Turn your mobile phone into a kind of laptop It's no longer science fiction, and if you're hesitating between Samsung DeX And with Motorola Ready For (now integrated into Smart Connect), you'll probably want to know which one is better for you for work, play, using XR glasses, or simply tinkering with a large screen. On paper they're very similar, but when you put them side by side, some pretty clear differences emerge.
Furthermore, almost no one has stopped to To seriously compare how DeX and Ready For perform with XR glassesBattery consumption, Bluetooth audio, and small everyday details that make all the difference. Here you'll find a comprehensive overview: from the evolution of each platform to the real-world experience after hours of use, including specific examples like watching movies on Viture Pro headphones during a long flight.
Evolution of Samsung DeX and Motorola Ready For: two similar paths, but not the same
The starting idea is the same in both cases: to leverage the power of the Android smartphone to create a full desktop on an external screen, with windows, a taskbar, customized notifications, and keyboard and mouse support. Samsung was ahead of the curve with DeX in 2017 alongside the Galaxy S8, while Motorola revived an old concept of its own: the desktop of the legendary Motorola Atrix, reborn many years later as Ready For and now integrated into Smart Connect.
In the beginning, both DeX and Ready For worked only via cable using DisplayPort Alt Mode via the phone's USB-C port. The usual approach was to connect an adapter or dock with HDMI output to the monitor or television and, from there, use the phone as the brain of the "PC". It was a fairly experimental phase, useful mainly for very curious users or professionals with very specific needs.
Over time, both manufacturers added wireless connection via MiracastThis allowed users to bring desktop mode to compatible TVs and monitors wirelessly. The next step was integration with Windows: a DeX or ReadyFor client on the PC that opens the mobile desktop in a window, using the computer's own keyboard and mouse. Samsung was a pioneer here, and Motorola has more recently made a significant investment.
In recent years, however, their paths have diverged. Samsung has slowed down the development of DeX for Windows in their newer models, prioritizing other integrations, while Motorola It has done just the opposite: it's pushing Smart Connect on PCs, but neglecting wired desktop support on several recent mobile devices by omitting DisplayPort Alt Mode on USB-C.
This decision creates a curious scenario: There are older Motorola computers with wired desktops but limited update support. (until Android 16 in many cases) and newer, sometimes more expensive, Motorola phones that only offer wireless or PC-based experiences, but not a classic "desktop PC" by plugging the phone directly into a monitor with HDMI.
Compatibility: Which mobile phones and tablets support DeX and Ready For
One of the key points before choosing a system is to know On which devices is each desktop mode available?Here, Samsung DeX's years of experience are very noticeable compared to Motorola.
Samsung's DeX has been expanding into its high-end and some powerful mid-range models for some time. Among the models that have offered DeX are: Galaxy S8, S9, S10, S20, S21 and laterIn addition to the Note 8, Note 9, Note 10, and Note 20 families, there are also tablets such as Galaxy Tab S4, S5e, S6 and S7With an important bonus: modern Tab S tablets can use DeX directly on the tablet's own screen, without an external monitor.
Not all of these models share exactly the same functions: in older devices, for example, Wireless mode may not be available Nor is a specific physical base required. But overall, we're talking about a very broad and mature DeX ecosystem, with years of development behind it.
Motorola, on the other hand, arrived much later. Ready For debuted in models like the Moto G100 and the Edge+They were the first to offer a relatively complete desktop environment. From there, the list of compatible terminals has grown, but it remains much smaller compared to Samsung'sAnd what's most worrying is that several of the recently released models have lost USB-C video support, limiting wired desktops.
This creates a somewhat chaotic situation for the average user: The trade name “Ready For” or “Smart Connect” is the sameHowever, the actual capabilities (wired, wireless, PC-only) vary considerably depending on the model and year. If simply plugging in a USB-C to HDMI cable and having it work is crucial for you, you'll need to carefully review the specifications to confirm that the port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode.
