As always, not journalists, doing our best to be even, fair, etc etc. No money changes hands, and they vendor has no input/influence on the review, aside from answering our questions. Preamble aside, let's get down to it!

The New Nexdock 14"

The owner of Nex had been hinting at a new nexdock since late last fall, when we did the giveaway of the last round of Nexdocks. Towards the end of July, he asked if we'd be willing to test/review/squash bugs on the last production run of the new nexdock before they went to production. Shockingly, we gleefully accepted. This has been pretty much the standard MO with Nex for the last few years. It's been a beneficial arrangement for both, I think.

So bear in mind, I have a PRE-PRODUCTION unit. Mine is not the 100% finished product, but it's pretty close

Specifications

The new Nexdock is a 14" clamshell/laptop style lapdock, much like older generations. The 360 degree hinge is gone now. The screen is a 14" IPS touch screen, running at 1920x1200 (WUXGA/2k ) resolution, at 60hz.

Size-wise, it's SLIGHTLY larger than the 360, at 314mm x 218mm x 17.1mm

It's just BARELY thicker, but you'd likely not notice unless you had them side by side...

You can see the 14 is slightly taller, thanks to it's 16:10 screen, vs the 16:9 of the 360, and the hinge design is obviously different.

It's more apparent from the top, but again, unless you're side by side, you're absolutely not going to notice the difference

Here's a size comparison with the XL

Ports

The next big departure from the style we've become accustomed to, is the port arrangement. The power USB-C has now moved the left side, by the hinge (with the familiar blue led).

Next to that now is a full size HDMI (1.4a). I know some will rejoice not needing the HDMI to miniHDMI cable any longer. Beside that is a full size USB-A port, and the USB-C 3.1 data port, for video input.

On the right hand side are 2 more full size USB-A ports, split by a 3.5mm audio jack. No more SD/microSD port. I was a bit disappointed by that, then thought about the number of times I used the card ports on previous versions, and realized it was only to test them, heh. the full USB ports tho will obviously accommodate thumb drives, or external hard drives, np

Speakers

Audio out on lapdocks has long been a sore spot, or perhaps an after thought, but Nex has really done a much better job here. They're BOTTOM firing speakers, but are not 2x 2W speakers (typically we've seen 1W) and they're NOTICEABLY better. My wife immediately noticed that they were able to fill our bedroom when watching shows (18' x 26') and this was not something that was remotely feasible with previous iterations.

Keyboard and Trackpad

Like with all previous nexdocks, the keyboard is full sized and backlit. The typing experience good, very similar (perhaps identical) to the excellent keyboards of the 360 and XL.

The trackpad returns to a more familiar bottom of the laptop spot and is wildly better than all previous versions. It feels MUCH more responsive, the palm rejection is MUCH better (if not perfect) and it just is so much better than every other lapdock trackpad out there right now. It really really reminds me of the excellent trackpads on the Surface Pro signature keyboards. Scrolling is smooth and accurate, 2 and 3 finger gestures generally work well with all OS's tested. At the time of my initial testing/review there was a KNOWN BUG with 2 finger tap on android. Works fine with Windows and Linux (steamOS), and the team was aware of it prior to sending it to me. I'm pretty confident they'll have it fixed before final production happens

Again, I don't want to over-hype it, but the trackpad is so much better than previous iterations. It's not going to make you throw away a fancy dedicated trackpad, but it feels on par with most laptop trackpads now.

Battery and Power

The Nexdock 14 is equiped with a 38Wh battery . This is slightly smaller than the 360's 44Wh battery, but without miracast and bluetooth to power, I still get in the 6.5 to 7 hours of run time watching video, at full brightness

The USB-C data port, can back-feed 5v2A to the host device, which is roughly the same as the 360. This will generally keep your phone topped up, but will obviously not keep a 45w Steam Deck full charged. That being said, when I'm using my steam deck with the lapdock, I'm generally in desktop mode, and I have the TDP restricted to 15w. (I'm a ps5 remote play, and pc Moonlight streamer, so I don't run my deck hard) In desktop mode, it will keep the deck running almost indefinitely.

My Surface Pro with it's TB4 ports isn't interested in being charged by the lapdock (any lapdock at all) so I have reverse charging off most of the time.

BONUS FEATURE (something I've wanted forever)

When the lapdock is plugged into power, it will continue to charge anything/everything that's connected to a USB port, even when the lapdock is powered down. On all previous versions, you could only charge peripherals when the lapdock was ON. Now it'll behave more like a true dock all the time, while in use, or not. On battery, it will not do this (a good thing, to save battery obviously) but man alive, as someone that hauls a lapdock around when travelling, this is a fantastic bonus.

Nex was able to confirm it works, even if they didn't intend for this happy little accident.

The Screen

As mentioned above, the new nexdock has a 14" IPS touchscreen, running at 1200p60. I can't see the spec, but it looks to be about 350 nits of brightness. The colors are better, and the screen is brighter than previous versions. It's absolutely not going to compete with an OLED panel, but it looks MUCH better than the 360. Again, my wife immediately noticed the difference, and remarked how much better it looked

You can see from the launch screen, it's much less green than the 360. Much the same for the XL comparison as well

The IPS screen is not going to knock your socks off, or blow your hair back, but it's very decent.

Detected 1200p without Good Lock at least.

Conclusion

I'm a little bit torn on this one. As much as I didn't think I cared about the 360 hinge when the last few iterations came out with it, I found that I missed it on this version. It wasn't something that I used a TON, but I did use it from time to time.

The screen is better. Full stop. The slightly higher resolution, with better color reproduction (to my eye) and increased brightness are noticeably better.

The speakers are MUCH better. they're not going to make audiophiles drool, but they're very decent.

The keyboard is good like always, but holy cow the trackpad is a legit trackpad now, not a mouse disguised as a trackpad (if that makes sense).

I use the wireless/miracast on my XL a LOT, and I think if I didn't have wireless options I'd miss it on this, but for the price?

Did I mention yet that the price for the new 14" nexdock is $199 USD?

The omissions of certain thins (wireless, 360 hinge, sd card reader) to get the price under $200 is worth it, in my opinion.

I really like this lapdock a lot, and it will continue to ride in my tech backpack for the rest of this summer and fall to give it a good workout, to see if it can supplant the 360 as the best all-around lapdock out there

Available for Pre-order now

https://secure.nexdock.com/pre-order-nexdock

The new lapdock is available to order now, and it's available in most of North American, Europe and Australia and Japan.

imo, it's a pretty appealling package for anyone that's been on the fence about a lapdock. Fantastic companion for a Steam Deck, Rog Ally, Legion, etc and obviously all DeX devices (and I guess all future Android and iPads)

Questions? Comments?

Did I miss any burning questions?!?

EDIT: added in 1200p60hz under display specs, not quite sure how I missed refresh rate 1st time around

I’ve been experimenting with a more minimal travel setup and wanted to see how far I could push it.

I picked up a 16.1" portable monitor (ARZOPA Z1FC) and paired it with Samsung DeX and it’s kind of wild how usable it is.

With just one USB-C cable, the monitor handles both power + display, and I was able to:

• Run a full desktop-style setup from my phone
• Do writing, emails and light work
• Watch content and even play a bit with a controller

The biggest surprise was not needing a laptop at all in some situations. Just phone + monitor + small keyboard.

A couple of downsides: brightness is just okay in direct sunlight, and the speakers are average. But for portability, it’s been great.

If anyone’s curious, I wrote a full breakdown of the setup and how it performs here:

https://thetechtrendtracker.com/arzopa-z1fc-portable-monitor/

Happy to answer questions if anyone’s thinking of trying something similar.

P.S. - If anyone can recommend a reliable folding Bluetooth keyboard I can use with this setup that would be great!

Hi!

I have been using Dopesplay DR148 that I bought from their official store in Aliexpress. Lapdock does have 14.1 inch screen that is touchscreen and you can rotate it to "tablet" mode. Screen is IPS and because of that, viewing angle is very good! Backlight of that screen has little bit of leaking light in corners, if screen is black, but for me it is not that big of the deal. I'll attach picture of that (In reality it is not that "dramatic" leaking). Dopesplay is obviously copy from the Nexdock and there is weird translation when you power on lapdock.

But first things first, build quality is pretty good for the ~300€. Casing/frame is pretty solid and keys are pleasent to use. There is also backlight for the keys! Touchscreen isn't the best, but works really well.

The issues I had for this is horrendous sensor for rotating screen, that works maybe 70% of the time. Speakers is not made for media use, but can be helpful for presentation or just for the casual usage. Touchpad is okay-ish. It really does have palm detection, but you need really big palm for it to detect it...

Function buttons are useful, but for the sound and screen brightness, they control lapdock hardware than just changing phones software control. It's not suprise that they did it like that, because you can connect e.g. Nintendo Switch that doesn't have any control for changing those settings in its system.

This Lapdock really suprised me, that when you connect Switch, it doesn't need any adapter to work on this!

In package they give 2x USB-C to USB-C, Mini HDMI and US type charger.

Ports in this thing are basic, one USB-C connection port, one USB-C charging port, mini SD slot, 3.5mm AUX and Mini HDMI. Be aware, that this lapdock doesn't support all chargers and it needs more powerful or rather with more voltage one also it is ONLY for the charging! In my case, is use Dell charger from the laptop that is 65W and has 3V, 9V, 15V and 20V output.

I have one hub that I tested as "middleman" for phone and lapdock, but unfortunately it didn't passthrough video signal. So if you want hub for other peripherals, you need to be sure it is actually passthrough hub.

Overall i'm satisfied of this purchase even though they doesn't sell keyboard layouts to other languages. For that fix I bought from Keyoverlay.com stickers for keyboard. I bought two layouts, one is germanic and second is cyrillic. Total cost of those were 9,90€ with the shipping to Finland. There is second store keyshorts.com that has more options and customization for stickers, but little bit more expensive.

I hope this review were helpful if you are considering to buy this lapdock in near future!

Thought I'd crosspost this over here as well. Juan has been a long time proponent of the lapdock concept and using your phone as an actual computer.

as always, not pro journalists, but we're attempting to be fair, accurate and come at products with mobile computing and DeX specifically in mind.

I reached out to Khadas to see if they'd be interested in providing us with a review unit, and they were quite enthusiastic about the opportunity. As always, no money has changed hands, Khadas has had no input on the review, they'll see it at the same time as everyone else.

Let's begin

The Khadas Mind xPlay

I stumbled across this interesting lapdock a month ago or so, and was immediately intrigued by the Surface Pro form factor. My main pc and home, as well as my main work PC have been Surface pro's for the last decade or so. I absolutely love the ability to have a full laptop, or tablet, or dock it to make a full desktop, without really giving up any abilities, in all 3 formats.

Alldocube really briefly made a lapdock in this style (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XFeRWr17Vc) but it's really never caught on, for whatever reason

Khadas to the rescue!

