Android 12 Desktop Mode: Use a Phone as PC, but Where's the Progress?

SomeGadgetGuy's Gear List

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[peterhamilton]

I really hope they work this out on an Android level. I've been saying for a long time that a $1000+ smartphone should replace a laptop in most ways, not least of all usuable lifespan.

[masoodreyhani]

It seems like Google doesn't want the android desktop mod to be a thing because that would mean their chrome laptops would be obsoleeste

[SilvioBritto]

Yes, it's sad. I use DeX as my computer since 2019. It's SO convenient. Works as a charm. Most of the smartphones (at least in the intermediary premium and above) could support a proper desktop mode.

Would be relatively easy to have it in so much more phones. And would change so much the game, even for notebooks and PCs. Some competition. Most of people could use a desktop mode as their computer with ease.

[DanielHarrisCodes]

Hoping Microsoft have something up their sleeve for Duo 2 w/ Android 12L in terms of a desktop mode.

I wouldn't even mind if they just give us a way to dock the Duo 2 and run Windows 365 / Remote Desktop at full resolution on the external display to begin with. It would make the device even more dynamic.

Just mirroring the Duo / Duo 2 works better than most phones because you can at least put two apps side-by-side, or span an app across both and see it without the hinge in the way - It almost feels like using a limited version of iPad (or Windows 8) multi tasking. Just want to be able to do that with full external monitor resolution

[rvermausa]

I wish Google works on a standard Desktop mode like Dex and also makes it available to Pixel phones.

[ShinyMooTank]

LG Velvet is getting android 12 very soon. Hopefully LG is still developing new features like screen+ and not just maintaining old features to work with android 12.

[fbkensarhd]

This is why my next phone will be a Motorola with ReadyFor or Samsung with Dex.

[kmk_zero]

been hoping for more on android desktop

[KennyLarson]

I would love a future where the only "computer" anyone needs is a phone + a NexDock-type device. When I got my new job last year they issued me an unusable laptop due to the chip shortage. They also issued me an S20FE. I ended up working entirety in DeX via a USB-c hub hooked to my monitor for 2-3 weeks while I waited to get a working computer. The experience was not bad. Honestly, between PWAs and DeX I think desktop modes would satisfy most people's computing needs and drastically reduce the environmental impact of electronics. However, companies wouldn't be selling as many devices and that's really the reason desktop mode won't ever really take off. Corporate greed.

[luisd.]

I also wish Android would better handle plain old landscape mode, both desktop and on the phone screen itself.

[User-hhgg]

Screen+ in my lg g8x with A12 works as same as with A11. Good to see desktop mode videos from you, please continue sir...

[zckom]

Samsung Dex is great but I hate to see Samsung to develop it and just stagnant in improving it. Don't get me wrong, Samsung Dex have been improving a lot since Note 8. However, I still feel like something is lacking on the Dex. I am hoping Samsung to be more aggressive in improving the Dex mode. Hope to see theability to add widget on the home page.

[pcmasterrace]

I love this guy. So underrated. Following him since pocket now

[smoovematix]

I will upload a video very soon about my current experience with Desktop Mode running on Asus Rog 6 Pro because what I discovered is freaking AMAZING in my use case which is mostly, if not entirely, remote pc gaming/remote desktop computing. I was not impressed, whatsoever with DEX due to the 60hz refresh rate limitation since one of my monitors handles 360hz and my lowest being my tvs which top out at 120hz. I use Moonlight for my remote access because there is nothing that compares, both visually and performance. However I've been limited to native screen size of whatever device I was on (usually a phone). I finally decided to explore what Forced Desktop actually does. The feature itself is bland and uninspiring but once I get Moonlight open it is life changing for ME. The app itself functions normally with the gamepad controlling all navigation of the app and settings as well as launching from the listed remote games/apps. Once my connection is made to my Side by side the Android connected monitor is exactly the same as the native pc monitor/tv in terms of resolution, responsiveness (latency) and the refresh rate smoothness. IDENTICAL. So....Moonlight app allows for a max refresh rate of 120 hz which is really all you need outside of competitive gaming where 240/300/360 only add to the accuracy of your actions and their results but for video smoothness....120 is fine. NOW....if Moonlight allowed for a higher refresh rate, I can report that Forced Desktop can handle it. I wasn't expecting what I found which is that my OSD built into my monitor shows that it is topping out at 300hz. That is REMARKABLE. My monitor max is 360hz 1920x1080 so that indicates there is a 300hz top out on the Android side....which is INSANE. What is even cooler is that I managed to find the world's ONLY (and I mean ONLY) TOUCHSCREEN monitor capable of more than 60hz. It is 144hz to be exact with her (1080). There is a Bravia out there that does like 70 or 75hz Who cares? I found that the touch acts identically to native Android screen where long press acts like right click and within Moonlight I can use my external monitor as a track pad or direct mouse with three finger press popping up my Android Hackers Keyboard allowing me to type and pass system commands to my pc as per usual. So, to sum up, this is MAJOR for me. I pray the feature remains at least just the way it is, if not improved upon. I'm not sure if mainstream attention would help to improve it's function and implementation or if it would destroy it. Either way, there it is. My experience with it and why I LOVE it. Have a great 2023 everyone!!

[texasmarine]

DEX is a beast. I use it more on my tablet than my phone these days. I dock my s20 for Dex on my TV for live streams and zoom calls from time to time

[MashhoodGee]

I am using Huawei P20 Pro since 2018 with Desktop Mode, and I would highly recommend it. It is simply Awesome. Other vendors are far away.

[slick]

In a business context I think the killer app for Android Desktop Mode is Remote desktop. If I can ship a phone and a doc +keyboard/mouse and have my users RDP to a VMWare Horizon Virtual Desktop or an Azure Virtual Desktop, then really all I want desktop mode to do is support 4k resolution and maybe USB pass though so things like webcams and headsets can connect to the Virtual Desktop.

[happyebb]

Back in 2013 I remember talking about this in our R&D department. It would be so beneficial and productive with a phone' OS that has a responsive interface like the web apps, by detecting its external display for desktop mode (like a docking station). We have seen tablets taking the laptop roll but it can't beat the mobile phone. Open display terminals and visual eye sets are key in this area, mobile phones are compact mobile IDs for living and working.

[andrewwhitfield]

I have a LG Stylo 4 running Android 8.1/ Samsung A02S running Android 11 and while using Sentio desktop for Android 7+ with scrcpy + sndcpy on Windows or Linux I'd say it's sort of an okay Android desktop that auto launches when being plugged into a pc. Every app launches in a proper window with minimization and maximization correctly working. I also used the Sentio desktop app as my default home screen on Android x86-64 Lineage OS 14.1. It's the closest thing I've found to be like Dex for any Android device running Android 7+. I have a few dedicated devices running Prime OS 6.1 and 12 beta. I even still have an old laptop running Remix OS Android x86-64 6.0. Remix was my favorite.

[markfinlay]

Juan, it's interesting to see your take on this. I was a huge fan of desktop modes, Linux on DeX was the BEST thing ever in this space. And I've had the Nexdock 2, Touch and now 360 running with the P30 Pro and S20FE. But... In getting rid of all these and switching to the Pixel 6 Pro. I just hardly use the desktop modes any more. And they haven't really progressed. What I really want is a desktop class browser, which I had with Linux on DeX, in fact that's why I switched to Firefox everywhere. But the lack of this means my usage has dropped. I love the idea though and I hope desktop modes a future as given the right options I'd be back in an instant.