Editor’s opinion: Docking stations are rarely interesting, but this one caught my attention. Made by Japanese peripheral maker Elecom, the DST-L080BPBK features a large dial and four programmable buttons on an otherwise traditional 8-in-1 USB-C dock, putting the box you’d normally hide behind the monitor within easy reach.
As it turns out, Elecom makes some unusual, niche hardware, including the MAPP mouse and the IST trackball (emphasis goes to TPU). As for the dock, the following is offered:
One USB-C and two USB-A ports, all at 5Gbps, an HDMI output that supports up to 4K at 60Hz, Gigabit Ethernet, SD and microSD card slots, a 3.5mm headset jack and a separate USB-C Power Delivery input. The dock draws power from the host and connects via a USB-C cable at 5Gbps.
There are four programmable shortcut keys and a knob (rotary knob) on the front. Physical watch faces have a small but loyal following. Reddit threads going back years show users searching for a button for apps like AutoCAD, Revit, Illustrator and Photoshop. Other professional uses include scrubbing timelines and stepping through frames in video editors, as well as smooth zooming in CAD software.
The shortcut buttons and dial are set up through Elecom Mouse Assistant, the utility the company already uses for its mice. Elecom introduces everyday applications: muting the microphone, turning the camera on and off, adjusting volume, zooming, triggering keyboard shortcuts and entering saved text.
In Japanese reporting, the product is described as a “left-handed device”. This is an established category in Japan: illustrators hold the pen in one hand and keep a keypad for undo, brush size, zoom and canvas rotation under the other.
The large button reminds me of Microsoft’s Surface Dial, which was probably the most famous attempt to introduce this type of control into the Windows ecosystem. Microsoft introduced it a decade ago as a way for artists to control tools in compatible apps by twisting or squeezing, but the company appeared to have abandoned the accessory and it never received a successor. Photoshop later dropped support for it completely.
More recently, dedicated consoles have taken the place. Logitech’s MX Creative Console ($199) combines a keyboard with a dial pad and competes with Elgato’s Stream Deck and TourBox, whose dial-equipped models are in a similar price range.
Elecom’s approach is more modest, combining simpler controls with dock functionality for about $87. There’s no word on international availability yet, but the DST-L080BPBK will go on sale in Japan this month and is currently listed on the Elecom store for ¥13,728 including taxes. It supports Windows 10 and 11 as well as macOS Tahoe 26.
