Lenovo has incorporated this wireless docking technology into its Thinkbook 13x Gen 2 laptop, which was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Notebookcheck.com spoke with both Synaptics and Lenovo about the technology and got a closer look at the system.
Overall, Lenovo’s new wireless docking system allows users to connect multiple displays to their laptops without the need for cumbersome cables. However, it should be noted that the system is not yet compatible with Mac devices.
What is Wireless Docking?
Wireless docking, also known as DisplayLink, is a technology developed by Synaptics that allows users to connect additional displays to their laptops via USB ports.
Synaptics recently turned DisplayLink into wireless DisplayLink, which forms the basis of Lenovo’s new wireless docking system. While the system is referred to as “wireless,” it still requires a physical connection as it uses USB signals transmitted wirelessly.
How Synaptics’ Wireless Docking System Works?
Synaptics uses WLAN technology to enable its wireless docking system. The 5-GHz band, using the WiFi 6 standard, is ideal for transferring USB signals and 2 x 4K60 for monitors. However, the 2.4-GHz band can also be used if necessary.
Docking on Approach
Synaptics demonstrated the system at CES, showing it to be capable of “docking on approach,” meaning that the keyboard, mouse, and monitors are automatically connected as the user approaches the dock.
Bandwidth Management
The wireless docking system is able to recognize available space in the spectrum and adjust accordingly, allowing it to work across a distance of several meters.
When working on tasks that require a small bandwidth, such as text documents, the system’s compression recognizes the content and ensures that other artifacts do not interfere with the text display.
The codec is also able to adjust to the WiFi spectrum and maintain a sharp display of text documents while transferring video content at a lower quality.
Lenovo’s ThinkBook 13x Gen 2 and Wireless Docking
Lenovo’s wireless docking system is activated when the laptop is placed on the physical dock, which has six metal contact plates where the laptop can be positioned.
If the laptop is shifted, the connection remains active for 5 seconds (though this is subject to change as Lenovo continues to work on the technology). The advantage of this system is that when the laptop is lifted off the dock, all connections are immediately terminated.
Where is it Useful?
This feature is particularly useful in a business environment, and the inclusion of a dock suggests that Lenovo is targeting business and professional customers with the ThinkBook 13x Gen 2.
The dock is also expected to be available for other laptops, though no announcements have been made yet. The dock is designed to fit both wider and smaller laptops with few mechanical limitations.
Mechanical Considerations and Connections
Unlike traditional docks, which need to be built to withstand rough handling, Lenovo’s wireless dock does not require precise placement and is less likely to be damaged during use.
The dock features a number of connections, including a couple of
- USB-A ports
- a USB Type-C port with an alternate mode for DisplayPort
- an HDMI port
- a power connection
It also includes a wireless Qi charging area with 10 watts of power, which can be used to charge smartphones. Control LEDs indicate whether the dock is working correctly and if a smartphone is connected.
Compatibility with Other Systems
According to Synaptics, any wireless DisplayLink laptop can be connected to any corresponding dock. It will be interesting to see how this works in practice with different systems in the future.
Mac Compatibility with Wireless Docking
In principle, Mac laptops are capable of supporting wireless docking, as they have the necessary hardware technology.
However, according to Synaptics, Macs lack support for wireless USB in the operating system, specifically media-agnostic USB, which is necessary for the wireless DisplayLink technology to work. As a result, Macs are currently not compatible with Lenovo’s wireless docking system.