In a nutshell: Google has been working to bring a "proper" desktop mode to Android for quite some time. The feature was first introduced in 2019 with Android 10, but it wasn't intended for end-users.

Google is developing a DeX-like desktop mode for Android phones, and you can try it out now on supported Pixel devices with Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2. This feature projects a desktop-like environment ...

Google will introduce a new desktop mode on Android 16. Thanks to Samsung, this feature will attempt to compete with its own DeX experience, letting users run apps on resizable windows, with a taskbar ...

The Android 16 Beta 3 release has introduced a minimize button to the header bar of apps opened in Android’s desktop windowing mode. Desktop windowing is a freeform windowing mode that Google ...

During Google I/O, Google announced that it partnered with Samsung to bring a true desktop mode to Android 16. This will make apps open in a windowed mode, much like a desktop. This is something that ...

Google will soon allow people to try out the upcoming desktop mode in Android 16. This will facilitate advanced windowing capabilities when a user connects their phone to an external display. The ...

Android has matured dramatically over the years, but one area where it still feels half-baked is desktop-style productivity. In this case, Samsung is ahead of the curve with Samsung DeX. Introduced in ...

Anu is a Features author at Android Police. You'll find her writing in-depth pieces about automation tools, productivity apps, and explainers. Before joining AP, she used to write for prominent tech ...