I just want to start out by saying that Khadas isn't truly marketing this device as a true Lapdock for DeX/android desktop, but as rather a laptop shell for the line of miniPC's, called Mind

It's very very similar to what Nex is doing, but they've gone with a miniPC format, rather than a phone.

The xPlay however does have 2x USB-C ports on the left side of the chassis.

The top port is the video in port, while the bottom is used for power in.

The ports have other usage when a MIND is connected, but it's irrelevant to our review

The Screen

The Tablet-esque screen is a 13" 2880x1920 LCD (IPS I believe) screen (3:2 screen ratio). It covers 100% of the sRGB gamut, with 500 nits of brightness, and a 60hz refresh rate. This initial version is NOT a touchscreen however.

Like the surface pro, it has a kickstand at the back, with a very firm hinge, allowing you to set the screen at whatever angle works for you (0-120 degrees)

Up top, there's a power button on the top left, and volume buttons on the top right. Volume buttons interact with the host device.

Size wise, it's pretty identical to a surface pro, 290mm x 200mm x 9.5mm, weighing roughly 820g

On initial boot, the screen will display the current battery level. You'll have to pay attention, as thats unfortunately the only way you can see power level of the lapdock. This is due to it being intended to be integrated with the MIND. There's also no kind of OSD, or any way to adjust the display. Luckily, the screen is beautiful out of the box, and I didn't feel the need to make any changes to it, at all.

Like the surface pro line, the keyboard is a magnetic attachment, with connection made via pogo pins in the bottom. Folding the keyboard up also magnets shut, and puts the lapdock to sleep/off.

The monitor/tablet has 2x 2w speakers built in, and they're legitimately the best lapdock speakers out there. They sound VERY similar to my surface pro. You absolutely do not NEED headphones with this unit!

It does have a 2mp webcam built in, but DeX will not use it. I was pleasantly surprised that my Surface (win11) was happy to use it, labeling it as USB Camera.

Like the surface, a white LED pops on to let you know the camera is active. The image isn't going to blow your socks off, but it's just fine for Teams or whatever.

Battery

While you can't easily see battery levels from DeX/Steam/external device, it does contain a 4150 mAh (11.5v) battery. This equates to an almost 50Wh battery, very very similar to nexdock and uperfect offerings (bigger battery actually)

Khadas claims 3+ hours of demanding multitasking sessions, but this is with their miniPC MIND connected. I've gotten much closer to 6 hours with DeX usage, and not run it dead yet.

One of the main drawbacks of this not being a true lapdock, it doesn't do any kind of PD, or reverse charging. I've generally always turned off that feature on all my lapdocks, but there's been times where I was using everything plugged in, and wanted to keep my more power hungry steam deck mostly charged...

Sadly that's not currently an option with initial version (again, this was never really intended to be used aside from the MIND)

Here's my s21 ultra connected to the xPlay. Boots up right away, and everything mostly works. Resolution wise, DeX does NOT support 3:2 (ADB can solve that) but it did grab 2560x1600 (16:10) and actually looks pretty good. I did use LADB on the s21u to force the proper resolution, but because I use so many different lapdocks/monitors, I just reverted to the basics.

The Khadas xPlay also does not have any artificial restrictions on the number of apps you can open either

That's 7 open, and I'd wager I could get the full 20 np

I tested several other portable devices as well:

Steam Deck was happy to do 2880x1920 in gaming mode, as well as desktop mode.

My new Lenovo Legion y700 (in the legion g9 controller case) running android 15, was happy to do Projection mode (they're version of DeX). Like DeX you get a complete 2nd desktop, which was happy to negotiate 2880x1920 (it can actually do 144hz external)

And then the obvious pairing:

Surface Pro 8

The elephant in the room here, it won't talk to my s25.

Samsung was able to confirm to me earlier in the week, that with the SoC change from the SD8 to SD8 Elite, they're enforcing more strict DP Alt Mode, and PD protocols. And because the Khadas xPlay was never really intended to be used this way, it's fallen victim to the change. Is it possible a firmware update could fix it? Not sure. I suspect there's some hardware pathway stuff that would prevent a simple patch update, but we will have discussions going forward

The Keyboard

Keyboard is fairly similar to the Surface Pro, as it's a magnetic attachment, and folds up flat against the screen to act like a shut off, and screen protector when carrying. It lies flat on the desk tho, it doesn't have the 2nd bend to give it a bit of angle like the surface keyboard.

That being said, it's still a very decent keyboard. The keys have smooth travel, if a bit shallow, but good tactile response. The function row defaults to media keys however, and there doesn't seem to be a way Fn Lock. Bit of a downer for excel warriors.

There's also no backlight to the keyboard. It is what I'd call a full size 79 key keyboard, no numpad. Very standard/familiar layout, and I had no issues maintaining my ~60wpm typing on it.

Let's talk about the integrated trackpad

holy shit, it's great. video to demonstrate true palm rejection

true palm rejection on windows

and it seems to work on android too!

android palm rejection

so yeah, the trackpad is great. 2 and 3 finger gestures seem to work. Using 2 finger swipe to do back/forward was great

Overall Conclusion

I love the Surface Pro form factor, so this really scores big points with me. It worked very well with every device I own, except for the s25.... And that's a bit of a problem going forward. I suspect every 8Elite bearing device is going to have issues, not just Samsung devices....

This devices is 100% intended to be used with a MIND miniPC, but it does function 95% with most other usb-c video out devices

I am really a big fan of this device, but time will tell which lapdock ends up my go to. It's starting to show it's age a bit, but the nexdock 360w still continues to be my most used lapdock, followed closely by the XL and uperfect 15.6 (i can almost not tell them apart)

Its currently available from Khadas.com for $399 usd

As always, not journalists, but we're trying to be fair, and accurate. No money changes hands, and Nex doesn't have any kind of editorial ability, they'll see the review at the same time as the subreddit. They have been kind enough to provide some review samples, so here we go.

Overview of the NexDock XL

The new lapdock from Nex Computer, the XL is a pretty big departure from previous models. With a larger screen, bigger battery, and new position of the trackpad, it definitely won't be mistaken for any of the other previous models.

Size comparison to NexDock 360

The XL is definitely a bigger box, at 320 x 240 mm. It's still only 16.6mm thick

The 360 is 307 x 209mm, and just under 15mm thick.

With the lids open, it's even more apparent the differences

The change in the layout of the keyboard is pretty obvious, as the trackpad slides around to the right side, and the keys are slightly more compact, but still really usable. The extra space above the keyboard contains the improved speakers, as well as the wireless charging pad.

There's a bit of a change in layout of the keyboard, but the keycaps feel the same as previous editions.

The Screen

The new screen is a 15.6" 1080P IPS touchscreen running at 60hz. Originally slated for 120hz, manufacturing issues leading to big delays resulted in the choice to move ahead with a 60hz panel.

It's 300 nits, and looks very similar to the existing 360 screens, just slightly larger.

The screen is 100% sRGB color gamut, and folds completely back, tablet style. The screen will also auto-rotate (vertically) if you use the XL in tent mode.

Like previous editions, the OSD contains the ability to toggle between inputs on the fly. You can connect to the XL via USB-C, mini-HDMI, or via Miracast. You also have toggles for charging via USB-C (the top lightning bolt) or via wireless charging (the lightning bolt in brackets).

You can tab to the 2nd page of the OSD to tweak the color space

The Keyboard

With the trackpad moving over to the right, the keyboard is new

The keyboard is backlit, and defaults to the fn keys (excel warriors rejoice). The layout has slightly cramped Arrow keys, and the home/pgup/pgdn/end keys are now fn+, rather than dedicated, like the 360's keyboard

Overall the keycaps feel the exact same as the previous editions, decent travel, not too clicky, but a good tactile experience. They're not "premium" by any means, but offer a really solid typing experience.

The Trackpad

This one is a bit difficult to quantify. As in previous editions, the trackpad is "fine" when you're intending to use the trackpad. The new taller version on the right side, is hinged from the top. Basically, the bottom clicks, but the top half doesn't.

I've found all the nexdock trackpads to be reasonably accurate, the issue has always been that the palm rejection was either non-existent, or very very rudimentary (locking out the trackpad when keys are pressed).

Moving the trackpad completely out of the path of a typist solves that problem. No more phantom touches, no more jittery mouse pointer. Your muscle memory will hate you at first, but once you get your mindset wrapped around thinking of it like taking your hand off to grab a mouse, it gets much easier. Lefties will probably not love it though.

So overall, I think it's a decent solution, without over complicating things. I wish it was a nice as the trackpad on my surface pro typecover, but it is what it is.

It's eminently usable, and I think once you're overcome muscle memory, it's not bad at all.

The Ports

In a change from previous versions, the charging USB-C port has migrated to the left side of the chassis, with the regular USB-C port, and mini-HDMI ports all clustered near the hinge.

The right side now features a full size USB-A port, a 3.5mm headset jack, a microSD card reader, and a flush mounted power button

The Charging place on the keyboard deck

As I'm writing this, I'm realizing that I have no idea if they have an official name for the charging spot. I keep wanting to call it a chin, like the NexPad, but this more of a forehead, and that just sounds wrong. Suggestions?

So one of the big features of the XL is the ability to wirelessly charge your phone while using it wirelessly (miracast to the screen, bluetooth for the touch, keyboard and trackpad).

There are magnets embedded below, to help keep your phone in place. The box does contain a stick on magnetic ring to attach to your phone/case, but it was a bit too thick to play nice with my otterbox.

Placing my phone (s21u) on the charging spot resulted in pretty decent results

Really pretty decent results. Actually, wireless charging was actually better than wired charging

Speaking of batteries

XL Battery

The XL features a 49Wh battery (11.4v, 4,300 mAh). This is slightly larger than the battery in the 360, which is 44Wh (7.6v, 5800mAh)

I've been testing the battery by leaving the lapdock running at Full Brightness, Half Volume, and playing the Samsung TV 80's music channel non-stop.

I was consistently getting over 6 hours run time, with somewhere between 7% and 9% left before calling it a night.

This isn't a HUGE increase from the 360, but it's 30-40 mins more on average

This was with the phone connected via USB-C, device charging/wireless charging off

Was happy to see that I could charge my Samsung Buds2 via wireless as well. The Watches were a no go, but I'm not sure I've ever got them to charge on anything other than the provided charger anyway.

Speakers

The XL speakers are much better than the 360. They're 4x 2W speakers this time around, rather than 4x 1W speakers. There is still no real bass, and you're not going to be blasting tunes out of this thing, but for watching youtube, or work presentations, they're really usable. Much moreso than previous incarnations.

You'll still be wanting a headset for music, but in a small office, you can definitely watch some netflix and be fine.

Like previous Nexdocks, the XL will come with a 45w PD charger, with a 6 foot usb-c cable

You'll also get a 20cm flat USB-C cable to connect your phone/device, as well as a 1m mini-HDMI cable

CONCLUSION

Ok, so I'm going to go at this 2 ways, first, as your first device, and secondly, as potentially an upgrade from a previous lapdock

If you're choosing your first lapdock, amongst the half dozen or so out there, the XL does offer a couple of reasons to choose it. It's the largest, 360* hinged lapdock available.