Connection methods: wired, wireless, and PC use
The way you connect your phone to the screen or the XR glasses It greatly influences the experienceLatency, image quality, stability… and convenience. In this area, Samsung DeX has more advantages than Motorola's desktop, although Smart Connect tries to compensate with its integration with Windows.
With Samsung DeX you have three main options. The most classic is Use a USB-C to HDMI cable or a dock with video output to connect directly to a monitor or TV. On many recent Galaxy devices, you can also activate Wireless DeX with Miracast-compatible displays, ideal for the living room or a meeting room without having to dig out adapters.
In addition to all this, there is the option of Use DeX within Windows as if it were just another applicationBy installing the client on your PC and connecting your mobile device via cable, the DeX desktop appears in a window, allowing you to reuse your computer's keyboard and mouse. This is especially useful if you don't want to replace your PC, but rather have your mobile apps and notifications readily available without switching screens.
Motorola started Ready For with a simpler approach: Everything went through the USB-C to HDMI cableto the point that some models even included the cable directly in the box. They also sell their own dock with a fan and extra ports, very much in the style of Samsung's original dock, to create a kind of desktop setup with a keyboard, mouse, USB ports, wired network connection, etc.
Currently, Motorola is turning the wheel towards wireless connectivity and use from Windows via Smart ConnectWhile wired desktop connections are becoming less common in certain price ranges, the problem, again, is that if the phone doesn't have DisplayPort Alt Mode, it doesn't matter if the software supports it: you won't be able to output video via USB-C.
Another area where the differences are noticeable is automatic activation. On Samsung, you can configure DeX so that Jump directly to desktop mode when a compatible screen is detected.without having to touch anything on the phone. On many Motorola phones, however, when you connect XR glasses or a monitor, the output first goes into vertical mirror mode, and only then can you tap the Ready For icon and choose whether you want Desktop, TV, Games, etc. It seems trivial, but when you do this ten times a day, it gets tiring.
Interface and experience with Motorola Ready For / Smart Connect
The Motorola experience has a distinct personality from the very first minute. By activating Ready For You don't fall directly into a classic desktop setup.but rather a welcome panel with four options: TV, Games, Chat, and Mobile Desktop. The first three are themed launchers; the fourth is the traditional full desktop mode.
TV mode groups Everything related to video and streaming (Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video, etc.) in a simplified interface, making it very convenient to use your phone as a media center in the living room or with XR glasses. Games mode brings together your installed titles and allows you to control them quite comfortably with an Xbox controller or similar, which can be a real plus for gamers. Chat, meanwhile, organizes messaging and video calling apps.
In day-to-day use, however, most users end up going almost always to the Mobile Desktop modewhich is where you really feel comfortable working. The interface is reminiscent of a mix between an Android tablet and Windows: app launcher on the left, notification and settings shortcuts on the right, and resizable windows floating around the desktop.
Motorola allows you to use the phone itself as a trackpad and improvised touch keyboardThis can be a lifesaver if you don't have peripherals handy. However, to truly get the most out of Ready For, it's highly recommended to have a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, or a dock with USB ports to plug in physical accessories. Once you've set up this "kit," the feeling of using a computer is quite close to that of a lightweight PC.
As for apps, Ready For performs better than you might expect. Most allow resizing and switching from windowed to full screen No drama. Even so, they suffer from the generic Android limitation: many apps aren't designed for a windowed desktop, so some refuse to resize, appear gigantic, or are visually broken. It's not directly Motorola's fault, but it does affect the user experience.
One interesting point is that, with Ready For active, You can continue using the mobile screen in parallel. to what you have on the monitor or the XR glasses. That is, YouTube on the big screen and Telegram on your mobile at the same time, for example. The only limitation is that the same app cannot be open in both places at the same time: if you open YouTube on the desktop and then launch it on your mobile, it will close on one of the two.
