Turning your mobile phone into something very similar to a laptop is no longer science fiction: with Samsung DeX and Motorola's desktop mode (Ready For / Smart Connect) You can work, study, play games, or watch content on a large screen as if your smartphone were a mini PC. The idea is simple yet powerful: to leverage the impressive hardware in your pocket to go beyond the phone's screen.
However, many nuances are hidden under that same concept. Samsung and Motorola have followed similar, but not identical, paths.They started with wired-only connections, then added Miracast-based wireless modes, and later, Windows integration. Along the way, Samsung has scaled back on DeX for PCs, while Motorola has reversed course, focusing heavily on PC-based use but leaving wired desktop support uncertain in its latest models.
What exactly is desktop mode on Android?
When we talk about "desktop mode"On Android we are referring to an interface adapted to large screens that is activated when you connect your mobile phone or televisionwhether via cable or wirelessly. It's not a completely different operating system, but rather a different way of presenting Android when projected onto large screens.
In practice, activating this mode completely changes the interface: A classic desktop appears with a dock or taskbar This is where open apps and shortcuts are displayed, and at the top, elements like the time, battery level, and connectivity icons are usually kept. Many applications now run in separate windows that you can move, resize, and position as you wish, much like you would in Windows, GNU/Linux, or macOS.
This allows you have multiple apps running at the same time with true multitaskingFor example, you can watch a video in one window while replying to chats in another, or consult documents in a browser with multiple tabs. You can also continue using quick settings and notifications, which adapt to the desktop format and can even be displayed in split or side panels for easier access.
A key point is that Desktop mode reuses the same apps you already have on your mobile deviceYou don't need to install a separate "computer" version. All the work is done on your smartphone; you simply change the way the interface is presented. And, of course, you can use a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, or USB peripherals if you have a suitable dock or adapter.
Android native desktop mode versus branded solutions
Google has started to make moves by integrating a native desktop mode in AndroidThis feature is currently officially available on Pixel phones starting with the Pixel 8 when they update to the latest version of Android. On these devices, simply connect the phone to an external display via USB-C to HDMI (or equivalent adapters) to activate the desktop.
For now, This native feature is limited to recent Google Pixel phones.But the idea is that it will eventually reach other manufacturers. Even so, the most polished experience still comes from the solutions offer from brands like Samsung (DeX) and Motorola (Ready For / Smart Connect), which have spent years fine-tuning details such as window behavior, PC integration, and specific modes for games and multimedia.
What are Samsung DeX and Motorola Ready For / Smart Connect?
Both Samsung DeX and Motorola's desktop mode They share the goal of transforming the smartphone into a kind of desktop computer. When you connect it to a monitor, TV, or PC, its basic operation is similar: desktop, windows, taskbar, notification panels, and keyboard and mouse compatibility.
In its first versions, Both systems relied exclusively on wired connectionsrelying on DisplayPort Alt-Mode through the phone's USB-C port to output the video signal. Over time, both manufacturers added support for Miracast-based wireless projection and, later on, specific clients for Windows that allow you to use desktop mode from your PC.
The important difference lies in how they have evolved. Samsung has been gradually reducing the prominence of DeX for Windows in its most recent releasesHowever, it maintains a very broad DeX ecosystem in terms of connecting to external displays. Motorola, on the other hand, has taken the opposite approach: it has strengthened integration with Windows within its ecosystem. Smart connectHowever, their latest mobile phones have started to lose the wired desktop option by dispensing with DisplayPort Alt-Mode.
Availability and compatibility: which phones each one works on
A key factor before you start using desktop mode is knowing Which models are compatible and what type of connection do they support?This is where the trajectory of Samsung and Motorola begins to show, both in the good and the difficult aspects.
At Samsung, DeX has been on the market for several years and has spread to quite a few high-end and some powerful mid-range devices.Among the phones that have historically and popularly offered support for DeX are families such as the Galaxy S8, S9, S10, S20, S21, as well as the legendary Note 8, Note 9, Note 10 and Note 20 series. There are also several tablets with integrated desktop mode, such as the Galaxy Tab S4, S5e, S6 or S7.