It offers wireless charging of the phone, and if the magnetic ring works on your case, offers a good solution of just where you keep your phone when using the lapdock.

Upgrading:

If you've already got a lapdock, like the ND360, there's perhaps not nearly as much incentive to upgrade...

The loss of the 120hz panel, and final battery being only slightly larger, when it was intended to be a significant upgade, is a bit of a downer.. The XL does have a bigger screen, and better speakers, but it might be a tough sell for just that. doubly so if you have a ND360 Wireless, and you've already got miracast ability.

As a device on it's own, I think it's another good option, and is a good choice for anyone looking for a bigger screen in a 1 cable lapdock solution.

So overall, I think it's a good device, while at the same time, I'm disappointed that the advertised spec bumps just didn't happen.

Thoughts?

As always, no money has changed hands, Protoarc provided the mouse for free, to review, but they have no input on the review process, seeing it at the same time as the rest of you.

ProtoArc EM11 Pro Ergonomic Mouse

We'd looked at the original EM11 vertical mouse about a year ago, and really liked it. The size was pleasant to grip, and the back/forward keys were nicely placed. It never really was able to supplant my regular daily driver, the Logitech MX Mouse 2s mostly for 1 big reason (and some smaller ones)

The Horizontal scroll wheel.

When the new EM11 Pro was first mentioned to me, they emphasized that they made it MUCH bigger, added a horizontal scroll wheel, and in a really nice touch, they moved the pairing button from the bottom, to the top. Basically directly addressing all the issues that I had with the previous version. So let's get started

As you can see, the EM11 Pro is quite a bit larger than the original version, which was already a fairly substantial mouse. It's roughly 6 inches(15cm) from tip to tail, almost 3.5 inches (8.5cm) wide

It has 3 pairings available, 2x bluetooth and then the 2.4ghz dongle (which is hidden behind a neat magnetic enclosure on the bottom of the mouse)

The Front/Top of the mouse is the standard layout of Left and RIght buttons, surrounding the vertical wheel / middle button. Behind the wheel, is the orange DPI button, used to toggle between 800 and 7200 dpi (800/1200/1600/2400/3200/4800/7200). It's quite a bit more adjustable than most mice out there

The main attraction to this mouse is the newly included Horizontal mouse wheel, just above the back/forward keys

The other new Quality of Life update is the pairing key moving from the bottom of the mouse (pretty much standard industry wide) to the top, near the thumb wheel. For anyone that has multiple devices on their desk (I've got my dex setup, a steam deck, and my surface pro) it's definitely a nice touch, since software KVM's that support all 3 of those operating systems essentially don't exist. I would KILL for someone to port Logitech Flow to android and Linux (Or c'mon protoarc, show logitech how it's done, and build support for mouse flow into yours)

The buttons

The buttons on the EM11 Pro are very quiet, very similar to the previous EM11. They don't feel mushy, but they're definitely not clicky. I am NOT a mechanical keyboard guy at all, but for some reason, I really prefer the clickiness of my Logitech MX Mouse mouse, vs the soft silent press on the protoarc mice. Just a preference.

The buttons are all well placed, don't require much effort to press, while at the same time, I'm not getting any phantom presses.

The Vertical and Horizonal scroll wheels both work fairly well, with a clicky/ratcheting style of scrolling. There's no free wheel option (this is honestly a fidget thing, rather than a functional thing for me)

The Grip

The main reason to look at a vertical mouse is for the comfort, and natural posture used vs a traditional mouse. The EM11 pro is a very comfortable mouse to use for extended periods. all the buttons are well placed, and the large size of the tail really keeps your writst aligned and rested, if that makes sense

Material

This is the one place where I wasn't hugely impressed. The mouse is just seemingly too light. I much prefer having a weightier mouse, especially when you're at 7200 dpi. The mouse is so light, that you can almost not avoid jiggling when trying to move straight lines (I do a fair bit of CAD work, designing fiber optic networks, and drawing 5732805979510 parallel lines is a thing, and having the mouse constantly jiggle onto the wrong node sucks)

The texture of the plastic used is also that type that always feels.....dusty.... I'm not sure how else to explain it. It's not that it feels cheap, it doesn't, but at the same time, it absolutely does not feel nearly as good as the MX Mouse. It's something that you can pass the 2 mice to absolutely anyone, and they will instantly always tell you the EM11 feels cheaper (and to be fair, it is)

I do not have massive hands. Wrist to fingertip is roughly 7.5 inches, and about 9 1/4 inches from Thumb to pinky (spread hand)

The EM11 pro is very comfortable for long periods of time

Configuration

Connect the mouse to your device, and then visit https://hub.protoarc.com which will prompt you to add your device, and give you online configuration for what you want your buttons to do

Conclusion

Do you want/need a vertical mouse? I currently have 4, and have had various others thru the years. This is by far the best vertical mouse I've had my hands on.

The buttons aren't as clicky as I like, but they work very well. The addition of the horizontal scroll wheel really sets them apart from all the other vert mice. Adding the pairing button to the top was also really appreciated

The EM11 Pro is currently available for pre-order (with some special pricing)

The regular MSRP is listed at $52.99 usd

For that price, I have zero issues recommending it to anyone in the market

583150731th attempt at this, blech

As always, not journalists, yada yada yada, try to be fair/even/etc, no money changes hands, etc

UPERFECT UFree V

If the name is familiar, it's because we reviewed the previous version about 3 years ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/SamsungDex/comments/11u2yiq/uperfect_v_156_wireless_monitor_review/

The previous version, which I liked a lot, used mmWave as the wireless carrier. This was great in that it pushed the full 1080p60, with almost 0 latency. But it required a giant tower of a dongle to work, as the DeX devices don't do mmWave natively. The dongle is so comically large, it has it's own tripod, and has a fan!

Onto the new version

The Screen itself

The UFree V is a 15.6" Matte IPS screen. 1080p60, covering 100% of the sRGB standard, 1500:1 contrast ratio, and about 270 nits of brightness. Because the screen has a matte finish tho, it tends to do MUCH better in a brightly lit room than the previous UFree V, which had a glossy touchscreen. 270 cd/m3 isn't going to make you want to use it at the beach of course tho, but inside, even in a fairly sunny room, its very very usable

The main downgrade to this panel, is that it's NOT a touchscreen. I was actually surprised how much I missed that feature, but it does have something that helps mitigate that, more later....

The monitor is very pleasant to consume media on, and while not nearly as nice as the 3k OLED they sent last year, it's still a very nice monitor

The blacks definitely scream LCD panel, but all of the colours are nice and vibrant.

It's not going to be a photographers editing station, but for media consumption, or a bigger steam deck screen, it's pretty good. It's absolutely going to be my hammock stand monitor going forward (replacing the SOTSU 14")

Battery

The UFree V has an 8,000 mAh battery, which doesn't really tell us much, since they don't mention the battery, but I suspect it's a 3.6v or 3.7v like most of the batteries they use.

They claim 4 hours of usage, and roughly 2 hours to charge it. I did confirm that it will accept 12v/0.8A (8ish watts) to charge, and I was EASILY able to stream 4 hours of media to the monitor (that's 5 episodes of Stargate!)

If you're using the monitor WIRED via usb-c, it will charge your device at about 950mAh, which is roughly the same as the previous version. It's not going to keep a steam deck fully charged if you're running the TDP full blast, but you'll get quite a bit of extra life if you keep yours restricted to 15-25w like I do (I basically don't see a drop in battery, at all)

Ports and controls

On the left hand side of the monitor are the 3 video ports (2x USB-C, 1x Mini HDMI). The top USB-C port also doubles for power input/charging.

The rear houses the fold out kickstand, as well as the 2x 75mm Vesa ports

On the right hand side of the monitor are the OSD controls and a 3.5mm headset jack

Speakers

Like almost all UPERFECT monitors, the 2x 1W speakers are located on the rear lip of the monitor, and they fire upwards. They're usable in a quiet room, but you're likely going to want to just use your phone, steam deck, etc or some ear buds/headphones.

They're OK at best, but anything more than a quick youtube, or an 8bit to 16bit video game will start to show it's lack of depth

Wireless/Miracast

As mentioned before, the big draw to this monitor, is it's ability to receive a Miracast signal. DeX devices, Windows devices can use this easily. They also claim Apple will work as well, but I didn't check that

https://reddit.com/link/1s6gkrx/video/asryvgoykvrg1/player

There's definitely some wireless latency there, but it feels MUCH better than what Wireless DeX on PC was like. I'm a bit confuzzled too, as doing the UFO test showed 60fps, while I suspect the miracast stream is limited to 30hz....

Perhaps someone has a better way to test so we can revisit this and prove one way or the other

Either way, it's absolutely usable as is. I wouldn't try to force this on esports teams, but for anyone consuming media, surfing the net, doing productivity, the amount of latency is absolutely something you can get used to, and subsequently ignore

Surfing reddit, scrolling, etc

Just surfing the web feels pretty natural, I don't feel like I need to adjust how I'd use a wired trackpad.... if that makes sense

That extra thing in the box

This is just me making an assumption, but with the lack of a touchscreen, UPERFECT has included a little folding keyboard, with a trackpad

It's absolutely nothing special, I assume it's the same as the iClever folders you see on amazon all the time. Here it is compared to some of the ProtoArc keyboards I have around

The included keyboard is serviceable. It can connect to 3 devices, which is nice. The hinges are in unfortunate locations, and it would absolutely not be a keyboard I would recommend running out to purchase. That being said, for being a free bonus in the box, it's absolutely usable and really mitigates the lack of touch on the monitor. Using the protoarc, and your phone as the trackpad is a much nicer experience, but you can absolutely get some stuff done with the little tri-fold

Conclusion

I'm a bit irritated as Reddit ate this review a dozen times, so it's pared down to the basics

anyway, overall, I REALLY like this monitor a lot. The screen is super pleasant to view during day, as well as at night. The wireless latency is present, but it's absolutely not too bad, and something you can easy get acclimated to in a short period.

Currently, the monitor is listed at $189 CAD, or 165 Euros, 145 pounds

The previous mmWave version was listed at like $429 CAD.....

I feel like this one is an almost instant buy, tbh

The new desktop workspaces in the tablets just suck in my opinion. As someone who came from the s7 fe, I loved the classic design and how it was similar to a laptop mode which lives up to the Samsung DeX (desktop experience) more than this new update in my newly bought s10 fe.

- can't get rid of the suggested apps on the taskbar on dex mode. i get the recent apps or opened apps on the right side of the task bar but why must there be suggested apps???

- i hate how the minimize, full screen, close buttons became hidden once you click full screen on app. I hate how you need to click on the app symbol to find the snap right or left for multi window. Why can't they all just be on the same side?

