A lapdock is a type of accessory designed to transform

mobile device A mobile device or handheld device is a computer small enough to hold and operate in hand. Mobile devices are typically battery-powered and possess a flat-panel display and one or more built-in input devices, such as a touchscreen or keypad. ...

s, such as

smartphone A smartphone is a mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allowing users to access a wide range of applications and services, such as web browsing, email, and social media, as well as multi ...

s, into

laptop A laptop computer or notebook computer, also known as a laptop or notebook, is a small, portable personal computer (PC). Laptops typically have a Clamshell design, clamshell form factor (design), form factor with a flat-panel computer scree ...

-like computers by providing a display, keyboard, battery, and other essential components typically found in a laptop. Unlike laptops, lapdocks lack internal processing power, relying on the connected device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, or mini PC) for computation. Lapdocks are most commonly used with devices that support desktop-style operating modes, such as

Samsung DeX Samsung DeX (stylized as SΛMSUNG DeX) is a feature included on some high-end Samsung Electronics, Samsung handheld devices that enables users to extend their device into a Desktop computer, desktop-like experience by connecting a Computer keyb ...

and Windows Continuum, which was a feature on

Windows 10 Windows 10 is a major release of Microsoft's Windows NT operating system. The successor to Windows 8.1, it was Software release cycle#Release to manufacturing (RTM), released to manufacturing on July 15, 2015, and later to retail on July 2 ...

. The name ''lapdock'' is a portmanteau of ''laptop'' and ''dock'', derived from ''

docking station In computing, a docking station, port replicator (hub), or dock provides a simplified way to ''plug-in'' a mobile device, such as connect common peripherals to a laptop, or charge a smartphone. Because a wide range of dockable devices—from mo ...

''.

History

The concept of lapdocks emerged in the early 2010s with the growing desire to use smartphones for tasks traditionally performed on personal computers. One of the earliest and most notable implementations was the

Motorola Atrix 4G The Motorola Atrix 4G (also known as the MB860, ME860 in Asia, or MB861 in Korea) is an Android-based smartphone developed by Motorola, introduced at CES 2011 along with the Motorola Xoom, Motorola Droid Bionic, and Motorola Cliq 2 on Janua ...

in 2011, which could be paired with the Motorola Lapdock, allowing users to run a desktop-like environment when connected to the accessory. Although the Atrix received praise for its innovation, the lapdock failed to gain widespread adoption, partly due to the high cost of the accessory. Other companies, such as HP with its Elite X3, and

Samsung Samsung Group (; stylised as SΛMSUNG) is a South Korean Multinational corporation, multinational manufacturing Conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered in the Samsung Town office complex in Seoul. The group consists of numerous a ...

with its DeX platform, further refined the lapdock concept. The Samsung DeX platform, for example, allowed compatible Galaxy smartphones to connect to an external monitor or lapdock and operate in a desktop-like mode.

Key features

Lapdocks typically include the following components: * Display: Lapdocks are equipped with an integrated screen, typically ranging from 11 to 15 inches, similar to that of a laptop. * Keyboard and Trackpad: Lapdocks feature a full-sized keyboard and a trackpad, providing a familiar laptop interface. * Battery: Lapdocks often include a built-in battery that powers the display and may charge the connected mobile device while in use. * Ports and Connectivity: Lapdocks typically provide USB, HDMI, and other ports for connecting peripherals like a mouse, keyboard, or storage devices. Unlike traditional laptops, a lapdock cannot function independently without being connected to a compatible device, which supplies the processing power and software.

Notable examples

* The

offered one of the earliest lapdock options, released in 2011. While innovative, it faced commercial challenges and was discontinued. * The HP Elite X3 lapdock was released in 2016, and was designed to work with the Windows 10 Continuum feature. * The

platform, introduced in 2017, allows Galaxy smartphones to provide a desktop experience when connected to a monitor, including compatibility with third-party lapdocks.

References

{{reflist Smartphones Laptops Docking stations