THE CRUNCH
Elecom has introduced the DST-L080BPBK, an 8-in-1 USB Type-C dock that folds a large dial knob and four customisable buttons into an otherwise conventional docking station. The controls sit on top of the compact unit and can be assigned different functions through Elecom's Mouse Assistant software, effectively turning the dock into a small control panel alongside its connectivity duties.
The connectivity list is thorough for something measuring 74 × 87 × 59 mm and weighing about 250 g. There is one USB 5 Gbps Type-C and two USB 5 Gbps Type-A data ports, a USB Type-C upstream connection, and a Power Delivery port accepting up to 100 W input and delivering up to 90 W to the host device. Video output comes via a single HDMI port supporting up to 4K at 60 Hz.
Rounding out the ports are SD and microSD card slots, Gigabit Ethernet and a 3.5 mm audio jack. The dock supports Windows 10 and 11 plus macOS Tahoe 26.
It fits Elecom's habit of unusual PC peripherals, a line that includes the M.A.P.P. mouse and the IST trackball mouse. The DST-L080BPBK launches in Japan in early October, listed on the company's website at ¥13,728, roughly $87. Availability elsewhere has not been announced.