Ready For with XR glasses: battery, mobile phone screen and Bluetooth audio
Where Ready For's seams really show is when you use it with Viture Pro type XR glasses for hours. Here, the theory of "turning your mobile into a PC" is mixed with very mundane problems: battery, screen lock, audio, and phantom touches on curved edges.
A real-life example that's quite illustrative: someone buys Viture Pro headphones to improve their experience on long flights, connects them first to a Galaxy Fold with DeX, and everything works reasonably well, although The phone uses up about 20% of its battery per hour Watching a movie like Mad Max: Furiosa over Wi-Fi raises concerns: using your main phone as a PC XR "tower" can significantly impact battery life in the long run.
Looking for alternatives, he ends up buying a Motorola Edge+ 2023 on sale for around $400 to dedicate almost exclusively to Ready For with XR glasses. On paper, it sounds perfect: Affordable price, 512 GB of storage, powerful processor, good hardware and the option of serving as a backup phone. However, within a few hours, the problems began.
First, Ready For does not start completely automatically and forces look under the glasses To tap the icon on your phone and choose Desktop, TV, Games… is awkward when you're sitting on a plane. Then, a very annoying limitation appears: You can't turn off your phone's screen cleanly. While the goggles are in use. If you press the power button, the system brings up the lock screen, which is also displayed on the goggles, breaking the immersion.
Someone might think, "Well, I'll just set the screen timeout to 1 minute and that's it." The trick only works partially. Yes, after a minute of inactivity, it does show a screen timeout. the phone screen turns offBut then the video output goes into a kind of "dance" of reconnections: it goes black, comes back on, cuts out again… And, to top it all off, during this process the audio cuts out in bursts to the phone's speaker at maximum volume, even if you had selected the headset's speakers. Imagine that sound spectacle on a night flight.
El Bluetooth audio handling That doesn't help either. In testing, Sony Inzone Buds paired, but when removed from their case, the phone continued playing Netflix through the internal speaker. You had to go into the Bluetooth settings, select the LE Audio profile, and force audio output, but even then, the switching wasn't reliable. Within just half an hour, connection errors occurred, forcing you to forget about the device and pair it from scratch.
Finally, we need to talk about the hardware. The Motorola Edge+ 2023 boasts a screen very curved at the sidesThis translates in practice to constant accidental touches when holding the phone without a case. Samsung went through the same thing years ago, but adjusted the software to better distinguish between intentional and accidental touches and reduced the curvature in recent generations. Motorola is clearly lagging behind here, and using the phone as a trackpad under the glasses becomes a minor ordeal.
Interface and experience with Samsung DeX
In contrast to all of the above, Samsung DeX takes a more understated but highly effective approach. As soon as you connect your phone to a compatible display, jumps directly to the desktopWithout hubs, TV modes, or gaming modes. It might not be as visually impressive on a "wow" level, but for those who want to work or browse quickly, it's a great choice.
The DeX interface is very reminiscent of a classic Windows-style desktopThe bottom bar displays icons for pinned apps, an app drawer access button, a notification area and quick settings on the right, a clock, and a system tray. The menus are quite simplified, allowing someone accustomed to a PC to adapt quickly without having to search for hidden options.
Just like on Motorola, you can use the phone screen as touchpad and virtual keyboardHowever, the experience is greatly improved with a dedicated keyboard and mouse or a dock with more ports. Samsung's added advantage is that, if you use DeX as an app on Windows, you don't even need Bluetooth peripherals: you can use your PC's built-in keyboard and mouse.
Applications in DeX open in resizable windowsHowever, the same structural limitations of Android remain. Some apps don't scale well, refuse to work in windowed mode, or force a portrait orientation. Samsung attempts to mitigate this by displaying a dialog box when it detects problems, offering to restart the app in full screen or windowed mode. It doesn't solve everything, but it helps enforce certain behavior in unruly applications.
As in Ready For, you can divide the work between the external screen and the mobile phone screenNothing prevents you from having a game or document on a big screen while simultaneously using a music, smart home, or messaging app on your phone. The only rule: the same app cannot be open simultaneously in both devices to avoid problems with duplicate statuses and notifications.
