Moshi Symbus Q Compact USB-C Dock
Compact USB-C dock with a built-in wireless charger
The Symbus Q is incredibly clever and convenient to use
£164.95 FROM Moshi, moshi.com FEATURES USB-C with power delivery (up to 60W), 1x 4K/60Hz HDMI port, 2x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports (1 with fast charging), 1x Gigabit Ethernet port, Qi wireless charging (up to 15W); 11.6x7.2x3.2cm
While rumours abound that Apple’s 2021 MacBooks will feature a more comprehensive array of ports (including HDMI and an SD card slot), the current crop offers very limited connectivity indeed.
On the Apple silicon-powered MacBook Air and 13in M1 MacBook Pro, you get just two Thunderbolt/USB-C ports, while on the Intel-powered 13in and 16in MacBook Pros you get two more… and that’s it. You won’t find the aforementioned HDMI or SD card slots, USB-A, Ethernet or other legacy connections, which means you’ll either have to invest in a bunch of adapters/dongles, or team your MacBook with a dock – and that’s where the Moshi Symbus Q comes in.
While docks are nothing new (and are a fact of life for many MacBook owners), the Moshi Symbus Q’s implementation is
– it’s a USB-C dock with power delivery (up to 60W – perfect for a MacBook Air or 13in MacBook Pro) that includes two USB-A 3.1 ports on the front, Gigabit Ethernet and 4K/60Hz HDMI ports on the back, plus a textured/rubberised top that includes a Qi wireless charger.
That means anyone with an iPhone 8 or later can simply plop their device on top of the Symbus Q to have it charge wirelessly. However, while Moshi says the Symbus Q can deliver up to 15W of wireless charging power, in practice its limited to 7.5W on Apple devices – even on the iPhone 12 series, since that only gets 15W when teamed with a compatible MagSafe-equipped charger. And the Moshi Symbus Q isn’t one of them. Shame. However, Moshi says its Q-coil technology enables the Symbus Q to charge your phone even through cases that are up to 5mm thick, plus the dock’s front-mounted LED light up differently, depending on whether you’ve placed it on the charging pad correctly. A slow-blinking green LED means yes; a fast-flashing red LED means no.
Clever convenience
Still, the Symbus Q remains incredibly clever and convenient to use. With its USB-C cable plugged into your Mac, you can hook up an external display via HDMI (you’ll need an 18Gbps or higher HDMI 2.0 cable to get the full 4K/60Hz HDR experience), get directly connected to a router using the Ethernet port for speedy internet, and plug in a mouse, keyboard, external drive or other compatible device using the two USB-A ports (one of which also offers fast charging), all the while charging your iPhone wirelessly on the top.
Around the size of a pack of cards, Symbus Q is compact and stylish too, thanks to its rounded-corner rectangular design and Nordic Grey exterior (with silver aluminium highlights). We even like the look of its textured Qi charging pad – its cubic rubberised pattern helps stop your iPhone from sliding around should you inadvertently move the dock.
The only slight downer is the bulky black power brick that drives the whole thing along, but at least you can stow that out of the sight beneath your desk. Rob Mead-Green