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Elecom’s DST-L080BPBK is an 8-in-1 USB-C docking station with four programmable keys and a dial on top. The keys and dial can be set to mic mute, camera on/off, volume, shortcuts, or saved text, which is what makes it unusual. Underneath, it is a fairly conventional dock with USB, HDMI, card readers, wired LAN, a headset jack, and power delivery. It is sold in Japan as of October 2026. International availability has not been announced.
What the dial and keys do
The four keys and the dial are assigned through Elecom Mouse Assistant, a free application from Elecom. Elecom’s launch announcement, dated 2026-10-07, describes the idea this way: by assigning functions such as audio mute, camera on/off, and volume to the keys and dial on top of the unit, you can carry out the operations you want without reaching for a keyboard or mouse. That is the company’s own description, and it is the only detailed account of the controls available at the time of writing.
Elecom’s published examples fall into three groups:
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- Call controls: microphone mute and camera on/off, which suit video meetings.
- Audio and shortcuts: volume adjustment and application or function shortcuts.
- Text entry: sending saved text with a single press.
Elecom’s announcement recommends the dock for business use, video editing, and pen-display work. Those are the company’s suggested uses, not results from independent testing. The published material does not say how many functions the dial can hold per profile, whether settings can switch automatically between applications, or how the dial behaves in software other than the company’s own. If you need a specific workflow, check those points in Mouse Assistant before you buy.
#1 Best Overall
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- Massive Expansion: Equipped with a USB C PD-IN charging port, 2 USB-A data ports, 2 HDMI ports, an Ethernet port, and a microSD/SD card reader, giving you an incredible range of functions—all from a single USB-C port.
- Dual HDMI Display: Stream or mirror content to a single device in stunning 4K@60Hz, or hook up two displays to both HDMI ports in 4K@30Hz. Note: For macOS, the display on both external monitors will be identical.
- Power Delivery Compatible: Compatible with USB-C Power Delivery to provide high-speed pass-through charging up to 85W. Please note: 100W PD wall charger and USB-C to C cable required.
- Compatibility: Supports USB-C, USB4, and Thunderbolt connections. Compatible with Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
Ports and what they are for
Elecom lists the following connections on the product page:
- One USB-C data port, which carries data only and does not output video.
- Two USB-A data ports.
- SD and microSD card readers.
- One HDMI output.
- One wired LAN port.
- One 3.5 mm four-pole headset jack.
- One USB-C input for power delivery charging, which is the port that connects to your charger.
Keep the USB-C data port separate from the power input in your mind when you plan a desk layout. Video comes only from HDMI, and charging only goes through the power input.
Rank #2
- Enterprise-Grade 12-in-1 Expansion for Hybrid Teams: Designed for compatibility with USB-C, USB4, or Thunderbolt laptops on Windows, macOS, or ChromeOS environments. Enables up to 3 HDMI monitors, wired Gigabit Ethernet network access, 6x USB 3.0 peripherals, audio, and device charging. Perfect for organizations looking to streamline IT deployments in hot-desking and managed office workspaces that demand reliable networking and easy device connectivity.
- Triple Display USB-C Docking Station: Maximize productivity with support for up to three extended HDMI displays (1× 4K @ 30Hz via Alt Mode, 2× 1080p @ 60Hz via DisplayLink). Bypasses native single-display limitations on platforms like Apple M1/M2/M3/Neo MacBooks. Compatible with all newer Apple Silicon systems, including M4 and M5. Optimized for enterprise use cases such as data analysis, presentations, and conferencing, it transforms any notebook into a multi-monitor workstation for your hybrid workforce.
- Advanced USB-C Functionality: Integrated DisplayLink graphics technology and native USB-C video output (Alt Mode) are essential for maximizing workstation productivity, delivering full, native, high-performance multi-display support, while 100W USB-C Power Delivery ensures continuous host system charging in enterprise environments.
- Universal Compatibility: Engineered for seamless integration with USB Type-C, USB4, and Thunderbolt-enabled systems across macOS (11+ with driver installation), Windows, and ChromeOS (v100+). that support USB-C Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Ideal for mixed-fleet IT environments, fully compatible with Dell XPS and Latitude, HP EliteBook and ProBook, Lenovo ThinkPad, and MacBook M series laptops, and more. Not compatible with Linux; HDCP not supported.
- Expert Lifetime Support: Backed by North American-based technical support and our compatibility guarantee if something doesn’t work, we’ll make it right. Trusted by IT professionals worldwide, Plugable provides direct access to the engineers who design our products for deployment assistance, troubleshooting, and lifecycle support. We resolve issues quickly to minimize downtime and help organizations maintain productivity at scale.
