Due to Android 16, the day I’ve been eager for has lastly arrived. After years of hoping Google would comply with in Samsung’s footsteps, it has finished simply that, as we have now a correct desktop mode on Pixel telephones

After spending a while with it, I’ve a couple of ideas, however earlier than I proceed, I have to remind everybody that that is a part of Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2. Simply hold that in thoughts in case you enterprise down this path your self, as you’re more likely to run into a couple of bugs alongside the way in which.

Getting began

For those who set up QPR1 Beta 2 and simply plug your Pixel into an exterior show, you both gained’t see something or will simply see your cellphone display mirrored. That’s as a result of Google’s not able to make desktop mode accessible to everybody proper out of the field. In any case, it is a Developer Preview, and never the general public construct.

Fortunately, it’s fairly simple to allow desktop mode, as you simply have to allow Developer Choices, toggle the “Allow desktop expertise options,” then reboot your cellphone. Now, once you strive plugging in your Pixel to an exterior show, it ought to present a desktop-like interface.

A great begin with room for enchancment

For essentially the most half, it appears to be like precisely like I anticipated it to, which is fairly much like Samsung DeX. Once more, it doesn’t come as a shock, contemplating that Google requested Samsung for some assist in the design and implementation.

The Dock matches up with no matter you beforehand added in your cellphone, except a couple of issues. On the far left is an app drawer; any apps that you’ve got open will seem to the proper of the Dock, and on the far proper are your customary navigation controls. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to nonetheless use some gestures you probably have a trackpad paired to your cellphone, or one thing just like the NexDock.

I used to be a bit involved about how easily it will be to maneuver totally different app home windows round. Fortunately, it’s been about pretty much as good as I might have hoped for, which was truthfully a aid, as I used to be a bit apprehensive about some jankiness.

It isn’t excellent, however Google received plenty of issues proper with desktop mode, to the purpose that I am already comfy utilizing it usually.

There are a couple of different options packed into desktop mode that I wasn’t anticipating, reminiscent of the power to snap app home windows to the left or proper facet simply by dragging the window to at least one facet or the opposite. There’s even a preview menu that seems after I hover my cursor over the “window management” button within the prime proper nook. You’re restricted to only two choices (full-screen or split-screen), but it surely’s nonetheless useful to have.

Concurrently all of that, there’s nonetheless positively room for enchancment. A few of the extra bothersome points are seemingly simply nitpicks and might/will probably be addressed with future updates.

One of many extra annoying issues is the toolbar that seems each time your cursor is in a textual content discipline, above the Dock that you simply simply can’t eliminate. There’s no technique to cover it, and it sits on prime of every other window, which simply drives me nuts.

The one approach I’ve been capable of mitigate the frustration is by turning it right into a vertical bar, which strikes it to the left of the display. On the brilliant facet, you’ll be able to transfer it both left or proper, or up or down, relying on the orientation.

One other annoyance is how all the pieces is dealt with after I disconnect and reconnect my cellphone. For example, as I write this, I’ve a number of totally different app home windows open on the NexDock.

Nonetheless, after I unplug my cellphone, go to do one thing else, after which come again to plug it in once more, all of the app home windows are gone. There’s no “reminiscence” of what I used to be doing, what home windows had been open, or how they had been organized.

I’m undecided that is one thing that Google will actually implement, however perhaps we might get one thing just like the “Welcome Recap” discovered on Chromebooks. This offers an summary of the apps that had been open the final time you place the machine to sleep. Whereas I feel we’re somewhat bit away from seeing new options added, I would at the least like for my apps to open up once more after I connect with an exterior show.

Lastly, and once more, that is extra nuance than something, however I feel it’d be fairly nifty if I might have a dual-screen setup with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and an exterior display. That means that I want I might mainly have an “prolonged display” state of affairs like with Motorola’s Smart Connect, even when I couldn’t drag apps backwards and forwards between the 2.

I am actually enthusiastic about desktop mode

The one recurring feeling that I’ve had in my transient time utilizing desktop mode on Android 16 is that it feels lots like a Chromebook. I’m undecided if there was actually any approach for Google to keep away from this, however perhaps that’s sort of the purpose, as it can really feel acquainted to everybody, it doesn’t matter what platform you’ve used.

That being mentioned, I’ve been quite having fun with desktop mode to date, and you’ll guess your backside greenback that I’ll be paying shut consideration to what adjustments are made. This has been one thing I’ve wished for a very long time, and I am comfortable to see it lastly potential on units that aren’t made by Samsung.