Something to look forward to: Google is on track to launch Android 15 later this year, featuring enhanced device security, improved camera optimization, and additional AI capabilities. The update is also expected to include a revamped desktop mode experience, making it easier to use a smartphone as a full-fledged computer when docked to an external monitor.
Android already has a barebones desktop mode that was introduced as part of Android 10 in 2019. However, the experience leaves a lot to be desired, as it is not meant for end-users. Instead, it is intended for developers to help them test how their apps might behave in multi-display scenarios. In fact, the feature remains hidden from public view and can only be enabled from within Developer Options.
That is expected to change with Android 15, as Google is set to add support for a full-fledged desktop mode. As part of its preparations to add the new functionality to Android, Google recently introduced DisplayPort support to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, enabling users to easily connect their smartphones to external monitors. According to Android Authority, the company has also been polishing the multi-window experience in Android to improve the desktop experience for users.
While the new desktop mode is currently behind several flags to prevent users from accessing it before its official announcement, Rahman managed to get the feature to work on his device. He found that although the changes make for a much better desktop experience, it still has “a long way to go before it can match existing desktop operating systems.”
The lack of a robust desktop launcher, the unavailability of most keyboard shortcuts used for window management, and the lack of support for drag-and-drop features within most apps mean that the revamped desktop mode in Android is far from a finished product, at least in the pre-release versions of Android 15. Whether the final product will fix these flaws and offer a proper computing experience remains to be seen.
Although Google has been slow in offering a full-fledged desktop mode in Android, some smartphone manufacturers like Samsung and Motorola have been bundling their own desktop experiences with their Android devices for years.
Samsung’s DeX desktop mode was first introduced with the Galaxy S8 in 2017, while Motorola offers a screen mirroring experience called “Ready For” (recently renamed “Smart Connect”) in some of its phones.