth headphones paired to your cellphone.Nexdock Wireless: It’s not only for telephones(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)I’ve already talked about that this may also be utilized in tandem along with your telephones or tablets. But there’s one surprising integration that I’ve come to totally get pleasure from and that is utilizing the NexDock as a companion to my Steam Deck.Yes, the Steam Deck is primarily a gaming gadget, however as our compadres over at Windows Central have lined, there is a Desktop Mode obtainable. This takes you right into a Linux surroundings powered by KDE Plasma 5, which relies on Arch Linux.From right here, I’m in a position to tinker round with totally different Linux apps, ensure that all of my emulators and ROMs are correctly arrange, and extra. But very like utilizing Samsung DeX, I can plug my Steam Deck into the NexDock wi-fi, and revel in video games on the larger display. Or I can swap over to Desktop Mode and get some work achieved.It’s not the “perfect” cellular gaming answer, but it surely does work darn nicely. You will not expertise quick refresh charges, however that is simply high quality with me as I’ve simply been primarily working by my first playthrough of Fallout: New Vegas anyhow.NexDock Wireless: The competitors(Image credit score: UPERFECT)The solely firm (that I’ve seen) engaged on merchandise much like NexDock, is UPERFECT. The firm is understood for some fairly spectacular transportable displays, however the UPERFECT LapDock line additionally makes it simple to make use of in tandem along with your cellphone, pill, or different gadgets.The UPERFECT X 14 Pro is the direct competitor to the NexDock Wireless, because it sports activities a 14-inch FHD touchscreen show, a number of USB-C ports, micro HDMI, and a microSD card slot. It additionally permits for wi-fi connectivity to your gadgets, whereas sporting a convertible design. While it retails for far more ($600), it is at present on sale for simply $390 on the time of this writing.From there, the one different “competition” is utilizing a mixture of a conveyable monitor, Bluetooth keyboard, and a mouse. You might use your cellphone as a trackpad should you actually wished to, however this does not present the all-in-one transportable answer that the NexDock does.NexDock Wireless: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)You should purchase this if:You do not wish to use a Windows or macOS laptop computer or a Chromebook.You desire a laptop computer powered by your cellphone.You must journey and desire a light-weight and compact gadget.You should not purchase this if:You’re on a funds.You do not see the purpose of redundancy in a lapdock.If you have made it this far, then I’ve to thanks. I did not come into this evaluate considering that I’d have a lot to say, but, right here we’re.The NexDock Wireless is a distinct segment gadget for an already-niche subset of customers who even find out about issues like Samsung DeX. There’s positively an argument that pairing your cellphone with one thing just like the NexDock is healthier than simply utilizing your present laptop computer.But issues get a bit murkier with regards to deciding between spending $350 on the NexDock in comparison with an inexpensive Chromebook. Despite my emotions concerning the trackpad, I’d go as far as to say that utilizing your cellphone paired with the NexDock is a greater answer.Cheap Chromebooks are fairly helpful, however you may be extraordinarily restricted when it comes to efficiency. Meanwhile, the NexDock is powered by your cellphone, and with DeX at your facet, there’s not a lot that you simply will not have the ability to do.
The NexDock Wireless presents a formidable option to unlock the total potential of your Samsung DeX or Motorola Ready-powered smartphones. But it additionally operates fairly nicely as a further show in your different gadgets.