NexDock 2 is a laptop shell that turns your phone or Pi into the spit of a MacBook Air

Chances are the computer you use most is your phone. NexDock 2 ($199) wants to help you transform it into a fully functional laptop. Plug in a blower with Samsung DeX or Huawei EMUI (or beam in an Android Q device from the near future), and your laptop shell sparks into life. Suddenly, Android goodies are available on a 13.3in HD display, you can type like a champ on an edge-to-edge keyboard, and you can plug things into the USB-C, USB-A, headphone, and SD ports. It’ll even charge your phone. But NexDock 2 goes further, being a modular, adaptable solution for a much wider range of computing needs. Via HDMI, you can plug in a Pi, a mini-PC, or an integrated PC stick, and swap between processors and operating systems – all without a pile of full-size PCs cluttering up the place.

Craig Grannell Contributor

About

I’m a regular contributor to Stuff magazine and Stuff.tv, covering apps, games, Apple kit, Android, Lego, retro gaming and other interesting oddities. I also pen opinion pieces when the editor lets me, getting all serious about accessibility and predicting when sentient AI smart cookware will take over the world, in a terrifying mix of Bake Off and Terminator.

Areas of expertise

Mobile apps and games, Macs, iOS and tvOS devices, Android, retro games, crowdfunding, design, how to fight off an enraged smart saucepan with a massive stick.