The NexDock Touch connected to a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Ben SinHalf a year ago, I wrote about the NexDock, a laptop “shell”—meaning it looks like a laptop from the outside, but lacks the core guts of a computer—that is designed to be used in conjunction with Huawei and Samsung smartphones to take advantage of each company’s desktop UI.
The startup behind the product is back with a new version, the NexDock Touch. As the name suggests, it offers touchscreen controls. The bezels around the screen are slimmer too, making for a more modern looking device.
The NexDock Touch connected to a Samsung phone.
Nex ComputersOther than these two changes, the hardware is very similar as before, the device has a full-sized keyboard with generously spaced keys and 1mm of travel, a decent trackpad, and a large 8,000 mAh battery. There are ports for USB-C data transfer and power delivery, USB-A for accessories, and HMDI output and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The 14-inch LCD panel has 1080p resolution and decent color output and brightness. It’s just missing a processor and RAM.
The lack of a computer “brain” means the NexDock Touch cannot work on its own. Instead, you plug in a recent Samsung or Huawei phone (via USB-C to USB-C connection) and take advantage of Samsung and Huawei’s built-in desktop software.
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This means how well the NexDock performs really depends on the phone. Plug in a 2020 Samsung flagship like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra or Galaxy Z Fold 2 and expect “DeX”—that’s Samsung’s name for its desktop UI—to run smoothly. Even opening five or six apps at once (they show up on the NexDockt Touch’s screen in smaller, PC-like windows) the UI ran smoothly. However, plug in, say, a 2018 Huawei device, and the older hardware combined with Huawei’s less-polished desktop UI (named EMUI Desktop) and you will see some stutters if running too many apps.
The NexDock Touch
Nex ComputersA big question some people may ask is: “why the need for a laptop shell that needs a smartphone to operate when you can just carry a laptop?”
I can see a couple of reasons. The first is that the NexDock Touch’s power and performance is easily upgradeable. Every time you buy a new phone, you’re getting a more powerful processor than the last one you had. The next Samsung flagship phone set for release in January, for example, will be powered by Qualcomm’s 5nm Snapdragon 888. So if you upgrade to that device, your NexDock Touch will be running on a state-of-the-art 5nm processor.
The NexDock Touch
Ben SinThe second reason for the NexDock Touch’s existence is it can be a useful shared device. For example, schools or public library can have these devices for public use; or maybe two family members can share one device. Because of the nature of the NexDock—it’s just a shell without its own memory or processor—users don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving personal data behind in a shared computer.
As smartphones become more and more powerful, a shared shell that essentially serves as a homebase for multiple phones within a household feels like a logical next step.
The Link LonkDecember 29, 2020 at 05:15PM
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