There are plenty of great docking stations designed for gaming handhelds, but most don't support the latest USB4 or HDMI 2.1 standards.
There are plenty of USB hubs that can give you those features, but few will boast a helpful stand to prop up your handheld or other devices.
That's where BenQ is coming in with the beCreatus USB4 Gaming Handheld Dock (GR10), which pairs 40GBps of data bandwidth with a genuinely clever design that makes this a great multipurpose companion.
Of course, you're also paying extra for USB4, and there's a good chance you simply don't need that much bandwidth for your setup. My biggest pain point, however, is that BenQ clearly designed this product to be as compact as a portable USB hub.
That'd normally be fine, except the curse of physics limits the collapsible stand to the same dimensions. That means some of the most powerful and capable handhelds that actually boast USB4 ports simply can't take advantage — and even supported devices will be left out if you prefer to use a case.
BenQ USB4 Dock review: Cheat sheet
- What is it? A compact USB4 docking station designed for mobile and handheld gaming.
- Who is it for? Those who want to dock their gaming handheld or device with high-speed USB ports, HDMI 2.1, and Ethernet.
- How much does it cost? You can buy the BenQ beCreatus USB4 Gaming Handheld Dock (GR10) for $109 at Amazon.
- What did I like? The clever, adjustable design and reliable performance of the ports.
- What did I not like? The compact size of the stand, the price, and the limited number of ports.
BenQ USB4 Dock review: Specifications
In the box, you'll find the BenQ beCreatus USB4 Gaming Handheld Dock (GR10). The USB4 host connection cable is nondetachable, but it does come equipped with a 90-degrees adapter. There is no charger included in the box.
BenQ USB4 Dock review: What I like
When you take the GR10 out of the box, it immediately feels more like a portable USB4 hub than a docking station.
It can certainly be used as such, too, not requiring an external power source to expand your device's ports. Some people may find great value in this compact design, but BenQ did keep handhelds and dockable devices in mind.
One side of the GR10 folds out to create a stable, grippy stand for your devices, a simple but clever design that provides a lot of flexibility. The semi-sticky silicon lining the stand also covers the bottom of the GR10, giving it stable footing on any hard surface.
The USB4 connecting cable may not be detachable, but it is stowable thanks to a hidden slot on the underside of the dock. More than that, there's also a detachable 90-degrees adapter at the end of that cable, which is ideal for gaming handhelds with top-facing ports.
The ports are nicely lined along the rear and one side, and BenQ uses a combination of grey aluminum and matte black plastic to keep everything together. It's a simple, compact, and flexible design that I really appreciate.
If your device can fit in that stand (more on that later), it also feels decently stable.
The GR10 is small and light enough to easily slip into a backpack pocket, but that small stature does somewhat limit your port options. BenQ describes this dock as a "7-in-1," but there are effectively only five ports here. The other two are the USB4 upstream cable and the 100W Power Delivery input.
At least you get a nice variety of ports. There are two USB Type-A and one USB Type-C ports, all with 10GBps of data bandwidth and 4.5-7.5 of charging. There's also a Gigabit Ethernet port, which is limited to 2.5GBps, but that should be plenty for most people.
Display output is handled by the latest HDMI 2.1 standard, which supports one external monitor up to FHD at 360Hz, 4K at 120Hz, or 8K at 60Hz. You're limited to 4K and 60Hz on macOS, though.
It would've been nice to have a high-speed microSD or SD card slot, and another USB port or two, but BenQ at least uses the 40GBps bandwidth of USB4. Even if you use every single port simultaneously, you shouldn't have any issues.
Performance is good, too, and it's nice to have up to 100W of Power Delivery for your gaming handheld, tablet, or other device.
Speaking of devices, compatibility is also great, with the GR10 playing nice with basically any device that boasts USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 ports that support data, video, and power. The GR10 also works with slower USB standards like the 10GBps ports found on many devices and handhelds, but you do run a higher risk of performance and stability issues.
BenQ USB4 Dock review: What I don't like
It's easy to point to the obvious weaknesses of the GR10 — you're paying a big premium over other popular docking station options for USB4, for example.
A lot of people don't need USB4, and there are plenty of USB4 docks and hubs that give you many more ports than this one.
I didn't really expect it, but it's worth mentioning that the added cost does not provide a charger in the box, either, so it's on you to supply the 65-100W power source you'll want for Power Delivery.
None of that is surprising, though; the GR10's greatest weakness is also one of its strengths, and that's the compact design.
The foldable stand provides just enough space for some of the slimmer gaming handhelds, like the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go, but none of those handhelds boast USB4 ports that can actually make full use of this dock's bandwidth.
The best gaming handhelds that boast USB4 or Thunderbolt, like the ASUS ROG Ally X, MSI Claw 8+ AI, and Lenovo Legion Go S, simply won't fit in the GR10's stand. If you use a case on your handheld, there's a very good chance it won't fit, either, even if it is a supported device.
Taller handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go can feel incredibly unstable in this stand, too, and that'll also apply to a lot of tablets. Since you're paying extra for USB4, it's a shame that this dock doesn't feel designed for the most capable devices that can use it.
BenQ USB4 Dock review: Also consider
BenQ USB4 Dock review: My final thoughts
✅You should buy this if ...
- You want a docking station that can double as a portable USB hub.
- You're willing to pay extra for USB4 and HDMI 2.1 features.
- You plan to connect more than just your handheld to this dock.
❌You should not buy this if ...
- You have a larger gaming handheld, like the ASUS ROG Ally X.
- You won't take advantage of the USB4 bandwidth.
The BenQ beCreatus USB4 Gaming Handheld Dock is incredibly useful to have around thanks to its clever and versatile design, as it can go from a 100W docking station to a full-featured portable USB hub in seconds.
The build quality is there, and you don't have to worry about performance with the latest standards taking advantage of 40GBps of bandwidth. There's a lot to love, even considering that you're paying a lot more than your average gaming handheld dock will cost you.
You're not getting a ton of ports, though, and the devices best suited to take advantage of all that bandwidth are the ones that are too large to sit in the stand. It's an unfortunate shortcoming that makes that price tag stand out more.
The GR10 may be a little closer to a USB hub than a docking station in some ways, but it's still a reliable companion that I can happily recommend. If it checks all the boxes for you, the BenQ beCreatus USB4 Gaming Handheld Dock can be yours for $109 at Amazon.
Add a few more ports and more space to dock the best gaming handhelds, and the GR10 would be essentially perfect. As it is, this is still a great USB hub-meets-docking station, with a genuinely clever design that I really appreciated. If you don't need USB4, though, you can save some cash.