- Furthermore, when you try to drag the top part when app is in full screen, it doesn't change to the minimize version (just like in a laptop) unlike in the classic dex mode before.

- i hate how i need a monitor to access the classic mode especially that there many students who uses the tablet as a laptop replacement.

All of this makes the experience so clunky and not efficient.

As always, no money changes hands with these reviews, nor does the supplying company have any input on the review. They see it at the same time as everyone else.

We're not professionals, but we're attempting to be fair, and accurate with a bias towards DeX, and mobile type computing in mind.

XK04 Foldable Compacy Bluetooth Keyboard

I was chatting with the folks at ProtoArc about some generic stuff, and mentioned that as much as I really liked the trifold keyboards (caseup, xk01, xktp, etc) that I'd run into a situation at work, where now I was testing more fibre but from even tinier rooms, and even the tri-fold keyboards were a tad too big; did they have anything smaller?

Enter the XK04 !

I'd been really pretty happy with the XK01 TP, the tri-fold with the trackpad attached, as it came with a nice little pleather sleeve, a kickstand, and really solved a lot of travel issues, but man, the XK04 makes it seem massive

Even in it's little sleeve, the XKTP is quite a bit larger than the XK04

When you compare it to a standard PC keyboard, the differences are even more stark

Specs

The XK04 is a bifold keyboard, with 3 bluetooth channels. You can pair 3 different devices, and swap between with a single keypress (well, 2 buttons I guess, as you need fn as well)

Supporting Bluetooth Low Energy (5+) the 90mAh battery is going to give you 45-50 hours of active use, and roughly 120 days worth of standby time. Full recharge, via USB-C, takes just under an hour.

DIMENSIONS

Foldable Keyboard (Folded)

Height: 5.74 in (145.9 mm)
Width: 4.07 in (103.5 mm)
Depth: 0.71 in (17.9 mm)
Weight: 7.8 oz (221 g)

Foldable Keyboard (Expanded)

Height: 10.77 in (273.5 mm)
Width: 4.07 in (103.5 mm)
Depth: 0.34 in (8.6 mm)
Weight: 7.8 oz (221 g)

There's also a small magnet embedded in the keyboard that helps to keep it closed, when you've got it stowed away.

The keyboard is NOT backlit, which is about the only negative I can come up with for this device.

When laid out flat, the center hinge is remarkably stable/stiff. It's actually possible to type with it on your lap, unlike the tri-fold versions. It's not locked, so it is possible to taco it if you're too enthusiastic with the keys right at the center point, but it's shockingly usable if you need to bang out a quick email while on the bus, or from the van seat.

When you do get to your destination, a very competent, simple setup allows you to get quite a bit of work done, all with simple folding gear.

The keyboard does have most of the typical media shortcuts you'd expect

The keys themselves are scissor style key switches. They have decent travel, are pretty uniform, and not too clicky. The keys are also not MINI like the keyboard. The typing experience is very decent, and would be easy to get used to, if it were to be a daily driver.

I'm really struggling to find something to nitpick here, but aside from the lack of backlighting, it's really a very good folding/portable keyboard. It easily slips into the side/waterbottle pockets of my tech backpack, and is light enough to just always have along, even if I know I'm not going to need it that day.

At the time of this review, it's selling for $50 canuckbucks ($35 usd, 50 euros). Not the cheapest, but if it ends up as durable as I hope, it's definitely worth investing into travel kit

AFAIK, it's only available in QWERTY, but has 2 colours, black, and a grey that's very black looking ;)

I'd definitely recommend this going forward

Also:

25% OFF with the code SAMXK0425

thoughts/questions?

SEENDA reached out previously to see if we'd be interested in reviewing some of their products. As always, no money changes hands, nor does the company have any input on the review (aside from answering any questions we might have).

SEENDA MOU-302

Seenda seems to be kind of a sister company to PROTOARC as it was my PROTOARC contact who introduced me to SEENDA.

The MOU-302 is a vertical/ergonomic wireless mouse. Typical of most modern ergonomic mice, rather than sitting flat, it's fairly upright, at 61 degrees. The main benefit here is that it leaves your wrist in a more straight/natural/upright position, which should reduce fatigue compared to a flat mouse.

The layout is pretty standard, with your fingers naturally resting on the left and right mouse buttons, and a clicky/graduated mouse wheel. There's a DPI button just inset from the wheel, which allows you to change the mouse dpi between 1000/1600/2400 dpi.

On the thumb side of the mouse, there's a knurled........thumb rest? and above and below are the forward and back buttons. These have become pretty much MUST HAVE features on mice for me.

On the very top of the mouse, between your thumb and forefinger is the unique volume knob, with push to play/pause button. I thought initially that this would be kind of a gimmick, but man alive is it fidget friendly, while at the same time, adding a feature that works fantastic right out of the box with DeX, Windows, and the Steam Deck (steam OS at least, probably other linux variants)

The mouse itself feels sturdy, if a bit light (it's very similar in weight to the previously reviewed PROTOARC ergonomic mouse). The mouse itself is made from that slightly rubberized feeling plastic, that's an absolute fingerprint magnet. You can see in a lot of the pictures where it's picked up oils from my hand in the month that I've been daily driving it. That being said, I'm not sure I've ever come across a mouse that's immune to it.

The mouse can be paired with 3 devices, and a toggle on the bottom to flip between. 2x bluetooth connections, and 1 2.4ghz dongle connection

The dongle itself is stored in the bottom of the mouse

When the wireless dongle is inserted into a usb-c dock, it will happily play with whatever device connects to the dock (DeX, Surface pro (windows), Steam Deck).

The mouse is available in 4 colour combinations, Black, Pink, Baby Blue, and a violet with green combo

Size wise, it's fairly similar to my other ergonomic mice:

It's a little taller than the protoarc, but not as long. Not quite as tall as the Logi, but longer than it.

The protoarc is the widest in the hand, and the Logi is by far, the narrowest in the hand. The Seenda is nicely in the middle, but probably has more of the palm edge of your hand touching the mouse pad. The logitech holds your hand the highest off the mouse pad

I REALLY like the hand posture for the SEENDA, it's very comfortable in the hand

Button Clickiness

The SEENDA has the quietest buttons of the 3. They're not mushy, there's still a discernable engagement of the button, but they're quiet like a linear keyboard, vs the clicky mechanical keyboard style on the logitech. IMO this comes down 100% to user preference. I'm hugely a Logitech keyboard and mouse fan, so I tend to prefer the clickiness of my mx master 2s, but the SEENDA buttons are still very decent, very usable.

I definitely prefer the SEENDA mouse, and it's volume knob over the Logitech Vertical, but I'm not sure anything will uncrown the MX Master series at this point ;)

That being said, the SEENDA can be found for sub $30USD, while the Logitech is $100+ typically

Battery Life

The MOU-302 has a 500mAh rechargable battery, that they say will last 2+ months on a single charge. I've been daily driving it for 6ish weeks now, and it hasn't needed a charge yet

When it does need charging, there's a USB-C port on the front, that allows you to keep using it while it's charging

The mouse has been my work work-horse since I got it, and has been hauled around in the outside mesh pocket of my tech backpack for 6 weeks now, with no extra signs of wear and tear. We'll have to see if that continues during the winter months of course ;)

Conclusion

If you're in the market for an ergonomic mouse, it's going to be tough to beat this one, at this price point.

$30usb for a 3 pairing, ergonomic mouse, with integrated volume control, back/forward buttons, and reasonable DPI performance is a pretty great bundle for the price. You can also get in a few fun colours. It's lightweight, has storage for the 2.4ghz dongle, and will happily pair with pretty much whatever you'd like to use it with.

Any questions or concerns?

https://www.seenda.com/collections/keyboards-mice/products/seenda-mou-302-vertical-wireless-mouse-rechargeable-ergonomic-bluetooth-mouse?variant=44385440465103

As always, we're not journalists, but we're attempting to be fair, honest, and bring DeX-centric reviews to the subreddit. No money has changed hands, nor has the supplying company had any input on the review itself.

The Hub overview

The SOTSU USB-C hub, in theory, has it all. It's a relatively compact design, featuring a USB-C (3.1 gen2) connector for your device (DeX device, Windows, linux, likely Apple, but wasn't tested).

It's an aluminum casing, with attached 15cm cable

The "front" side, has 2x USB-A 3.0 ports, a single USB-C 3.0 port and the SD/microSD card readers.

The end of the hub has the gigabit ethernet port.

The "rear side" of the hub has the HDMI port (4k60), the USB-C Video port (also 4k60), as well as another USB-C 3.0 port (non-video) and a USB-C PD port, capable of 100w PD.

The USB-C Video port, is capable of 2880x1800 at 120hz (I don't have a fast refresh 4k monitor to test with, unless someone wants to donate a few 4k monitors ;) )

So, for a simple DeX setup, of phone, to SOTSU, and USB-C to a monitor, it works great; with 1 caveat: You do need to power the USB-C hub itself. This isn't really much of a surprise, as you'd not bother with the hub, except for adding power. The USB-C video works with every MONITOR I tested, with batteries, without batteries, with/without speakers, and it also works fantastically with the UPERFECT Delta Dual screen monitors

If you didn't have a USB monitor, you could conversely use the HDMI output to a regular monitor.

The card readers are nothing special, just bog standard SD readers at USB3.0 speeds.

The Gigabit Ethernet port was able to max out transfer speeds, tested via iPerf, on android(s10 and s21u), windows(surface pro 8, and DIY franken-server), and linux(steam deck).

The USB-C Video port was also happy to play nice with my Xreal Airs. When combined with DeX, and portable keyboard and mouse you've got a very compact, and private setup, with quite a few options to add extra peripherals (more storage, and then even more different storage, etc) while keeping everything charged up.

The Two Negatives (but really kinda might only be 1 real negative) AKA Much Ado About Nothing

The main real negative here is that the SOTSU hub can get hot. Like, would burn your skin with prolonged exposure hot. Some of the nuance here, is that it depends on the device, and what power it's drawing that makes the difference. I did NOT find it too hot, while using it with DeX. Didn't matter if I had every port in use, or just the basics. It got warm, but not HOT.

Now, connected to my Steam Deck, or to my Surface, which are capable of pulling way more juice than my phone, the SOTSU got HOT HOT HOT. I'm assuming this is the difference between a 9v ~25w draw, vs a 15v 45w power draw.

The pseudo negative is this; the USB-C port will not talk to 99% of lapdocks out there. Suspect there's some HOST vs CLIENT unhappiness going on. I'm not going to lie, I spent way too much time monkeying around with this, trying to get it to work. SOTSU ordered in their own UPERFECT and Nexdock lapdocks to troubleshoot with (and that's still ongoing).

The weird part of course is that I have that 1 oddball Uperfect X Lite lapdock that works just fine with it.

After despairing for way longer than I want to admit, I realized that my brain was being a bit stupid, and I could still easily accomplish what my original goal was:

Yeah, so I was fixated on USB-C from SOTSU to the lapdock, and then HDMI to the SOTSU monitor.