Not all Samsung models offer exactly the same thing: On older devices you might need a specific base To use DeX, you might lack wireless mode, while newer models typically allow more flexible and stable connections, both wired and wireless.
Motorola arrived a little later to this field with Ready For, later integrated into Smart ConnectThe list of compatible terminals is considerably smaller than in the case of Samsung, since the brand only recently revived the "Atrix-type" desktop concept, despite having experimented with something similar more than a decade ago with the original Motorola Atrix.
When Ready For premiered, Only a few Motorola models could use desktop mode.The brand indicated that it would expand support over time. The current problem is that the Motorola devices released this year no longer include DisplayPort Alt-Mode on the USB-C port, so it's no longer possible to enjoy a wired desktop experience on them, although they do maintain wireless projection and PC integration options.
This creates some confusion: The trade name (Smart Connect / Ready For) may be the same, but the actual capabilities vary by model and year.Furthermore, Motorola phones that do support wired desktops are tied to updates that, in many cases, remain unavailable. Android 16Therefore, with regard to Android 17, compatibility of that wired mode becomes very uncertain.
Connection methods: wired, wireless, and PC use
Samsung DeX and Motorola's desktop mode offer several ways to bring your phone's screen to another display, but Not all methods are available on all models, nor do they all work the same way.Here you can see the advantage of Samsung's years of evolution compared to Motorola's somewhat more volatile approach.
In the case of Samsung, DeX can work both wired and wirelesslyThe usual approach is to use a USB-C to HDMI cable to connect the phone directly to the monitor or TV, or to use a USB-C dock that adds more ports (USB for peripherals, Ethernet, etc.) and makes the experience very similar to a desktop PC. In recent generations, the ability to use DeX wirelessly with Miracast-compatible TVs and monitors was added, provided they are on the same network as the phone.
For quite some time, Samsung also offered DeX as an integrated application within WindowsThis allowed the entire DeX desktop to appear in a window on your PC, using your computer's keyboard and mouse, without needing to connect any extra peripherals to your phone. It was especially practical for managing mobile apps, notifications, and files without taking your eyes off your computer monitor or constantly unlocking your smartphone.
Motorola, with Ready For first and then Smart Connect, started with A slightly simpler but direct idea: HDMI to USB-C cable connection to activate desktop mode on the screen to which you connected the phone. In some models, the manufacturer even included this specific cable in the box, which greatly lowered the barrier to entry compared to the need to buy additional accessories, as is often the case with Samsung.
Over time, Motorola has gone especially reinforcing integration with Windows computersThis allows you to use your mobile desktop from your PC with ease. In these scenarios, you directly utilize your computer's keyboard, mouse, and screen, without needing to set up a complete workstation around your phone. This is where Motorola has accelerated its progress just as Samsung has begun to slow down regarding DeX for Windows.
The less positive aspect is that, in the most recent Motorola models, The possibility of a wired desktop has disappeared due to the lack of DisplayPort Alt-Mode.The result is a somewhat fragmented ecosystem: if you want a wired connection, you need older models with limited update support; if you're looking for future-proofing and more Android versions, you have to opt for wireless connectivity and PC integration, with the question of how all this will evolve in Android 17 and later.
Interface and user experience in Motorola Smart Connect (Ready For)
The desktop experience at Motorola has its own personality. When you connect your mobile phone to a monitor or television, you don't immediately enter the classic desktop environment.Instead, a welcome panel or hub with several clear options is displayed first.
That initial panel usually shows Four main access points: three themed modes and the mobile desktopThe modes typically correspond to TV or multimedia, Games, and Chat, while the fourth is the desktop itself. TV mode groups video and streaming apps (YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, etc.), Games mode organizes your games, and Chat mode brings together messaging and video calling apps.
