BenQ beCreatus DP1310 Hybrid Dock – 6 Months Later: Is It Still Worth It?
Around six months ago, I had the opportunity to review the BenQ beCreatus DP1310 Hybrid Dock, a device that promises integration between your work and gaming setups by allowing users to switch between a work laptop and a games console or PC.
At the time, I was impressed with its dual-source integration, support for multiple monitors, and charging ports.
Now, after half a year of daily use, it’s time to revisit the beCreatus DP1310 to assess its long-term performance and to determine whether it has lived up to its initial promise.
So without any further ado, here are my thoughts after a year…
Disclaimer: While BenQ did send me this docking station to try out around 6 months ago, all views and opinions are my own. This article contains affiliate links.
How I’ve Used the DP1310 Over the Last 6 Months
I wanted to start this article by explaining how I’ve been using the dock over the last six months. I’ve actually been using the docking station regularly with 3 devices. I was able to achieve this by plugging in my MacBook and Work laptop via the single USB-C connection, which I manually switched by unplugging the USB-C cable from one device to another. Then I used the HDMI connection with my gaming PC, which I’ll explain in more detail below. But on its own, the dock will only support up to two devices.
My primary computer is my M1 MacBook Air, and the docking station works really well with my MacBook. On top of that, as it uses DisplayLink drivers, I am able to connect the MacBook to two monitors at the same time for a dual-screen display, which works really well.
When I’m working from home, I use the dock by removing the USB-C connection from my MacBook and plug it into my work laptop, which happens to be a Dell Latitude 5340. Like with the MacBook, the Dell Latitude also uses DisplayLink drivers, which work really well.
I keep both laptops on a dual-laptop stand, which I picked up online. I think it’s a great addition to my desk setup.
My gaming PC is connected via HDMI connection. However, the dock only supports pictures in this mode, meaning that I have to connect my gaming keyboard and mouse to the actual computer. This isn’t a big deal for me, as I primarily use wireless desk accessories.
Build Quality & Durability
From the moment I first unboxed it, the dock felt solid and premium, and I’m pleased to report that this hasn’t changed with extended use.
As someone who works in IT, I’ve tried several docking stations over the years, but based on my experience so far, I think that the BenQ beCreatus DP1310 is superior in build quality and durability.
One notable thing I like about the dock is that all cables, including the USB-C cable, are removable. This allows for easy replacement if the cable gets damaged. I’ve seen many docking stations with built-in USB-C cables simply fail or get damaged, which is why it’s nice to see it removable. It will definitely allow the dock to last longer.
Performance
Moving on to the performance, I haven’t really noticed any performance issues with this dock; it performs well on macOS, and it performs well on Windows 11, even when playing games.
One thing I have noticed though, and I haven’t really looked into seeing if there is a fix available, is when I use an app called F.lux only one screen changes colour and temperature. However, I had the same on my previous docking station from Dell.
By the way, F.lux is a computer program that adjusts a display colour and temperature according to your location and the time of the day. However, I’m not too concerned about this as I can easily adjust the temperature on my monitors.
Productivity & Gaming Experience
I wanted to start this section by talking about productivity because the beCreatus DP1310 has enabled me to be more productive on my M1 MacBook Air as by default it only supports one external monitor. The dock has allowed me to use two external monitors and the Mac monitor as a third, making multitasking easier.
I like the fact that you can swap from one device to another within a click of a button. I primarily use the Logitech MX Keys keyboard and Logitech MX Master 3 mouse, both of which are wireless and allow up to 3 wireless connections. This works great for switching between my MacBook (USB-C connection) and my gaming PC (HDMI connection).
In terms of gaming, my experience hasn’t really changed, as I typically tend to only use one monitor for gaming. But as a whole, I rarely tend to play games these days anyway.
Any issues or downsides?
I had to think long and hard about what to write in this section, as I haven’t really faced any issues with the docking station that are caused by the docking station.
But if I were to change one thing, I would have added a KVM solution so that I can connect all peripherals to the docking station and switch between them using the big green button.
The way I see this working is for BenQ to add another port, maybe a USB-A to USB-B cable or something along those lines. I strongly believe that if they implement this in a future model, it would make the device even better.
Final Verdict—Is It Still Worth It?
Based on my experience over the past six months, I can confidently say that the BenQ beCreatus DP1310 Hybrid Dock remains a fantastic docking station. I think it held up exceptionally well in terms of performance, build quality, and versatility.
I think that the ability to switch between my work laptop and gaming PC with minimal effort has been incredibly useful, and the dual-monitor support for macOS has helped me keep productive.
The removable cables add to its longevity, ensuring that a damaged cable doesn’t mean replacing the entire docking station.
While it would have been nice to see a built-in KVM switch for peripherals, the overall experience has been excellent. That’s why I can definitely recommend this dock if you are looking for a MacBook docking station or if you want to easily switch between your laptop and games console.
To answer the question, it’s been six months, and based on my experience so far, I would definitely recommend this docking station.