Samsung pioneered the desktop-optimized mode on Android with Samsung DeX. It allowed users to turn their phones into temporary PCs by connecting them to a monitor/TV, a mouse, and a keyboard. The company has consistently improved DeX over the years. Recently, it introduced a way to run Samsung DeX directly on a tablet's screen, and Google seems to have been inspired by that feature. Now, that company is also testing Samsung DeX's on-device mode like design.
Google testing a way to run Android's Desktop Mode directly on a tablet's screen
Google has been testing a Samsung DeX-like desktop mode for phones, allowing a desktop UI when connected to a monitor or a TV. However, the feature hasn't been released yet, as the company seems to be improving it. New evidence suggests that Google's own Desktop Mode for devices may be able to run directly on a tablet's screen.
A ‘Desktop' button was spotted by Mishaal Rahman (Android Authority) in the Recents Menu on Android 15 Beta 4.1 after unlocking the Desktop Mode. When you enter the multitasking mode and tap on an app card's dropdown menu, you can see the ‘Desktop' option. Choosing that option will turn the app's window into a freeform window that can be maximized, moved, or resized freely. It can also be snapped to either half of the tablet's screen.
This new UI is similar to Samsung's new DeX mode. It has a dedicated taskbar where you can pin your favorite or important apps. Tablet-optimized apps open in the dual-pane mode in the Desktop Mode. Moreover, you can use it with a keyboard and a mouse to improve your productivity.
While Google's Desktop Mode is nowhere as polished as Samsung DeX, it could be improved by the time Google releases the stable version of Android 15 in the next few weeks. If that happens, it will be proven that Samsung brought something original and useful years ago.