In practice, These pitchers act as quick shortcuts For those who want to use their mobile phone primarily for big-screen entertainment: watching series, launching games with a Bluetooth controller, making video calls with the phone's camera, etc. If what interests you is pure and simple productivity, you'll usually end up going directly to the mobile desktop, where the windows, taskbar, and other "PC" elements are located.
Motorola's desktop interface is reminiscent of a mix between an Android tablet and a classic desktop environmentThere's usually an area with app icons for quick access, a bottom bar with running windows and shortcuts to notifications and system settings. Windows can be resized and moved without much trouble, and the overall feel is quite familiar to anyone coming from Windows.
However, as is also the case with Samsung, Not all Android applications are well-suited to the windowed format.Some apps resist resizing, appear too large, or don't accept certain aspect ratios. This isn't so much the fault of desktop mode itself as it is of the apps' internal design, which sometimes doesn't consider their use as "desktop" software.
One very useful detail is that While desktop mode is active, the mobile screen can still be used independently.In other words, you can have some apps open and working on the external monitor and different ones on the phone, always with the restriction that the same app cannot be in both places at the same time: if you open YouTube on the desktop and it was already open on the mobile, it will close in one of the two.
Regarding peripherals, Motorola allows using your own mobile phone as a trackpad and improvised keyboardThis can be a lifesaver in a pinch, but the most comfortable experience comes when you connect a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, or when you use a dock that allows you to plug in USB accessories. In games, especially if you use a cable, latency is usually low and the response with the keyboard, mouse, or controller is very stable.
Interface and user experience in Samsung DeX
Samsung's approach is somewhat more direct and, for many, more work-oriented. When you connect your mobile phone to a compatible monitor or television (via cable or wirelessly)DeX almost always jumps directly to the desktop, without going through a previous themed hub.
The DeX interface It is clearly inspired by a Windows-type desktop.The system features a taskbar at the bottom, application shortcuts, a system tray with connectivity, volume, and clock icons, a notification panel, and quick settings accessible from the side. The goal is to make anyone who has used a PC feel right at home in minutes.
Just like with Motorola, You can use the mobile phone screen as a touchpad and basic keyboard If you don't have accessories on hand, the experience improves significantly, but the leap in quality comes as soon as you connect a physical keyboard and mouse. Or, in scenarios where DeX is integrated into Windows, you can directly use the PC's own keyboard and mouse, which is especially convenient if you often work in a hybrid environment between mobile and computer.
With apps, Samsung faces the same general limitations as Android, but DeX adds a little trick to smooth out the experienceWhen an app doesn't adapt well to windowed mode, the system may display a dialog box asking if you want to restart it in full screen or as a "forced" window. It's not perfect, but it allows some initially unresponsive apps to eventually function more reasonably.
This system restarts apps when you change their display mode It may slightly disrupt the workflowBut in return, it offers more control over how windows are displayed and prevents you from getting stuck with apps that only want to run in full screen. As with Motorola, it's possible to keep different apps running on the phone and the external display simultaneously, without duplicating the same application on both screens.
Where DeX made a noticeable difference for years was in its integration with WindowsRunning a full mobile desktop within a PC window greatly expanded the system's usefulness. Although Samsung has reduced the prominence of DeX for Windows in some models, it remains a clear example of how the smartphone and computer worlds can be seamlessly combined.
Living in desktop mode: using your mobile phone as a computer for a week
Beyond the specifications, the interesting thing is to see what happens when you decide spending several days using only your mobile phone in desktop mode For most common office tasks, with a high-end Galaxy S and DeX, it's quite reasonable to work a whole week without opening your laptop, provided you don't need very specific traditional desktop programs.
Current processors, such as the latest high-end Snapdragon processors with 3nm lithography, multiple powerful cores, and highly capable GPUs, along with generous amounts of RAM (12 or 16 GB in some models)They allow office tasks, browsing with dozens of open tabs, and multimedia consumption to run very smoothly. The bottleneck is no longer so much the hardware but rather the app ecosystem and the interface itself.