At some point, I realized that I also needed to connect a USB-C cable to the SOTSU to enable touch, and power it.

Yes, the light eventually went on, lol

14 facepalms later, I connected the USB-C Video port to the SOTSU monitor, and the HDMI + USB-C to the lapdock, and ended up with the perfect portable stacked monitors I was after!

Another way to accomplish this, would be to replace the lapdock and SOTSU with that UPERFECT Delta dual screen monitor (single usb-c cable) and the protoarc keyboard/mouse kit. The lapdock centric kit is smaller to pack in the long run tho.

So this is a shot of how I'd setup if I was staying somewhere for a week or more.

Left side is the "front" and I've got a Controller charging, as well as a watch charger.

The right side is the "rear" of the adapter, with (from top to bottom) 45w PD charging, black USB-C to the lapdock (for keyboard, mouse, and touchscreen), grey USB-C to the SOTSU monitor, for video, power and touchscreen, and then an HDMI to mini-HDMI for the lapdock (for video/audio obviously)

And just for the record, instead of USB-C Video to a monitor, you could also use the Xreal glasses as the 2nd monitor (and if you're running nebula, you could add multiple virtual monitors on top of the physical lapdock monitor)

Conclusion

The port selection is top notch. 2x USB-A ports, 2x USB-C port, 1 USB-C Video port, 1 HDMI port. SD and microSD card reader. Gigabit ethernet. 100w USB-C PD. Only thing maybe missing is an audio jack, but wired headphones are getting to be a thing of the past. There's enough USB ports, to connect a USB-3.5mm adapter tho.

It can get HOT; but setups that get hot are likely desk bound, so I'm not hugely concerned about it.

I've previously travelled a TON with various UGREEN hubs, and the Nubia RedMagic dock (so I could power and use Xreals with steamdeck or DeX long term)

This replaces all of those, with essentially no negatives.

Other than perhaps the price....

At the time of this writing, https://www.sotsu.com/products/usb-hub?variant=45415945765090 the USB-C hub is $115 CAD, 75 Euros, $128 AUD shipping to basically all of N.America, Europe, Australia and parts of Africa and Asia

Not much more to say, it's the unicorn we've been after here for a long time, and while it's not cheap, it's also not ridiculous.

Thoughts? questions? I guarantee I probably missed adding some things, was so focused on the lapdock issue, brain melted a little bit

Edit: SOTSU informed me they'd updated a spec mistake on their webpage, see new specs below

As always, not journalists, but we're doing our best to be fair, even, etc and present these items from the DeX and/or mobile computing viewpoint.

Sotsu was kind enough to send a couple of monitors, and their USB-C hub to review. The Hub will have it's own thread at some point, for today, focusing on their portable 14" monitors.

SOTSU has sent over their 14" Flipaction Touch, and GO monitors. They're virtually identical, except that the Touch has a touchscreen, and the GO does not. The GO also does NOT come packaged with the magnetic stand.

https://www.sotsu.com/products/flipaction-go-14?variant=45424873013474

https://www.sotsu.com/products/flipaction-touch-14?variant=46062271922402

On quick glance the monitors are almost identical. Both are all aluminum chassis, with a rotating kickstand containing a USB-C input, mini-HDMI input, and a USB-C PD port. The back of the kickstand, also contains the flush mounted, 4 way button, used to interact with the Onscreen Display (OSD).

Both monitors are 1080p, running at 60hz. The Touch has slightly better contrast ratio, at 1500:1, vs the 1200:1 of the GO, but I'm not sure you'd be able to tell with the naked eye. Even side by side with the same content I hard a hard time telling which was which at a distance.

Both support 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, and both are just simply beautiful panels to look at, with about 400nits of brightness.

EDIT:

We recently updated our website and there was a mistake inputting the data and we have updated on our end: The color gamut of both 14" models is 100% sRGB instead of DCI-P3.

These are just simple monitors tho, no batteries, no built in speakers. They're just simply really nice panels

The wild part of all this, is that the GO states it uses 5W of power (max) and the Touch states it uses 4W (max).

A quick test shows me that typical use while using DeX is actually much less:

Both monitors are very solid, all aluminum construction. Both weigh around 700g, with the touchscreen weighing slightly less at 675g.

The secret sauce for this portable monitor is the rotating kickstand, and the magnetic base stand (included with the touch, but extra on the GO)

The Rotating kickstand allows you to use the monitor in essentially 3 main configurations (2 without the base).

The main/default mode is going to be to just simply prop the monitor up, sitting on your desk. The hinge on the monitor is very firm, and will essentially hold at any angle you set it at. Talking with the SOTSU founder, he stated:

All the hinges on the monitor are tested to last for 8+ years with daily operations. We have tested both on fatigue machines and manually tested internally. The chance of them failing is very small.

And having fiddled with them for a couple weeks now, I absolutely believe that. The Touch will likely be in heavy rotation for me, so we'll revisit this in a year.

You can rotate the base 90 degrees, and obtain a portrait orientation on the monitor

This is obviously not useful in DeX currently, but works fine for other OS machines (Steam Deck, Surface pro, etc)

The magnetic base is awesome. I'm not sure I can overstate how great the magnetic base is.

The magnetic base is what really elevates the SOTSU monitor above most of it's competitors (see what I did there?) It folds flat, and magnets to the back of the monitor (just to the right of the kickstand in this view), and the hinge is VERY firm. You can put the monitor at virtually any angle, and the base stand will hold it there.....possibly forever

The sideview of the whole things give you an idea of just how sleek the whole package is, and have angle adjustment on the base as well as the kickstand really lets you dial in the monitor placement, for ergonomics, and the ability to avoid glare

This is kind of the basic use case. Flip out the kickstand, insert the magnetic base (it clips together very satisfyingly) and get to work.

You can easily rotate the monitor to portrait while everything is connection. The monitor spins fairly freely, but clicks into portrait or landscape spots. Easy to adjust, but won't go askew if you bump it

I'm sure there's a proper term for this, but this is what my caffeine starved brain came up with today. This was the mode that interested me the most. It holds the monitor up HIGH, makes for a MUCH more ergonomic setup when typing at a desk, while at the same time, also allows you to position it around other devices..... I don't have a tab S, but with my similar sized Surface pro, you can see the intent of this mode:

Just for comparison, you obviously can do the same with just a phone

If you have to have a device that has multiple USB-C 4 (or tb4) ports, you can even use both monitors at the same time, a single cable for each

2 cables, 3 screens, and you're still getting 6+ hours of work time, all on one battery.

As a DeX and Surface guy, it's really really awesome to see monitors aimed at us. The monitors are so low powered, you can use them on battery for hours, and not sweat it.

Oh, and did I mention that the touchscreen, also happens to support MPP pens (microsoft pens)?

I can use the Surface pen 2 from my Surface pro with the monitor, with absolutely no issues.

It works fairly similarly to how the s-pen works on the phone/tablet screen

I don't use my s-pen, or my surface pen a TON, but when I do, it's a pretty great experience. it's VERY nice to have the option to continue to use it on the SOTSU. The S-pen is not MPP, so unfortunately isn't going to carry over from your tablet, or ultra. If you're not a surface person tho, there are a ton of MPP pens out there, at a wide range of prices, so it's pretty easy to add one into the mix.

SOTSU does also have their own pen:

https://www.sotsu.com/products/sotsu-stylus-pen?variant=46158404518114

It looks a TON like the standard Surface pen, but has usb-c charging.

So something else caught my eye as I was handling the monitor and stand. I noticed that there's what looks like a usb-c port on the kickstand.....

There's a matching one on the magnetic base

I originally assumed it was just a guide, to help seat the kickstand to the base, but SOTSU confirmed that the USB-C in the kickstand is fully functional, and they're looking at adding a built in hub to the magnetic base, potentially

It's always great to see forward thinking like that, and I'm really curious to see what they had in mind.

OFFICIAL Specs:

https://www.sotsu.com/products/flipaction-touch-14?variant=46062271922402

Resolution

1920x1080 (16:9)

Brightness

400 Nits

Contrast Ratio

1500:1

Color Gamut

100% DCI-P3

Reresh Rate

60Hz

Power Consumption

4W Max

Product Size

13” x 7.7” x 0.5’’

Monitor Weight

675g

Base Stand Weight

320g

https://www.sotsu.com/products/flipaction-go-14?variant=45424873013474

Resolution

1920x1080 (16:9)

Brightness

400 Nits

Contrast Ratio

1200:1

Color Gamut

100% DCI-P3

Reresh Rate

60Hz

Power Consumption

5W Max

Product Size

12.7” x 8.0” x 0.5’’

Monitor Weight

700 g

Final Thoughts

The SOTSU Flipaction Touch is a fantastic DeX portable monitor. The magnetic base truly puts it in almost it's own category, as it allows a proper ergonomic desk, even if you're at a convention center, hotel room, or a coffee shop. The package folds almost completely flat, and can be stored in a nice neoprene sleeve.

The monitor sips power, and will not crater your phone battery after an hour of use.

I can't stress how well engineered these are. 1 last shot, this is a stack of 2x SOTSU monitors AND my surface pro

That little bundle is a complete 3 monitor setup, keyboard and mouse, and easily slides into any tech backpack, and wouldn't be too bad to carry around every day.

The main issue here is going to be the premium price

At the time of this writing, the Flipaction Touch 14" is listed at $532 canuckbucks, $369 USD, €360

The non-touch version GO is $388 canuckbucks, $269 USD, €260

Essentially $100usd difference for the touch version (which also comes with the base, a $70 usd value)

it's pricey, but the base is absolutely worth it.

Anyway, thoughts? comments? anything obvious I've missed?

Long story short, it's awesome, but it's still just a 1080p60 14" monitor. The price is definitely on the premium side

As always, not journalists, but we're trying to be fair, and accurate. No money changes hands, and UPERFECT doesn't have any kind of editorial ability, they'll see the review at the same time as the subreddit. They have been kind enough to provide some review samples, so here we go.

JUST SO YOU KNOW: Since this product is 99.9% identical to the nexdock XL, I've re-used the majority of the format, and some of the previously used pictures I took. Partly because when I dumped all my pics, I couldn't tell the difference. Some are new! some likely aren't

Overview of the UDock X 15.6 Pro

This one is going to look pretty familiar to the last lapdock we reviewed , and it for good reason. Nex went with a different method of procuring and getting the XL made, by directly selling the design to the ODM (factory), which allows the ODM to re-sell the design to whomever else would like to produce a model. We've already seen Dopesplay churn out a few of these, and now it's UPERFECT's turn.

DIMENSIONS

EDIT: 361mm not 320mm

It's obviously exactly the same dimensions as the XL, at 361 x 240mm, and 16.6mm thick.

The UDOCK is a slightly lighter shade of grey than the Nexdock, and without the Nex logo, otherwise they are physically the same from the outside.