Getting 4K at 60 Hz
The HDMI port is rated by Elecom for up to 3840 × 2160 at 60 Hz. That rating depends on two conditions that the product page states:
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- The input signal must support DisplayPort 1.4.
If your laptop’s USB-C port does not support DisplayPort Alternate Mode, the HDMI output will not work through that port. Check your laptop’s specifications for this before you buy. A laptop that supports only charging or data over USB-C will not get video from the dock.
Rank #3
- USB C Docking Station 8 IN 1: HoDo USB C Docking Station with Dual HDMI 4K (1*60HZ & 1* 30HZ), 1*4K@60HZ DisplayPort, 1*1080P VGA,3* USB 2.0,USB C Power Charging Port (max 100W). Please Note: on MacOS system, the screens of external monitors are the same, no matter they are displayed in mirror mode or extended mode
- Docking Station 4K Display Adapter: The Laptop Docking Station with 4 video output ports: 2 HDMI+DP+VGA, can output up to 4K Dual/Triple Display videos; For quadruple display Dual HDMI, DP, and VGA all are 1080@60Hz. Please make sure your laptop specification support DP1.4 signal output. If the VGA port is connected, it will affect the resolution of all displays up to 1080P only
- 100W USB C PD Charging Port: Computer Docking Station for Dell Hp laptop supports up to 100W input & 87W(safe)output into your laptop. Please Note: please ensure your laptop's USB C port supports power delivery protocol and please use at least 65W power adapter(not included) when charging with this usb c hub,using a lower wattage power charger may cause a system warning. Note: The power cord is not included
- USB C Hub Multiport Adapter: This USB C Dock with 3 usb 2.0 ports, allows your conveniently connect keyboard,mouse, usb flash driver, usb c hard disks, transfer speeds up to 480Mbps, USB 2.0 allows you to connect keyboard or mouse without any lag
- Extensive Compatibility: This USB-C dongle only works with full-featured USB-C ports that support DisplayPort Alternate Mode for video output. It is not compatible with USB-C ports that only support data transfer and charging without video function, such as Dell Gaming Laptop Model, Dell Latitude 3440 / 3340, ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 7/ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 8, Lenovo Yoga, Support HP EliteBook 855 G8/G7,HP Envy 16 inch Laptop, Surface pro 7 8. If you experience any issues while using this USB C Hub, please reach out to us through the order page and we will solve the problem for you within 24 hours
Power: what the 100 W figure means
The charging input is rated at 100 W maximum. The dock itself uses 10 W, which leaves up to 90 W for the connected computer. Elecom says that reaching the 90 W maximum requires a 100 W AC charger. The charger is not included. The host computer must also support USB-C Power Delivery charging.
Two practical points follow from this. A smaller charger will still power the dock and the computer, but it will not provide the full 90 W, and the official material does not say how the dock behaves in that case. Also, the 90 W figure applies only to the computer, so the charger sizing should match the laptop’s own charging requirements rather than the dock’s rating alone.
Rank #4
- 13-in-1 USB-C Docking Station — Fleet Deployment Ready: Standardize your enterprise desktop with a powerful USB-C docking station featuring 13 essential ports. Unified 100W USB-C charging eliminates per-model power adapters, reducing desk complexity and IT support overhead.
- Triple Monitor Support with DisplayLink: Connect up to three extended HDMI displays for a more productive workspace. Delivers up to 4K 30Hz on HDMI 1 and up to 1920x1200 60Hz on HDMI 2 and 3. Supports M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, and MacBook Neo, enabling multi-monitor expansion even on Macs normally limited to a single external display. Driver install required for HDMI 2 and 3 ports on Mac - see gallery video for setup guidance.
- 100W Laptop Charging + 20W Device Charging: Charge your laptop through the rear USB-C port with up to 100W. The front USB-C port delivers 20W charging for phones and accessories, making this USB docking station ideal for a complete desk setup.
- Universal Compatibility: This USB-C docking station is compatible with Windows 10+, macOS 11+, and ChromeOS systems with USB-C, USB4, or Thunderbolt ports. macOS requires DisplayLink Manager installation to enable multiple displays. Note: Does not support protected content (HDCP) playback, such as Netflix, Hulu, etc.
- Business-Ready Connectivity: Built for office, education, and government deployments, this TAA, NDAA, and Section 889 compliant docking station features 3x HDMI, 4x USB-A 5Gbps, USB-C 20W charging, SD card reader, Gigabit Ethernet, and audio in/out. Includes dock, 1 meter (3.3ft) USB-C host cable, power adapter with AC power cord, and quick start guide.
