For a while now, Android has been experimenting with desktop modes, with only Samsung’s DeX actually coming to fruition. Recent reports from Android Authority suggest that Android’s desktop mode has undergone a revamp, now running on external monitors and directly on tablets.
Originally targeted at developers for app testing, this feature has received new windowing options from Google over the years, hinting at a broader desktop experience for users in the future.
While details are scarce, the possibility of a desktop mode for Android tablets is highly plausible, especially considering that Samsung’s DeX mode is now available on newer Galaxy tablet models, prompting speculation about a similar feature for the rumored Pixel Tablet successor.
A video on Android Authority showcases the seamless transition into desktop mode, allowing users to open apps as floating windows, as well as move, resize, or snap them to the screen’s edges.
A notable distinction between the current Android desktop mode and Samsung DeX is that the former creates a separate desktop environment, while the latter integrates desktop-like features with the tablet’s Home Screen.
This divergence could be due to the unfinished nature of the Android version, or it could be a deliberate design choice. If intentional, it might allow users to seamlessly switch between tablet and desktop modes, a functionality currently unavailable on DeX.
It’s still early to get too excited, as Google has not confirmed this feature, and it could potentially be removed in later versions of the Android 15 Beta.