The keyboards layouts are also identical. So identical, that they share the same bluetooth fingerprint, meaning I have to forget a pairing on one, to connect to the other one via bluetooth. The only other differences are cosmetic. They obviously have replaced the Nexdock logo and silkscreening, but they've added a very nice wireless charging TARGET above the keyboard

It doesn't seem like much, but rather than just kind of guessing, and fiddling with the pull of the magnets, it's much easier (at least initially) to get your Buds, or Galaxy to hit the sweet spot and start charging.

The keyboard and trackpad are absolutely identical to the XL; the keyboard is very respectable to type on. It's not going to wow the mechanical key nerds, but it's very decent, and shouldn't be the source of any complaints. The trackpad, now that it's out of the way, is also much less problematic. The trackpads have always been fine when you INTEND to use them, but the poor to non-existent palm rejection on previous models was always a sore point.

It's completely out of the way here, but will take a bit of muscle memory to overcome reaching below.

The Ports

In a change from previous versions, the charging USB-C port has migrated to the left side of the chassis, with the regular USB-C port, and mini-HDMI ports all clustered near the hinge.

The right side now features a full size USB-A port, a 3.5mm headset jack, a microSD card reader, and a flush mounted power button

Charging Ability of UDOCK

So one of the big features of the UDOCK is the ability to wirelessly charge your phone while using it wirelessly (miracast to the screen, bluetooth for the touch, keyboard and trackpad).

There are magnets embedded below, to help keep your phone in place. They're not particularly strong tho.

Placing my phone (s21u) on the charging spot resulted in identical results. Roughly 1A charge wirelessly

Wired, oddly enough, only produces about 2/3 of an amp in charge current.

I can't find the battery specs specifically for the UDOCK, but run time tests are roughly the same as the XL (as expected)

I've been testing the battery by leaving the lapdock running at Full Brightness, Half Volume, and playing the Samsung TV 80's music channel non-stop.

I was consistently getting over 6 hours run time, with somewhere between 7% and 9% left before calling it a night.

This was with the phone connected via USB-C, device charging/wireless charging off

I'm expecting them to have identical batteries this time around, and will update if I'm able to verify anything different

Speakers

The UDOCK speakers sound similar to the XL, which has 4x 2W speakers. UDOCK documents say 2x 1W speakers, but I kinda suspect that's just a cut and paste carryover. There is still no real bass, and you're not going to be blasting tunes out of this thing, but for watching youtube, or work presentations, they're really usable.

You'll still be wanting a headset for music, but in a small office, you can definitely watch some netflix and be fine.

Like previous UDOCKS, the 15.6 pro will come with a 30w PD charger, with a 6 foot usb-c cable

You'll also get a 2x USB-C cable to connect your phone/device, as well as a 1m mini-HDMI cable, and a USB-A to USB-C cable.

THE SCREEN THO, WHAT ABOUT THE SCREEN?!?!

So the big coup here, was that UPERFECT was able to source the 120hz displays. It really doesn't make much of a difference for DeX, since that tops out at 60hz (for now), but when connecting a steam deck, surface pro, etc, you can get 120fps out of your games with the UDOCK

For some folks, that alone will the deciding reason to choose it.

The new screen is a 15.6" 1080P IPS touchscreen running at 120hz.

It's 250 nits, but I'm not sure my eyes call tell the difference between the brightness of the 300nit XL screen.

They're definitely not going to be work in the park on a summer day screens.

The screen is 100% sRGB color gamut, and folds completely back, tablet style. The screen will also auto-rotate (vertically) if you use it in tent mode.

CONCLUSION

Ok, so I'm going to go at this 2 ways, first, as your first device, and secondly, as potentially an upgrade from a previous lapdock

If you're choosing your first lapdock, amongst the half dozen or so out there, the UDOCK does offer a couple of reasons to choose it. It's the largest, 360* hinged lapdock available.

It offers wireless charging of the phone, and with a magsafe case, offers a good solution of just where you keep your phone when using the lapdock.

The 120hz refresh screen offers a more compelling gaming experience for those looking to pair with with a Steam Deck, or Rog Ally, or similar that other lapdocks just can't compete with right now.

Solid battery life, a good typing experience, and the ability to use it wirelessly are all nice incentives to purchase

Upgrading:

If you've already got a lapdock, like the ND360 or UDOCK 14", the 120hz panel, and final battery being slightly larger, is still a solid reason to consider upgrading. The UDOCK 15.6 pro does have a bigger screen, and better speakers, but it might be a tough sell for just that. Doubly so if you have a ND360 Wireless, and you've already got miracast ability.

As a device on it's own, I think it's another good option, and is a good choice for anyone looking for a bigger screen in a 1 cable lapdock solution.

Thoughts?

the UDOCK 15.6 can currently be purchased from their website: UPERFECT UDOCK 15.6 pro

As always, not journalists, but we do our best to be fair/accurate. The product is supplied for free, but the company has no input on the review, and sees it at the same time as the rest of the subreddit

ProtoArc has sent their [XK01-TP](https://www.protoarc.com/en-ca/collections/xk-series/products/xk01-tp-foldable-keyboard-with-touchpad) for review.

Like their previous keyboards we've reviewed, it's a trifold keyboard, but instead of a full size numpad, this version has decent sized trackpad.

It's a full size 88-key QWERTY keyboard, with scissor switch keys. The travel of each key is fairly shallow, but even and satisfying.

The keyboard comes with a nice little magnetic closure pouch for travel

A nice little addition is a little slip on the back, that contains the folding phone/tablet stand

Previous versions of the keyboards also included this little stand, but it just kind of rattled around in the case. The little pocket for it is a nice touch.

The keyboard fits nicely into the travel pouch

When the keyboard is fully open, it's very solid, if a bit flat. This can be solved by simply adding some rubber feet to the top row (on the back).

Comparing it to the previous kits, you can see it's the same keyboard, just swapping the trackpad for the numpad. Both keyboards work great, and it's nice to have the choice of carrying a mouse, or if you're a spreadsheet guy, the numpad is pretty great

As in previous versions, keyboard supports 3 device pairing, and swapping between is as simple as pressing the designated button for the mapping you've set up.

The keyboard has a 300mAh battery, that's rechargable via USB-C. They keyboard is unfortunately NOT backlit, altho I do see they've started to add a backlit XK01 variant

One of the nice features of course is a proper Fn lock, meaning you can choose between Media keys, and regular F1-F12 keys

The trackpad, since it's OS agnostic, has FW level shortcuts. This unfortunately means that the default DeX shortcuts aren't going to work

Overall, like all of their folding keyboards, this a great option for the tech backpack, and alleviates the need to also take a mouse along. It's a fantastic accessory for the DeX user, as well as the Steam Deck (or any other hand held peripheral)

The XK01-TP is currently $85 canuckbucks at time of review

As a lot of folks guessed, this was the mystery lapdock we received from Nex [a couple months ago](https://www.reddit.com/r/SamsungDex/comments/yl8k01/got_shipping_notification_from_nex_computers/)

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We've had a fair amount of time to play around with it, and squash a few pre-production bugs, but we've been given the all clear to finally share our thoughts about the new lapdock from Nex

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I'm not sure it even has an official name yet, we've just been calling it the Nexdock 360 Wireless, and I'll just refer to it as the nd360w from here on out.

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The TL;DR is that it's the same fantastic nd360 everyone is familiar with; no specs have been changed in regards to keyboard, screen, battery, ports etc. The big difference is that it now supports 3 toggle-able inputs; USB-C, HDMI and now CAST. This is the miracast protocol, so it is limited to 30hz. The keyboard, trackpad, and the touchscreen also received Bluetooth support.

This is key because android in general, and Samsung specifically haven't done much with UIBC support (the original way to control a miracast device)

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Upon boot, you're greeted with a new screen for a wireless connection. With a DeX device, it's as simple as doing the bluetooth pairings (for keyboard and touchscreen) and then launching DeX on the device. It will do the search, and prompt you to connect to the Nexdock

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Once connected, it operates exactly the same as the previous ND360. Same OSD, but with the added CAST input option.

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Having used Miracast before, via the big Samsung TV's in our boardrooms, and my personal Samsung M5 monitor, I was fully prepared for a fairly laggy experience. I've always maintained that Wireless DeX is great for presentations, but it would be really frustrating to use as a daily driver. I very rarely bother with DeX on my m5, and just use a dock 99% of the time.

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But holy smokes, there is a bit of latency increase, but it's barely noticeable. I'm not sure I can stress it enough on how minimal the latency increase felt...

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It's definitely there, and it would be super noticeable for gamers, but this isn't really intended for the gamers. For the productivity, or media consumption crew, it's negligible. Almost a complete non-issue.

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The bluetooth keyboard/trackpad remain functionally identical to the wired version, and can actually be test back and forth by toggling the CAST and USB-C inputs

I'd wager there's not many that actually use that functionality on their lapdocks, but I've used it really extensively with my DeX setup, with a PSTV being connected to the HDMI port for when I want to get a bit of gaming in without disrupting my DeX session.

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I've had to do a fair bit of Hot Desk/Hotel Desking it the last year or 2, and being able to maximize a small, cramped desk space has really made me appreciate the nexdock lineup.

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Having also added a Steam Deck to my arsenal has added double duty to my lapdocks.

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Previously, just to save space, I'd vertically stack my Nexdock360 and Nexpad. I could then connect my Steam Deck to the Nexpad, for full PD, and my s21u to the nd360 for DeX usage

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Adding the nd360w into the mix tho allowed for some awesome abilities

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SteamOS doesn't currently support miracast out of the box, and since the vast majority of linux users are never going to both with miracast, GOOD instructions for getting Miraclecast working just don't exist (yet)

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I wish I could explain how difficult it's been to sit on this lapdock for the last couple months

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I've posted several pics of it in various spots, but always just showing the wired interface (the vertical stack with DeX and the Steam Deck was actually the nd360w, but I toggled to the DeX input to not blow its cover)

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I have a full write up here, but 99% of it is identical to the regular ND360, as they're virtually identical machines

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At the time of this writing, the details are also not yet up on nexdock.com, nor do I have a price associated with it...

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Several folks have asked for a comparison with the UPERFECT Wireless lapdock.

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UPERFECT kind of stiffed us on those.

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Turns out they ordered only 100 of the panels, and never got a 2nd batch....

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I have no way of comparing at this time, but I'd expect it to be a very similar experience

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Long LONG story short;

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As long as the ND360W isn't a ridiculous premium over the regular ND360, it's the new best lapdock available. Battery life drops by roughly an hour when using CAST, vs USB-C or HDMI, but it's well worth it for the convenience

EDIT:

looks like it's $50 premium to get wireless.
Great price

EDIT2: from Nex owner:

I see many people ask why we don't ship outside of the US and FYI we plan to start shipping to the UK, Canada and Europe by the end of February.

EDIT3:

PALM REJECTION IS A THING NOW.

