“Your smartphone can replace your computer.” You’ve probably heard this adage a hundred times, and whether it applies to you depends entirely on what you aim to accomplish with your phone and PC. I’m among the category of users who disagree and insist on using a computer for all sorts of serious work. Despite that, companies have attempted to negate any opposition to the notion. Samsung’s DeX is an excellent example, and one that has managed to lure me into actually using my phone as a desktop replacement several times.
Meanwhile, Google has also been stepping up in this regard, and after years of development, it has finally rolled out Desktop Mode to Pixel devices with the March update. My colleague Robert Triggs went hands-on with the Pixel’s Desktop Mode and found that it’s quite impressive for a (technically) new feature. However, Rob also discovered some limitations, especially when compared to Samsung DeX, which has a head start of eight years.
