Uperfect X Mini Review - A love letter to Samsung Dex?

What is a Lapdock? A lapdock is similar to a laptop, but doesn’t have its own processor, memory, storage, or operating system. It’s basically a display, touchpad, keyboard, and USB hub designed to connect to a smartphone or other devices, such as computers or consoles. This make its multi versatile and a nifty gadget to have for on the go or around the house.

The biggest question I often get regarding these products, is…why? Just get a laptop, its easier, and often cheaper. Well the biggest counter to that is that today’s smartphones today are extremely powerful, sometimes better than a cheap laptop and for those who don't want to run really advanced technical applications, a phone can serve as their primary computing device. And if you do need advanced technical applications, good wifi and cloud computing, now allows you to connect to a more powerful device for that very requirement. 

With regards to the price argument, please find me a laptop that gets better every time you upgrade your mobile? Pay once, get a lifetime of products benefits, and in a time where cash is limited, this is a great option.

I myself over the entire pandemic period used nothing but a monitor and my mobile phone to do my work and create content. In fact my entire channel is based solely on mobile software for content creation, so it proves that you can create a lot from what some would deem ‘’lesser’’ software. You can see my review of a particular desktop mode called Samsung Dex in the video linked here:-

The biggest crux of any smartphone though is the physical size limitation of It’s display, which makes working tough on a tiny phone screen. Whilst mobile gaming is taking off, nothing compares to a bigger screen, and today’s popular tablets and foldables testify to that very need.

So to combat this, and make your workplace, gaming or even content watching, truly ‘’on the go’’, some companies have created desktop modes to allow this very futuristic life style. Samsung Dex is the most recognisable, with Huawei’s Easy Projection, or Motorola’s Ready For, coming in close second. Google has even hidden a desktop mode in Android 12, which can be turned on using the developer mode. And as a versatile work life balance is becoming more common, this option allows you to be more versatile to accommodate that balance.  

Uperfect claim to be the worlds Number one in terms of lapdocks, so I shall be treating them as such as I review the Uperfect X mini. Now lets be honest from the beginning, uperfect isn’t creating new products from scratch. In fact through my research I believe they are taking old laptop chassis, stripping them and make them viable for mobile integration, before selling them on to the consumers. 

And to be honest, that is fine, in fact it should be commended and part of their PR strategy that they are recycling old laptops and giving them a new lease of life. However, this method does come with caveats in that when they choose the chassis, they inherit the hardware restrictions of it as well. And you can see this in the different lapdocks they are currently selling, with the Uperfect X Pro and Mini being vastly different looking, that their usual line.

So what do you get for your $300 price tag…

Well you get a 11.6 lapdock, a manual, one dc adapter, one USB-C to USB-C cable, one mini HDMI to HDMI cable, and one USB-A to USB-C cable. This arrives in a standard box they use for all products they sell, In a bid to cut wastage cost and for that alone, they get some high praise.

On the lapdock we have the following ports…

• 1 × Full Feature USB Type-C (for Audio&Video Input, Power Input&Output)
• 1 × mini HDMI for Audio & Video Input
• 2 × USB-A OTG (for USB Drive or Wireless Keyboard and Mouse)
• 1 × TF Card Slot
• 1 × 3.5mm AUX for audio output
• 1 × DC 3.5 12V 2A for Power Input

The lapdock isn’t as thin as its bigger brothers and does sport that 2017 design, but that’s because the laptop chassis they used is one the most purchased laptops on sale and contains a lot of the ports most people want. The frame is plastic and has a slight flex in it, but nothing that will cause you any issues unless you really like throwing things out windows…

The lapdock screen has a 11.6’’ 1920x1080p screen with 5 point multitouch. Yes I know, 5 points not your typical 10, which gives off a very 2015 vibe. Using it isn’t bad though, but there can be the odd little lag when trying to use said touchscreen in expanding multiple programs or tabs, but overall its very serviceable. The brightness of said screen however, is a bit dimmer than its bigger older brothers, and even when fully pushed to its brightest limit, this would not do fantastically well in direct sunlight.

The screen does however have a more robust UI though, unfortunately not touchscreen, but instead its activated using keys alongside the F11, F12, Insert and PrtSc. Like its bigger brothers, the screen has a 360degree super stiff hinge allowing for tent mode and tablet mode. With regards to tent mode, because the screen doesn’t have a gravity sensor, you will need to rotate it manually within the UI before setting it up.

Sound on these lapdocks are always super weak, and more of last thing alternative, should you have nothing else. Connecting Bluetooth headphone or the phones own speakers are always a much better option. Regardless though I appreciate them being there and the headphone jack is a must now that has been removed from most new mobiles. The keyboard however has a good tactile experience and whilst it can feel abit small to start off with, you soon adjust to the size difference and will be typing like a pro.

The big win for this product though is its huge battery, a full 10800mAh that can last over 6 hours and be charged fully in just over 3. Like it’s brothers it can also drip charge your phone should you wish to choose to turn on the function, and now other peripherals thanks to the extra USB-A ports. This was the one thing I had issue with when I got and subsequently returned the Uperfect X. But kudos to Uperfect, they returned my money back. The product does come with a 2year guarantee, which checking with the other competition, is at best supports 6 months..

The downside to this huge battery is it is not charged using USB-C, only DC. Again this is the limitations of using an existing chassis and its hardware. What this means to you is that you shall need to carry round the charging brick or have an alternative USB adapter on hand at all times…Not ideal and could be a deal breaker for some.

Another great thing about this lapdock is its capacity for storage. Just like the headphone jack, upgradable storage for phones are almost a thing of the past. Not an issue here, as it TF Card port allows for a variety of SD Cards memory sizes to be added, and for those wanting to entertain really big files, the extra USB-A ports for a external hard drive. 

For me, the benefit of this product is that its an accessory with the ability NOT to be tied to one brand or product. Want a larger portable screen with its own battery for the kids Switch or other console, done. Want a keyboard and screen to fully immerse yourself in the Steam decks desktop mode, its got you covered. Want to play mobile games on a bigger screen size, not a problem. Got a camera and want a screen to help set up those perfect shots, just plug it in.

I love the fact lapdocks are continuing to evolve and provide users with better flexibility to all who wish to unshackle themselves from a rigid way of thinking. Your phone (if it has a desktop mode) can very well be a good laptop alternative that could help students as well as professionals, unchain themselves from a rigid desk and expensive products. I use this lapdock with my Samsung Galaxy S8, and it works smoothly. So you can imagine what your experience could be with more than likely, a newer phone in your pocket.

Every time I have shown someone this, they marvel at it, assuming it was just an ordinary laptop. This marvel soon turns to dismissive when I do acknowledge some of the downsides, which really does show how fixed people are in their thinking. The trouble is they are more than happy to purchase a $300 laptop that will often soon be outdated, underpowered and has less features than the very device in their pocket. And until they look beyond and see the possibilities awaiting them, this more cost effective, eco friendly, and mobile solution will simply be in the hands of the few.

Overall would I recommend you get one of these, yes. Is it the most perfect lapdock in existence, no, there are some caveats that you need to be aware of when looking at one for your needs. If the size or the DC charging is an issue, then they do have a variety of other lapdocks that may suit more what you are after. But if you are in the market for self powered portable screen, touchpad, keyboard, and USB hub that has multiple uses for a variety of devices, in a small sleek formfactor, Uperfect has hit the nail squarely on the head.