Which phone-powered PC expertise is best?

I’ve been having fun with Google’s new Pixel Desktop Mode on my Pixel 10 Professional XL currently, a lot in order that it virtually makes the world of smartphones really feel new once more. Nonetheless, Google is way from the primary to mix smartphone and desktop experiences beneath one roof. US shoppers have had entry to Samsung’s DeX atmosphere since 2017, and it has progressively improved the platform with numerous new options which have set a excessive bar for Google’s new system to satisfy.

If something, it’s shocking that it’s taken Google simply this lengthy to provide you with its personal tackle the system. However how do they examine? I’ve spent a while making an attempt out on a regular basis desktop duties on each platforms to assist reply the query: What are the variations between Pixel Desktop and Samsung DeX, and which one is finest?

Earlier than entering into the options, there may be one core distinction between these two desktop platforms. Pixel Desktop Mode runs the very same Android system that powers the telephone interface, merely rendering a second windowing atmosphere on the exterior show. Apps run in the identical OS occasion, however Android’s native window supervisor permits them to look in resizable home windows on the bigger display.

Samsung DeX takes a special strategy. Relatively than counting on Android’s new default desktop-style windowing, Samsung layers its personal desktop interface on prime of Android via One UI. Apps nonetheless run in the identical Android OS occasion, however Samsung replaces a lot of the system’s window administration and UI conduct with its personal desktop shell. This barely completely different structure leads to a couple refined variations within the expertise, which we’ll get into in a minute, however the finish consequence continues to be a local Android desktop expertise.

Fortunately, getting began with both desktop possibility is equally simple. Each platforms help DisplayPort output through USB-C, and you’ll simply join up through HDMI via a dongle adapter. Nonetheless, older Samsung fashions had a number of different methods to attach, similar to a DeX cable or Wi-fi DeX, which the Pixel doesn’t have.

The telephones I used help energy pass-through and hassle-free plug-and-play help for Bluetooth and USB keyboard and mice. For sure, I had no drawback getting began with both, and each serve precisely the identical function at a fast look.

Sticking with peripherals for a second, each desktop environments help the identical Bluetooth peripherals as in cellular mode, so you’ll be able to hold your earbuds paired when switching between modes. I additionally plugged in a microSD card, a USB stick, and a USB SSD exterior storage gadget, all of which have been detected immediately with out situation, permitting you to port work round very simply.

Likewise, when booting into Samsung DeX or Pixel Desktop Mode, you’re greeted with a really acquainted desktop look on each platforms. The 2 interfaces place a customizable dock of apps alongside the underside, full with an app drawer, and Android’s basic three navigation buttons. The one distinction is that DeX positions these on the left and Pixel on the appropriate. The 2 platforms additionally help as much as 4 separate desktop environments as nicely, so you’ll be able to hold even the busiest multi-tasking setups so as.

Maybe a very powerful issue is how the 2 desktop modes deal with working your customary array of Android apps, and once more, the expertise could be very related. Google has pushed builders to help a wider vary of facet ratios lately, out of your customary telephone portrait to wider foldable and pill UIs. Pixel Desktop Mode leverages these choices, robotically refreshing the UI to suit probably the most relevant mode while you resize your window. DeX works in a really related approach, permitting you to resize home windows to no matter measurement and adapting the UI the place potential.

Nonetheless, not each app has been up to date to help the broader vary of UI choices accessible in immediately’s Android ecosystem. Within the previous days, DeX used to place older apps into fastened home windows, however I couldn’t discover any apps that defaulted to this mode; all of the apps I attempted might be stretched and expanded. In reality, DeX dealt with some older apps higher than the Pixel, which defaulted to full display and have become unresponsive with a few older apps I attempted that positively weren’t constructed for widescreen help. That’s a minor distinction within the grand scheme, although.

On the entire, each DeX and Pixel desktop modes present very related core performance and run immediately’s fashionable Android apps simply as nicely in desktop mode as in telephone mode.

Eagle-eyed readers could have already noticed a number of key variations after we first regarded on the interfaces. DeX defaults to exhibiting a number of desktop icons, together with the dock, and you’ll add apps to the desktop grid just by clicking and dragging them out of the app drawer. In reality, DeX’s desktop is a totally customizable panorama all of its personal, full with the exact same widgets you’ll be able to plaster throughout your telephone’s homescreen. Importantly, modifications made right here don’t have an effect on your telephone’s homescreen. In the meantime, Pixel’s desktop is actually only a glorified wallpaper. In contrast to DeX​, you’ll be able to’t place app icons or widgets immediately on it.

One other vital change is the way in which the 2 deal with fast settings and notifications. DeX provides these choices as extra acquainted “system tray” or “notification space” objects, together with a calendar and clock. Clicking any of those icons opens the related settings, permitting fast entry to test your schedule, toggle Bluetooth connections, or reply to an incoming message. It’s very PC-like. Google at the moment has nothing like this.

As a substitute, Pixel opts for a top-down, phone-inspired strategy to notifications and fast settings. Whereas that is acquainted in a single sense, it’s at odds with muscle reminiscence for a way we count on desktop interfaces to work. For a begin, the tiny little clock or connectivity icons you need to click on on the prime of the display are far too small. Even after you lastly pull down the menu, it nonetheless takes up the complete display, blocking your apps and limiting your multitasking. In comparison with a pleasant little pop-up along side your display, it’s not nice.

It’s not a clear sweep for DeX, although. On my Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely, DeX scaled Chrome so aggressively that navigating some pages turned awkward. It’s primarily trapped within the cellular world, inflicting all types of formatting points when viewing pages on a big display. Requesting desktop variations of websites helped, however not sufficiently to make this a local expertise — you’re finest off sticking to Samsung Web, which works flawlessly. By comparability, Google has gone to some effort to make sure a extra desktop-like Chrome expertise, although it nonetheless lacks extensions.

By now, you’ll be able to most likely inform I’m leaning extra in favor of DeX than Pixel Desktop Mode, however just for a number of small quality-of-life enhancements reasonably than a core performance distinction.

As an illustration, DeX does a greater job of surfacing extra however crucial Exterior Show settings. There’s a devoted possibility for display timeout for PC mode, which is frustratingly the identical for telephone and desktop modes on the Pixel. Moreover, you’ll be able to set PC-only wallpapers on DeX whereas all customization settings are shared on Google’s implementation. My Galaxy S25 Extremely even incorporates a good little touchpad button on the backside left of the telephone display, letting me simply navigate the exterior show with no mouse linked. Factors for DeX right here; the platform’s maturity and further years beneath refinement do make it that little bit nicer to make use of.

I can finest sum up the distinction because the Pixel’s setup is extra restricted in a single key approach: its UI continues to be very a lot certain to its telephone interface. The phone-like notification panel and the dearth of per-interface persistent settings are minor gripes, however they’re definitely sufficient to take the shine off the expertise for energy customers. When you peel again the wrapper, it’s clear that you just’re nonetheless very a lot engaged on a Pixel telephone, whereas DeX has a clearer separation between its telephone host and the desktop interface you wish to spend time doing severe work in. It’s solely small variations, however they add up.

Pixel Desktop Mode reveals the place Android is heading — a single OS that scales seamlessly from telephone to desktop. Google plans to tackle desktops with Aluminium OS earlier than the tip of the 12 months, in spite of everything. However immediately, Samsung DeX nonetheless feels just like the extra full desktop atmosphere due to its further refinement. The hole isn’t big, although, and if Google continues iterating at its present tempo, Pixel Desktop Mode could not keep behind for lengthy.