Sure, you can pair a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse with your phone. But what if you have a favorite mechanical keyboard or gaming mouse that you want to use… but it only works via USB?
That, apparently, is the question the GameSir X1 BattleDock hopes to answer… I guess.
This $50 dock is basically a smartphone dock with a few USB ports. Plug in a keyboard and mouse and the dock turns them into Bluetooth accessories for your phone allowing you to hunch uncomfortably over a tiny screen while playing games on underpowered hardware. But at least you can use a full-sized keyboard while you do it.
While I’m obviously a bit skeptical that this is something most people want or need, it is actually a kind of interesting little device. It folds in half when its not in use, making the dock pretty easy to transport. It weighs about 10 ounces and measures about 1.3 inches thick when folded.
There’s micro USB port for power, a 3,000 mAh battery for up to 5 hours of use while unplugged, and the system communicates with your phone via Bluetooth 4.0.
With a growing number of PC games finding their way to mobile devices, there might actually be a good reason to consider using a mouse and keyboard: battle royale game PUBG launched for mobile devices recently, but it seems like folks who use a mouse and keyboard have a serious advantage over those who are just using onscreen controls.
So why not go all out and use PC gaming peripherals?
On the other hand, if you’re going to sit down and use a desktop keyboard and mouse, maybe you could just use an actual notebook or desktop PC for gaming.
Anyway, if you’re interested in the GameSir X1 BattleDock, it’s available from several sources, including
via CNX-Software
I have one for my Galaxy Note. It doesn’t have internal battery, but, at least, the dock uses micro-usb. And above 3 usb type A (full sized!) it also offers full-sized HDMI and mini-jack. Well, it looks like a charger, but it works as laptop dock.
And guess what? It’s five and half years old…
It’s bringing a cancer to mobile gaming. It’s like cheating without cheating. It would be like me racing you in a bike race. My bike has 2 wheels, yours has 1. It’s a race and we’re still competing, but it’s no contest. Everyone likes to win and if tilting it in your favor due to controls? You bet the pathetic ones will be lining up to get one of these.
Too bad the design limits the size of device you can rest flat on the stand.
Give it HDMI out and i’m game
It doesn’t seem to have a physical connection to the phone, just through Bluetooth so I am not sure how you’d get an HDMI connection.
I agree with Joe Black that you could use OTG + a dock station or usb hub to get the same results.
I actually laughed out loud when I saw this.
The big redeeming factor is that it’s affordable – any other major brand would sell this for 100+ bucks with an extra thick layer of marketing BS on top to justify an outrageous price tag.
To be honest – since almost every smartphone on the market support OTG, I don’t really see a potential in this bluetooth dock.
You can simly use OTG + any USB dock (for keyboard / mouse you don’t even have to use external power) and you are good to go.
You can’t do that with an iCourage though.
There’s another interesting use case though… You could rip it apart and use it to power an old Motorola Lapdock… I’ve been looking for a USB IN Bluetooth OUT adapter for a while, but the existing ones either are junk, or not readily available. I may be getting one of these soon…
A phone that can run pubg is far cheaper than a PC that can run it but still this looks like overkill and is seriously unfair for this platform and ruins the fun for others. Instead of knowing you have an even playing field with everyone else you have to be suspicious that everytime you die it was from someone using a mouse on their 30 inch monitor.
All is fair in love an war, even if it’s virtual.
BTW, it’s $38 on geek buying.com.
I expect this to be a hit. The keyboard and mouse are the greatest gaming tools. Never liked any other. Hey, this may even help with using my iPad as a computer instead of the tiny keyboards they sell.