One of DeX's greatest strengths is undoubtedly its integration with WindowsWorking on your usual PC while simultaneously having a window displaying your entire DeX desktop, mobile apps, and notifications is incredibly convenient. You can drag and drop files, reply to WhatsApp messages, check Telegram, or consult your phone's notes without physically touching it or switching monitors.
Performance, battery life and image quality: details that tip the scales
When you turn your mobile phone into a “PC” and connect it to a large monitor or XR glasses, Resource consumption skyrocketsWatching a video on your phone screen is not the same as feeding glasses at 60 or 120 Hz with high resolution while running apps in windowed mode.
In tests with a Galaxy Fold 6 using DeX and XR glasses like the Viture Pro, an approximate consumption of 20% battery charge per hour in high-quality streaming. It's a remarkable figure, but reasonable considering the size of the virtual "screen" and that everything is processed on the phone. The problem arises when that's your main phone and you start stringing together intense charge and discharge cycles with a power bank: the battery will suffer sooner than you'd like.
That's why some users have tried the option of use a second mobile device dedicated to desktop mode, like a discounted Motorola Edge+, so as not to strain their main smartphone. However, in practice, several have ended up returning the Motorola after encountering the aforementioned problems: a screen that cannot be turned off without interruption, audio that jumps from one device to another uncontrollably, and significantly inferior streaming quality in dark scenes, with more banding and compression artifacts than on Samsung.
In terms of pure fluidity, both DeX and Ready For offer very low input latency With a keyboard, mouse, or controller, as long as you're using a wired connection or a decent Wi-Fi network, typing, moving the cursor, or playing many mobile games is perfectly feasible, without annoying lag. The real difference is more noticeable in connection stability, screen timeout management, Bluetooth audio, and those small "micro-stutters" that break the immersion.
Samsung also allows you to fine-tune the refresh rate in some scenariosBy default, DeX usually runs at 60 Hz, but with tools like Good Lock and the MultiStar module (the "I Love Samsung DeX" option), some users have managed to get the system to run at 120 Hz when the phone's screen is off, which is very interesting for XR glasses or compatible gaming monitors.
One point that is highly valued in flights, trains, or quiet environments is that DeX allows you to turn off your mobile screen without interrupting your session.There's a slight flicker or frequency shift noticeable, but there are no disconnect/reconnect loops or audio bursts through the phone's speaker at full volume. Combined with finer Bluetooth management (automatic switching to the earbuds when removed from the case, stable reconnection), the overall experience feels more polished.
The other side of the coin is that Samsung doesn't usually include the USB-C to HDMI cable in the box, so You'll need to invest in a compatible cable or dock. If you want to take advantage of DeX via cable, Motorola has included that cable in several models, lowering the barrier to entry for trying out the desktop on your living room TV from the very first minute.
Looking at the whole, it is clear that Both solutions are perfectly valid for replacing a laptop for light use.Basic office tasks, intensive browsing, messaging, some content creation, and a fair amount of multimedia. For very specific tasks (heavy video editing, complex professional software, advanced development) it's still more convenient to use a traditional PC, but as an "emergency computer" or travel device, they are becoming increasingly useful.
If we weigh all of the above, the result is quite clear: Samsung DeX is ahead in maturity, stability, and connection flexibilityEspecially if you plan to use XR glasses, Bluetooth headphones, and work long hours using your phone as your brain. Motorola Ready For/Smart Connect offers some cool features like its TV/Gaming launchers and usually includes the cable in the box, but it needs to polish several software details and clarify its approach to wired desktops to be on par. For those looking for a solid, predictable, and polished experience, the most sensible option right now is to go for a Samsung compatible with DeX; if what you want is experience spending less And if you really value having the cable ready from day one, a Motorola with Ready For might be an option, as long as you thoroughly check the model and accept its peculiarities.
