Android Desktop Mode almost made me throw away my laptop, but these annoying issues held me back

Android Desktop Mode almost made me throw away my laptop, but these annoying issues held me back

https://www.androidpolice.com/android-desktop-mode-made-me-throw-my-laptop-but-these-issues-holding-me-back/

Publish Date: 2026-06-10 15:00:00

Source Domain: www.androidpolice.com

As a long-time Samsung DeX user, I have desperately wanted Google to bring native Desktop Mode to Android.

I eagerly anticipated its arrival when testing began last year, hoping it would revolutionize my workflow. It finally shipped in the March 2026 Pixel Drop, and I have been using it rigorously on my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL ever since.

As with my experience with DeX on my Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE tablet, I put this new mode through its paces to see whether it actually delivers a competent desktop experience.

There is no denying that Google clearly intends to mirror the functionality of a traditional desktop environment, with many similarities to DeX.

But after extensive testing, I feel it’s not on par in terms of usability. There are glaring missing features and major functional flaws that repeatedly render my workflow unproductive.

If Google is serious about making this a genuine solution that I can recommend, it needs to address these roadblocks immediately.

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