A leaked report indicates that Google is developing a desktop mode feature, akin to Samsung’s DeX and Motorola’s Smart Connect. Initial traces appeared in 2023, but the feature is expected to launch with Android 17 on upcoming Pixel devices. Dubbed “Android Desktop Mode,” it will support multitasking with resizable windows and a desktop-like navigation system. Users can connect their phones to external displays via USB-C, with potential for wireless connectivity. Initially, the feature is likely to be exclusive to Pixel phones before extending to other Android devices.
A recent report based on a leaked source code indicates that Google is working on a desktop mode feature akin to Samsung’s DeX and Motorola’s Smart Connect big-screen interface. In fact, the earliest signs of a desktop mode were discovered back in 2023, but it seems that Google is nearing the launch of this feature.
It has been reported that the user interface still requires refinement, and it is unlikely to debut with Android 16. We are more likely to see its introduction alongside Android 17 on the upcoming Pixels.
This feature, labeled as “Android Desktop Mode,” will include several exciting capabilities such as multitasking with resizable windows, traditional desktop-like navigation, an app management system similar to desktop operating systems like Windows or Chrome OS, and a seamless switch between mobile and desktop interfaces.
The functionality will activate when the phone is connected to an external display via the USB-C port, though a wireless option may also be feasible, albeit still uncertain. For instance, Samsung and Motorola provide wireless connection capabilities in their desktop modes. If we were to speculate, this feature will probably be exclusive to Pixel devices at launch before it expands to other Android phones.
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