The Future of Desktop Modes in Smartphones

The Future of Smartphone Desktop Modes

The future is in Desktop Experience

with the DeX station. That’s right, back then, DeX wasn’t an autonomous software feature in the phone, you had to actually carry around a small dock with you. It had fans to keep the phone cool, and connections to keep it charged.Galaxy S25 or Galaxy Z Fold 7 via the USB C port, then connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and you get a full-blown desktop experience on the monitor. “Shell of a laptop” that has no hardware inside. It’s a screen, keyboard, and touchpad, all designed to be paired with your Samsung phone and run DeX. What’s the benefit? It can be cheaper and lighter, and if you find yourself working more from the phone than a computer, it makes sense.

Google has caught on

Android 16, Pixel devices (Pixel 8 and up) are getting Desktop Mode. It does what it says on the tin, and operates much like DeX — plug in a monitor and go.Android phone, you should be able to run it, I’d hope.

Where is Apple in this?

But what about the iPhone?

PhoneArena?) while doing other stuff on that 6.5-inch screen.