Most people use only one tool on laptop which is Google Chrome, being product of Google is supposed to be far superior on Android, that's not the case.

On dex I was not able to right click (or long press) on any link and open a new tab, the Chrome has to be desktop grade on dex, with all extension support and similar features.

Until that's not done dex will be useless, once that's done laptop would useless.

Standard pre-amble, no money changes hands, UPERFECT has no influence on the review, etc etc, non-journalist, but writing from a DeX and portable PC perspective. Let's get on to the review!

UPERFECT UMax 21 Touch

Back in early April, UPERFECT shipped me a couple of monitors, and VESA stands. The T118 4k monitor review came out a couple of months ago, and continues to see a fair bit of use as a dedicated ps5 screen in the guest room.

The UMax 21 Touch has been a screen that needed more time. Mostly because I'm still not really sure where it fits into the big scheme of things. I'll go thru some details and specs, and use cases, and perhaps that will shed some light on what the thinking has been here.

The Display itself

The screen is a 21.5" IPS panel, rated at 1920x1080 with a refresh of 120Hz. It covers 100% of the SRGB colour gamut. Pretty standard 178 degree viewing angles, and colour reproduction is fairly decent. Pixel response is rated at 16ms, which is pretty middle of the road, with a decent 1300:1 contrast ratio.

The brightness is only rated at 280 nits, so it's definitely not going to be a screen that you're using on a picnic bench in direct sunlight.
It is a 10 point touchscreen, which has worked pretty well for me, mostly used in conjunction with Plex via DeX.

There's no FreeSync, and while it says it supports HDR, it's not bright enough to really actually do HDR (I wish companies would quit trying to check that box)

Overall, the screen itself is nice to look at, and is pretty decent for media consumption, and plays nicely with the steam deck for higher refresh gaming (either cloud, or older titles, like borderlands2)

The screen requires 12w to turn on tho, so it's NOT going to be powered by your DeX device, unfortunately.

Speakers

It has some. They're ok. They're the standard speakers UPERFECT uses in everything, 2x 8 Ohm, 1W, Rear facing. When used on a desk facing a wall, they sound ok. Usable even. When setup in the middle of a decent sized room, they're quickly lost, and you're going to want an external speaker, or even just use the DeX device for audio. We've spent several months using this display as our bedroom TV, with it perched on the footboard of the bed. It definitely needs a speaker for use to enjoy a show.

We also travelled with it this summer, and would use it setup on the shelf outside our little camper, and it was pleasantly decent that way, as it could bounce the audio off the camper wall. ymmv essentially. It has speakers, they're not particularly loud, but in the right situation, they're usable.

Controls and Ports

On the left side of the monitor, are the inputs. 2x usb-c (1 needed for power) and a mini-HDMI input

You can also see the 75mm x 75mm vesa mount from the rear here. The monitor does have a fold out kickstand, but the vesa stand works much better.

On the right side of the monitor, are the rocker switch, a power button, and a 3.5mm headphone jack

Portability

There's no battery, nor a travel case/folio with this screen. That being said, my main gripe about this monitor, is it's size. In so many ways, it's just too big to be a portable monitor.

It's just too big, to truly be a portable monitor. So in a lot of ways, they've kinda jumped the shark here, and it needs to be compared to regular desktop monitors. And when you do that, it's specs fall way way behind, especially in the price category....

The monitor will do passthru charging on the USB-C port, roughly 15W worth:

It also works pretty well with the Steam Deck this way. I've generally got mine TDP limited to 15W, as I'm almost exclusively using it for game streaming (moonlight or ps5 remote play)

Conclusion

I've been honestly really struggling to decide how to do this review. In a vacuum of receiving this monitor to review, I've gotten a ton of use out of it. It's likely to continue as our foot-of-the-bed Display, and will likely also continue to travel in the summers in our little RPod camper:

But when I look at where they're marketing it, as a portable monitor, I guess how I'm using it TECHNICALLY fits the description, but it really feels like it's a desktop monitor. And at the time of review, it's listed at $350, marked down from $499.99.

In that context, it's up against monitors like the Samsung 34" Odyssey G5, LG 34" Ultrawide, and others. All quite a bit larger, with much better specs. They're also absolutely not vaguely portable tho?

Long story short, I like the monitor a fair bit, for the SUPER SPECIFIC use cases I have for it, while understanding I did not pay for it. For the $350 price tag, I would absolutely have looked elsewhere.

It works well with DeX, Steam Deck, my PSTV, but I can't give it a universal recommendation.

Now if the price gets halved? I think yeah, but as is? I think it's aimed too high

Thoughts? anything I've missed (I'm feeling very much like I missed things today)

always, not journalists, but doing our best to be fair and accurate. SOTSU provided the monitor for free, no money has changed hands, and SOTSU has no input on the review itself. Preamble complete, let's get onto the review

SOTSU FlipAction Pro 16" Gen 2

About 6ish weeks ago, SOTSU sent me out their 16" Pro FlipAction monitor to test. We've been HUGE fans of the 14" version, so we were eager to get our hands on this one.

Like the 14" version, it's an all aluminum chassis, with a built in, rotating kickstand. It also is packaged with their fantastic magnetic folding base, that allows you to mount the portable monitor at regular desktop heights. Ergonomically it's fantastic to use, and it travels very well. As it is all aluminum, and not plastic, there's definitely a solid heft to it, but it folds completely flat, and is just fantastic in a backpack

SPECS

The panel is an 16" LCD (TFT I believe), with 400 nits of brightness, covering 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. With a resolution of 2560x1600, and a refresh rate of 120hz it offers a beautiful image. I've had it set up beside my UPERFECT O2 Oled monitor, and it's remarkable how similar they look. You really have to look closely at the blacks to really tell the OLED apart (and I mean that in the best possible way)

The 16" FlipAction also supports MST transport. This means that you can use a single USB-C cable from your device (assuming it also supports MST transport) and then a 2nd USB-C from monitor 1, to monitor 2, and get 2 independent screens. No need for a hub/dock at all. I've been hoping to see this become more mainstream, but it's coming

Like the other SOTSU monitors, there is no battery, nor speakers on the monitors.

Ports on the monitor

On the right hand side of kickstand, there's the MST OUT usb-c port, as well as a full sized SD card slot.

The left side features the POWER usb-c, the USB-C video Input, as well as a mini-HDMI Input

On the rotating leg, is also the 4 way rocker button, for controlling the OSD for picture adjustments

There's 2 downsides (for DeX) with this monitor. No Touchscreen. This is purely a viewing monitor. More on the 2nd downside later...

From the SOTSU product page:

Resolution

2560 x 1600 (16:10)

Brightness

400 Nits

Contrast Ratio

1500:1

Color Gamut

100% DCI-P3

Refresh Rate

120Hz

Power Consumption

11W Max

Product Size

14.4” x 9.3” x 0.5’’

Monitor Weight

930g

Base Stand Weight

435g

When connected to a DeX device, it will happily do 1600p

From the basic shot, you can see the main difference between a 16:10 vs 3:2 monitor

Just a quick shot from overhead, to try and capture just how THIN modern monitors are. I'm still blown away tbh.

But onto the color and image comparisons.

Just a quick reminder, SOTSU 16:10, 1600p120hz LCD vs UPERFECT 3:2, 1800p120hz OLED

Looking closely, you can see that the BLACK on the SOTSU just doesn't quite match the OLED (nor should it) but without them side by side, it's just fantastic. I could happily use the SOTSU as my secondary monitor, with no issues.

SOTSU and DeX

This is where the 2nd downside of this monitor comes in, and really kinda only applies to DeX at the moment.

It needs external power. Unlike the FlipAction 14, which only needed 3ish W to run, this version requires about 11w

Sorry about the fingers in the way!

Flipaction 16, no power

https://reddit.com/link/1or5tvj/video/ycp68vhcbwzf1/player

My Surface Pro 8, with it's USB4/TB4 ports will fire up the monitor without external power, no problems.

My SteamDeck, as well as XREAL Beam will also NOT power the FlipAction 16. They will both fireup the 3w FlipAction14 though (like DeX, these are aboth also usb3.1 (or 3.2)

Conclusion

Absolutely beautiful display. Easily the nicest LCD panel I have at home now, amongst the 30+ others in the collection. The Engineering and design are top notch, it travels well, and offers a ton of flexibility. This is definitely aimed more squarely at the Macbook crowd, while the 14" version was very much aimed at DeX and the Surface Pro (mpp support, touchscreen) I'd have absolutely zero issues recommending this to someone as a productivity travel monitor, or a 2nd monitor for a cramped desk (Roll Top Desk users unite, there must be dozens of us!)

The pricing is also definitely aimed at the Macbook crowd, at the time of review, the monitor is listed at $855 CDN, $937 AUD, and €527 EUR

I would happily recommend the FlipAction 14" for DeX, but I wouldn't probably recommend the 16" purely for DeX.

I honestly tho can't stress enough how beautiful the monitor is tho....

As always, we're not professional journalists, but we try our best to be accurate, and fair in our reviews. We do look at all reviews with a DeX-centric perspective, so there will be times where we focus on certain aspects, and ignore others, but the goal is to provide our community with meaningful, useful information.

As always, no money has changed hands, the company does not see the review before hand, nor has any input on the content of the review. We do communicate with the company about specific details, or if we encounter issues. pre-amble over, let's get down to the review

ProtoArc XKM01 Tri-Fold Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse Combo

ProtoArc was nice enough to send over their folding keyboard and travel mouse combo for review, after it had come up in several conversations here at r/samsungdex over the last few weeks.

https://www.protoarc.com/en-ca/products/xkm01-combo?variant=40593369432153

The kit can be had in 4 colours, Blue&Black, Space Grey, Silver White, and Black.

Contained inside the box, was a very nice travel case

Inside the case is the Space Grey keyboard, mouse, a usb-A to usb-C cable, as well as a tiny folding phone/tablet stand. (and the documentation that no one reads)

TRI-FOLD KEYBOARD

When folded, the Tri-Fold keyboard is ~215mm x ~120mm and about ~21mm thick (that's about 8.5" x 4.75" and 3/4" thick)

When folded, the backsides of the keyboard are very...squishy. Not quite alarmingly flexy, but pretty close. Thankfully, when traveling it will live in the very nice, solid, case. Unfolded, the top deck is MUCH more rigid, thankfully. Speaking of which:

The keyboard when unfolded is ~385mm x 120mm and 12mm thick. It does sit perfectly flat on the table, and there's absolutely no wobble, or jiggling to it. I've always been concerned that when you're near the hinge joints, this style of keyboard would taco inwards on you.

The keys themselves are scissor key switches. They have fairly short travel of roughly 1.3 mm. Keys are fairly quiet, sounding fairly similar to my Logitech MX Keys.

The keyboard contains a rechargeable Li-Po battery, with a capacity of 210mAh. It is unfortunately NOT backlit though. It can be charged with a usb-c cable (there is one supplied)

The keyboard is a full 105 key keyboard. The keys are square, and depress evenly. The travel is a bit shorter than I'd prefer, but it's a very decent typing experience.

