Samsung is one of the biggest consumer electronics companies in the world, which puts it in an exceptional position to create an expansive device ecosystem and bring together different device categories through unique user experiences. Looking from the outside in, it might not seem like it, but Samsung's device ecosystem has been improving constantly.
One of my favorite examples of how different Samsung device types can interact to improve one another is how the company brought smart TVs / Smart Monitors and Galaxy phones together, particularly in the high-end market spectrum.
The way I see it, high-end Samsung smart TV users have two big reasons why they may want to buy high-end Galaxy phones instead of budget models or other brands.
Using your Samsung smart TV / monitor as a desktop PC
Some modern Samsung smart TVs and smart monitors offer two features that work exclusively with high-end Galaxy phones (and one with high-end iPhones), but not lower-end devices.
One feature you likely heard of. It's Samsung DeX. High-end Galaxy phones such as the Galaxy S23 FE and higher (except the Galaxy Z Flip series) offer the option to connect to Samsung smart devices wirelessly and run Samsung DeX.
DeX is a desktop environment hidden inside your Galaxy phone. It can only be accessed when the phone is connected to an external screen — either through a video-out cable or wirelessly. Samsung smart TVs and select smart monitors offer full compatibility with DeX, wired and wirelessly, but they can't run it without a high-end Samsung phone doing all the heavy lifting.
Through wireless DeX, you can connect a keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals, and turn your TV / monitor and smartphone into a lightweight desktop computer for office work, web browsing, entertainment, and more.
In essence, by combining their Samsung phones and TVs or smart monitors, users can unlock a full desktop experience powered by Android apps.
Your high-end Galaxy phone can calibrate your TV
The second big feature that will likely make you want to buy a high-end Galaxy phone (or, oddly enough, an iPhone) along with your Samsung smart TV or smart monitor is the Smart Calibration tool.
This is a SmartThings feature available on select Samsung smart TVs and monitors and only 2019-or-newer premium Galaxy phones.
Why is Smart Calibration a big deal? Well, because even within the same TV series, not every display is calibrated precisely the same. And to get the best color and HDR calibration, you'd usually need professional equipment.
Smart Calibration is a powerful screen-calibrating tool that lets you achieve the most accurate color settings for your particular smart TV without using professional image calibration gear. It's highly underrated given its potential and the fact that it can save you a lot of money you may otherwise spend on external gear.
This feature requires a powerful camera, which is why it is not available for lower-end Galaxy phones or high-end Galaxy devices and iPhones older than 2019. So, unless you want to go the iOS route, you will want a high-end Galaxy phone if you want to get the best out of your high-end Samsung smart TV or smart monitor.
Once you use Smart Calibration, you will probably never want to lose it, and you'll likely want to keep buying high-end Galaxy phones to get the best image quality out of your future Samsung TVs. It's a perfect example of how one device in Samsung's ecosystem can enhance another.
