What if your smartphone finally replaced your PC? Google is working on its alternative to Samsung DeX, and the first images suggest an Android in desktop mode. Spoiler: it looks like Windows, but better (well, maybe).
Google is reportedly developing a desktop mode for Android, rivaling Samsung's popular DeX. Spotted in the developer options, this project would allow you to connect your smartphone to an external screen to enjoy an interface close to a desktop OS. While the functionality isn't yet complete, the screenshots reveal a window system, a taskbar, and true multitasking.
For now, only certain Pixel devices can activate the mode in question via tinkering. And even then, it's buggy. Proof that Google is taking its time: the giant doesn't plan to integrate the feature into Android 16, but rather into a later update, or even Android 17.
What does the Android desktop look like?
The current version offers a taskbar with shortcuts to apps (like on Windows) and a recent menu for switching between apps. Windows can be resized, moved freely, or moved to the sides, like on a PC. The icing on the cake: drag-and-drop between apps is supported, provided developers play along.
Another crucial detail: the smartphone screen remains usable in parallel. Google is even reportedly working on tools to manage multiple screens (adjusting the resolution, moving the mouse between monitors, etc.). A similar approach to what Samsung is offering, but with a Material You twist.
This desktop mode is based on the "windowed" environment introduced with Android 15 for tablets. Except that on an external screen, the experience needs to be redesigned. For example, how do you control the smartphone via the keyboard/mouse connected to the screen? Google seems to have started to respond, but the work is huge.
One hope remains: that Google doesn't give up halfway. The Android world needs a solid desktop mode, especially with the arrival of apps optimized for large screens. If the giant persists, our smartphones could finally become pocket PCs.
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