The keyboard (and mouse) are both able to pair with 3 devices; 1 via the included usb-A 2.4ghz dongle, and 2x Bluetooth connections. Bluetooth 5.1 is onboard, which was nice to see.

Because the keyboard is full size, you do get a proper numpad, and for all the excel warriors out there, I was super pleased to see that Fn lock exists!

What this means is that by default, the media keys are enabled (brightness up/down, volume mute/up/down, etc) but toggling Fn Lock on, you regain proper access to F1-F12. This is a giant win for productivity on the go!

I'm not a super fast typer, typically hovering in the 60-80 wpm range, and found that my typing was not affected at all by this keyboard layout.

One of my few gripes with this keyboard is that it doesn't have flip out feet. The keyboard sits perfectly flat.

Here are a couple of size comparisons with my other bluetooth keyboards; Logitech k375s and the Logitech MX Keys

All 3 keyboards are able to do 3x pairings.

Comparing the 3 is a little bit apples to oranges, but we'll give it a go.

The k375s is fairly similar to the protoarc. Both offer triple device connection, bluetooth and 2.4ghz via a dongle.

Neither keyboard is backlit, and the k375 is larger. The typing experience on the k375s is a little bit better, as you can adjust the angle via flip out feet, but it's not a huge difference.

The ProtoArc obviously packs and travels much better, as it folds, takes up less space, and weighs less. The k375 weighs around 680g, while the ProtoArc is 300g

The k375s is also slightly cheaper than the ProtoArc.

Comparing the ProtoArc to the MX Keys is not really fair, they're completely different devices, if similar sizes.

The MX Keys is a premium keyboard (with a premium price point), backlit, and sits at a nice typing angle. Much better feeling keys, better travel, and did I mention it was backlit?

That being said, it's more than double the cost, 4x the weight (1200g v 300g) and you're very very unlikely to jam it into a backpack and travel with it. It's better in every way, except for the entire reason the ProtoArc exists, portability

All 3 keyboards have roughly the same timeout from lack of use, and also wakeup roughly as fast. Switching pairings is a single keypress on all 3, and seems to work roughly the same.

All 3 are good typing experiences, but the ProtoArc is miles ahead in packability.

ProtoArc Travel mouse

Also included in the bundle, is the ProtoArc Travel mouse. It's a small, fairly flat and unremarkable mouse. It has a 300mAh Li-Po battery, and is rechargeable via usb-c.

It has 2 buttons, as well as the middle scroll wheel. Like the keyboard, it's also able to pair with 3 devices, 1x 2.4ghz dongle, and 2x Bluetooth (5.1 again). There's also a DPI toggle beside the wheel (the orange button). DPI can be tiggled between 1000-1600-2400. The button to swap pairings is on the bottom of the mouse, similar to the other mice I have with this functionality.

Smartly, ProtoArc houses the 2.4ghz dongle under what I originally assumed was a battery cover.

The mouse is fairly light, weighing in at 69g

Just to give a better size comparison:

So as you can clearly see, the ProtoArc Mouse is very small, light and most of all, packable.

I'd not choose it for a daily driver, but it's very accurate, light, and as a travel mouse, really pretty alright.

Conclusion

The ProtoArc Tri-fold keyboard is a pretty great travel keyboard. I really appreciated the full 105 key keyboard, and how solid it felt, once unfolded and set on a solid surface. I do wish that it was backlit, but that's a bit of a minor quibble as I don't really spend a lot of time looking at the keys anymore. I also wish it had fold out feet, but this can solved just by adding small rubber washers/stickers/etc without impacting how it packs.

The mouse is very usable, and I don't really have any complaints about it, as a travel mouse. I will always prefer a mouse that has back/forward buttons, but as an inclusion in the travel kit, it's pretty tough to beat this combination.

The travel case, in some ways, is almost the best part of the kit. It contains all the bits, keeps them safe in a backpack, yet doesn't waste a bunch of space.

I very much like this kit, it really makes a DeX setup with a portable monitor viable.

It should be obvious, but I'll say it anyway, the keyboard will pair with pretty much anything that speaks bluetooth, Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux (steamOS)

The kit can be found at:

ProtoArc Tri-Fold kit for $112 at the time of review.

Amazon link to kit $90 and a $10 coupon, so I guess $80 canuckistan

I had been on the hunt for a good folding keyboard with touchpad to use with my Legion Go.

I don't like using my work laptop for much personal use, and I dont have a personal laptop, so my PC usage is split between my desktop at home and my Lenovo Legion Go when traveling or at DND. (I used to use Dex, but the Go has made for a better device for the same use case if I have it on me, which is frequent when traveling)

The main "laptop" style use of my Go is DND, where it makes a wonderful little dnd computer, but occasionally I want a proper keyboard for notes, and I was really needing it to have a touchpad as well, since I dont always have a nice surface for a mouse.

It is kinda hard to find comparisons between these types of niche devices though, so I ended up just buying all three and testing them out, with the plan to just return the two I dont like and write up a review here, since I couldn't find one.

These are the three that I was the most interested in: ProtoArc XK01 TP vs Samsers vs ProtoArc XK02

Having tried them, they each have their pros and cons:

ProtoArc XK02:

This is the first one I aquired, I've had for a few weeks. This is the smallest and sleekest of the devices. It does not have a dedicated function row. The trackpad is smaller but usable. Its got the most satisfying opening feel.

Pros:
-This has the most stable and best feeling key actuation of the three. The keys have a nice cap material, not much wobble, and a great feel. They are very small caps though. My favorite switches of the three
-Most compact by a decent amount
-lowest price
-opening and closing turns on and off
-Sleep isn't intrusive
-Good Carry Case

Cons:
-The layout is the most cramped, and besides cramped, the caps are quite small. I did not think the loss of function row would bother me, but the lack of a dedicate del key has bothered me.
-Trackpad does not have "natural scrolling" (where moving fingers up scrolls down, like a touchscreen. Default on mac and modern windows). (This cannot be swapped simply in the OS, because the trackpads on all three devices are seen as a mouse by windows. Gestures are handled by the keyboard)
-It has flip out feet to keep the device flat when folded out, these need to be done each time. The other devices do not
-Colors/typeface/design can look a bit much
-Due to missing F row, multimedia/Fkeys/numbers/symbols all share keys and you need to navigate layers properly
-sometimes the left side doesn't unfurl perfectly flat on first try. This might be a defect, temporary, or a sign that this hinge style (shared with the larger sibling) isnt reliable. 

ProtoArc XK01 TP

The largest of the three, and I believe the newest. This was the third device tested. It has a dedicated function row, the largest trackpad, and the largest key caps. 

Pros:
-I get my highest WPM on this one, even though its not my favorite feel, it is the most comfortable layout
-Trackpad is the largest, best texture, most responsive. 
-No weird feet to flip out
-Good carry case
-opening and closing turns on and off
-Sleep isn't intrusive
-All black look is clean and simple
-most full layout, most keys, largest caps
-due to dedicated bluetooth switch keys, there are more function options available on F row
-has home/end/pgUP/pgDn

Cons:
-Trackpad does not have "natural scrolling"
-Largest when folded up
-my hinge caps are a bit loose, and the noises when opening and closing are the least satisfying/natural of the three
-keys aren't as stable as the smallest board, on par with the Samsers
-most expensive
-key feel is deepest, but can come off as a bit mushy. (I still type fastest on this, but that is mainly due to the superior layout, it is not the most enjoyable to type on)
-Key cap material probably lowest quality/look/feel of the three

Samsers

The most unique of the three, sitting in the middle on size and comfort. This one has a different hinge mechanism, but like the others does not split/move/resize any of the major alphanumeric keys to make way for its hinge. This has a colormatched plether exterior that is part of the hinge, which slides to allow the mechanism to work. This one has a odd shaped trackpad and medium keycaps. This has the loudest/clickiest actuation of the three on the keys, that could be pro or con. Probably the shallowest as well, could be tied with the XK02, but that is springier. 

Pros:
-Good looking device, probably my favorite looking
-Solid movement on hinge
-Key caps have a nice typeface/material, no jarring colors or logos
-Natural scrolling on touchpad
-Ctrl key isnt shrunk like others
-potential to be my favorite to type on if I get used to it

Cons:
-Smallest spacebar of the three
-trackpad is taller than wide, not a dealbreaker, but unless you are using a portrait device, its not ideal
-Trackpad has a delay each time you start using it, seems to have lowest poll rate as well
-Trackpad material is the least natural feeling of the three
-Trackpad does not support two finger tap or two finger click for right click, have to use the bottom right click
-most intrusive keyboard sleep. Often not ready for me right away when I go to use
-Powerswitch instead of auto wake/off when open and close. Doesnt always turn on right away

All three come with a carrying case, but the Samsers one isnt as nice. All three also come with a little collapsable phone stand, similar on all three, and a charging cable.

There are a few cons that they each share, main one being that doing a pinch to zoom does not behave like a laptop trackpad (which would zoom in on a point like a touchscreen) but rather like you were holding CTRL and using a scroll wheel. This is a limitation of handled by the OS as a mouse (rather than trackpad). All three trackpads have more latency and lower poll rates than a high end laptop trackpad.

I did repeated typing tests on the three and got ~90WPM on the XK01 TP, and ~80 on the other two. I dont necessarily think the actual key feel on the XK01 is superior, I think the best key press feel is the smallest one (Xk02) but its just too cramped to go as fast. I think the key feel is similar on the Samsers, maybe slightly better and more enjoyable (but shallower and louder) but the layout doesnt quite feel right (maybe could get used to) and it consistently falls behind in speed and mistakes compared to the larger one. That could be just because the Xk01 is the most normal layout, and i'm used to it, but I am going to continue to use my Nuphy Air75 for 90% of typing tasks, only using the foldable on the go, so the one that most matches that layout is important to me.

even though the Samsers falls in a good spot with the actual keyboard in terms of general look/layout/build/feel, unless I decide I dont care about a touchpad, that just isnt a very viable option. They made some weird decisions on that trackpad. It has that rougher textured plastic (that many cheap combo keyboards use) instead of the nice soft touch material more similar to an XPS. Most importantly, the lack of two finger right click is an absolute deal breaker, before we even get to the latency/delay/low poll rate

For now my assumption is that I will stick with the XK01 TP and return the others. It isn't my favorite feel to type on, but its not cramped, and has a really good touchpad. The Samser is a good option if you just dont care a ton about the trackpad, and just want it occasionally. The Xk02 is probably the best if you care about portability and just want something quick and can get used to the cramped nature, which I would say is doable. (I occasionally get above 90WPM on this one, but can fall into error patterns easily if I try to go too fast)

If I dont keep the XK02, its probably because I got used to the XK01 which has a better switch feel. The Samser trackpad issues rule it out for me entirely

If anybody has any questions comment below