With a monitor, a good Bluetooth keyboard, and a comfortable mouse, The way of working changes quite a bitYou can have a browser, a messaging app like Telegram or Slack, a note-taking app, and a music player open simultaneously, switching between windows just like you would on Windows or macOS. For students, writing assignments, online meetings, or managing email, the experience is perfectly adequate.
What you will notice is that The phone gets hotter than usual When connected to a screen and simultaneously charging via a USB-C hub that also powers other peripherals, it can run hot. During long workdays, using a stand to help the phone dissipate heat or limiting fast charging while in desktop mode might be advisable.
The biggest limitation remains specialized software. You won't always find the Android version of the professional program you use on your PC.Especially in fields like advanced design, professional video editing, or very specific corporate tools. Sometimes there are alternatives on the Play Store, but they don't always reach the same level of detail or features.
Even so, for general “office use”, A modern mobile phone in desktop mode performs surprisingly wellWriting an entire article, preparing simple presentations, researching on the web, managing projects in online tools, or coordinating a team via messaging can be done without too much drama, especially if you have a good organization with virtual windows and desktops.
Main advantages and disadvantages of Samsung DeX and Motorola
If we compare the two proposals side by side, it becomes clear that Neither Samsung DeX nor Motorola Smart Connect are experimental toysThese are mature solutions, very useful for certain user profiles, but with different strengths and weaknesses.
In the case of Motorola, one of its greatest successes is Facilitating access to desktop mode by including, in many models, the HDMI to USB-C cable directly in the boxSimply plug your phone into the TV or monitor and you're good to go, without having to spend any extra money on accessories. Furthermore, the initial hub with launchers for TV, Games, and Chat adds a touch of convenience for those who primarily use the system for entertainment.
Motorola also stands out for Very low input latency with keyboard, mouse or controller if you use it wiredThis is essential for gaming and comfortable typing. The desktop interface is clear, the windows behave quite stably, and the ability to run different applications simultaneously on the mobile screen and the external display adds a lot of versatility.
In return, The brand has a serious problem with the continuity of its wired desktop.The latest models have lost DisplayPort Alt-Mode, leaving you with a desktop mode that primarily works wirelessly or in PC integration. Furthermore, future wired mode compatibility in current models is contingent on them not going beyond Android 16, so when Android 17 arrives, you might have a limited or nonexistent desktop experience.
On Samsung's side, the list of advantages begins with the enormous variety of ways to connect DeX offers wired, wireless, and, on certain devices and versions, integration within Windows. This flexibility is invaluable for adapting the system to any situation: presentations, remote work, living room entertainment, shared offices, etc.
The experience in gaming and writing with DeX also It is usually very reliable, without annoying delays. When working with a good keyboard, mouse, or controller, especially if using a quality wired connection, the interface feels very polished, with well-organized settings and a smooth learning curve, even for those who have never used a mobile desktop mode before.
Samsung's big "but" is that It does not usually include the USB-C to HDMI cable as standard.So you have to buy it separately, or get a more complete dock if you want something resembling a fixed workstation. And, as with Motorola, you have to live with certain apps that don't work well in windowed mode, which can lead to erratic behavior depending on which applications you use.
In any case, both Samsung DeX and Motorola's desktop mode They have evolved enough to become very serious tools for productivity, leisure, and mobilityThey don't yet replace a PC in all scenarios, especially in very professional or niche tasks, but they do easily cover most everyday uses and offer a lightweight and powerful alternative for when you don't want to carry a laptop.
Looking at the current landscape, with Android beginning to natively integrate its own desktop mode and manufacturers like Samsung and Motorola refining their offerings, it's clear that The mobile phone as the central brain of your digital life is more alive than ever.
If you choose the right model — paying close attention to DisplayPort Alt-Mode compatibility, update support, and the type of connection you need — you can end up with a device that can be a phone, media center, and makeshift computer simply by connecting it to a screen, whether by cable, wirelessly, or from your own PC. Share the information that most users know about the topic.