USB speed
The USB ports are rated at 5 Gbps, which is USB 3.2 Gen 1. This is a theoretical interface rate. Real transfer speed depends on the computer and the device you connect, and Elecom has not published measured transfer results for the dock. Expect the figure to describe the connection’s ceiling, not the speed of a drive or camera on the other end.
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- Operating systems: Windows 11 and Windows 10, and macOS Tahoe 26, according to the product page.
- Connection method: plug the dock directly into a compatible USB-C port on the computer. Do not connect it through another USB hub or expansion board.
- Before startup: the dock does not work before the operating system starts, and it does not work on BIOS or system setup screens.
- Host variation: some functions may vary depending on the computer’s USB-C specifications.
- Wired LAN: supports 1000BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, and 10BASE-T.
- MAC address changer: Elecom’s MAC address changer is for Windows only.
Size, cable, and warranty
Elecom lists the dock at about 74 × 87 × 59 mm and 250 g, in black. The cable is roughly 0.3 m long, which keeps the unit close to the computer. The product page lists a one-year warranty.
Best Value
- Award-Winning 13-in-1 Dock for Complete Workstations: Named “Best Docking Station 2025” by How-To Geek, the Plugable UD-ULTC4K turns a compatible laptop into a complete multi-monitor workstation. Connect displays, USB accessories, Ethernet, audio, SD cards, and laptop charging through a single 10Gbps USB-C connection.
- Triple 4K Display Support: Drive up to three 4K 60Hz monitors - ideal for IT deployments, financial analysts, and developers who need serious screen real estate. With 3× HDMI and 3× DisplayPort outputs, mix and match display connections without extra adapters or dongles.
- 100W Laptop Charging + 20W Accessory Charging: Charge your laptop through the rear USB-C host connection with up to 100W Power Delivery, 96W certified. The front USB-C port is for accessories only, supporting up to 10Gbps data transfer and up to 20W charging for compatible phones, tablets, and peripherals.
- Compatibility & Setup Requirements: Compatible with supported Windows 10 or later, macOS 11+, and ChromeOS 100.x or later systems with Thunderbolt, USB4, or USB-C. DisplayLink drivers are required on macOS. Screen Recording permission is required by the driver to enable external displays; no screen recording occurs.
- Built for Productive Workspaces + Lifetime Support: Designed for office productivity, hybrid work, and IT deployments that need multiple displays, wired Ethernet, USB expansion, and reliable laptop charging. HDCP is not supported, so protected streaming content may not play on connected displays. Includes lifetime support from Plugable’s North American team of connectivity experts.
Price and availability
Two prices are published, and they are not the same thing:
| Source | Date | Price including tax | Price before tax | What it represents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elecom Japanese product page | Accessed 2026-10-08 | ¥13,728 | ¥12,480 | Current listed price on the official Japanese page |
| Elecom launch announcement | 2026-10-07 | ¥10,980 | ¥9,982 | Launch-time retail price quoted in the announcement |
Use the product page figure as the current price in Japan. The lower launch-time figure may not match what you see in stores or online, and prices can change after launch.
Availability is limited to Japan. TechSpot reported on 2026-10-08 that the dock would go on sale in Japan that month, and that no international availability had been announced. The official Japanese product page links to Elecom’s direct store. We did not find a confirmed listing on Amazon or any other overseas marketplace. Stock levels and regional availability may change, so confirm them before ordering.
Who this dock suits
- Frequent video-call users in Japan who want physical mute and camera buttons and have a laptop with USB-C video and power delivery.
- People who want a single tidy connection for monitors, wired networking, card readers, and charging through one cable.
- Pen-display and video-editing users who want custom keys near the keyboard, provided their software works with the function they want to assign.
It is less suitable if you live outside Japan and cannot buy it locally, if your laptop lacks DisplayPort Alternate Mode, or if you need the dock to work during startup or in BIOS. Users who want a large library of software-level controls should also look at dedicated control consoles. TechSpot mentions Logitech MX Creative Console, Elgato Stream Deck, and TourBox as adjacent products. They are not like-for-like docking-station alternatives, so compare them on their own terms.
On the published specifications, the Elecom dock is a practical USB-C hub with an interesting control layer. The dial and keys are the reason to consider it, but the display, charging, and availability limits should decide whether you can actually use it. The figures here come from Elecom’s product page and launch announcement, and independent performance measurements are not yet available.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
