Android 16 is finally here, but unfortunately, some of the best features are still on the horizon. An upcoming tool that I am particularly kept on deeply eyes is that is Android 16’s desktop mode, which is currently available in QPR1 beta 2. It’s been a while since I go to Samsung’s equivalent dex setup, so I am very keen to see what’s different, and what’s the matter.
Anxiety to try it, I grabbed my Pixel 9 Pro XL, installed the latest son, and decided to work for a few hours on your phone (including writing this article) to see how it runs.
Would you use when you launch Android’s desktop mode?
637 votes
Yes
77 %
Not
5 %
Is not sure
16 %
I am already using a beta
2 %
If you are tempted to sink into the fingers, you will need some things first: QPR1 beta 2 has been installed on the pixel with display port capabilities, developer mode “Enable the features of the desktop experience” Toggle checked, and a USB-C cable display is compatible with the display port. This is for the basics, so let’s dive into it.
Perfireals Gelor
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
If you are thinking of using the phone as a PC, peripheres work well. Thankfully, I had no problem in connecting my wireless keyboard and mouse to Pixel 9 Pro XL through Bluetooth. As you expected, all this was taken because of some sharp taps – if anything, the hardest part was remembering how to connect my keyboard with another tool.
The rest of my setup i, I used the same USB-C dock/hub that usually folds with my laptop. It connects everything to the same cable, including my HDMI monitor, USB audio interface speaker, 1 GBPS Ethernet, various USB-A/C ports, and a micro-SD card reader for photo work.
Good news? Pixel immediately linked to my display, my 1080p panel appeared crisp, and no twacking was needed for icon size (though this option exists). It also automatically rooted the audio through the USB interface, which means that I can use my regular speakers without any additional setup. Halleja – It really feels like a real agreement. Just plug and play.
I was afraid that Android’s desktop mode would fail to obstruct this first permanent obstacle, but it gives her nails.
He even recognized the micro -SD card and the external hard drive, which has no problem, which opened the door to a massive storage for both work and games. Android file management is not perfect, but I was able to transmit photos on my camera card with a little effort. I expected that the desktop mode would stumble here, but it connected it to the nails.
Even better, the USB hub goes through electricity to keep the pixel charge. This is important because CPU is used on the way when it goes along with multiple apps. I noticed that all the eight CPU cores were tapped in almost full time, at least. Talking, how does the performance maintain?
How is the performance?
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Within Pixel 9 series, Google’s Tancer G4 may not be the fastest chip, but it is not able to handle everything that throws it on a daily basis. It turns out that it has enough juice to do some serious work in the PC -like setup.
Messaging, browsing multiple tabs, editing Google Documents – no problem. I packed some heavyweight spreadsheet to try and break it, but no one. The light room was also running easily, as on the phone, editing such a picture. Gaming is also not a problem. Performance makes you feel native to the things you experience in phone mode.
The performance is amazingly strong, even many apps are open.
Still, the most impressive part? Apps do not just run in the phone-shaped windows-they often open in their tablet or foldable layout, which naturally fit into the desktop setup. Chrome, maps, calendars, and even some non -Google apps appear and feel at home in the PC environment. I immediately opened a complete landscape version of the light room (no additional download), which gave me enough space to review my edit. Clearly, Push payment for Google’s multi -form factor app support is starting. However, old apps that have not been improved can still be treated badly, so your mileage may be different.
He said, these mobile first apps are left. Chrome does not magically extend like a desktop version, which is a severe limit if you want to use this setup as a large production tool. Thankfully, it appears to change soon.
To further the things, I opened several chrome tabs, streams 4K video, launched some light apps, and even terminated a period of PUBG mobile. Pixel certainly got heated, but there is no stitter or system slow behavior to talk about. The phones have been having solid multi-tasters for some time-this proves that they are ready to go to Monday with a lightweight laptop.
Particularly smart is that once you turn from the desktop, apps keep on your phone. Chrome tabs, documents, and even games are open and ready to resume where you have left. He said, I hit some insects: If I pulled them over the phone, apps would not always return to the external display, if I pulled them from the phone and from it, the game resolutions pulled them, and the interface went out a few times when trying to use several desktops.
It’s good, but one of the reasons is still in the beta
Mashal Rehman / Android Authority
Overall, I’m really impressed with the desktop mode of Android 16. This is significantly polished for a son, but it is not ready for prime time. Attaching with an external display sometimes fails, when I used to go to the UI-brake worms when changing the desktops, and some older apps hijacked the entire screen with no way out.
Some PC expected facilities are still missing. The mouse has no control of the sensitivity (which made some apps scroll), a dedicated task manager to kill abusive apps, and changing the size of Windows, temporarily disappear. Also, some Android features may not yet cooperate-you cannot communicate with the notifications or not toggle WiFi/Bluetooth without reaching your phone.
The desktop mode is not yet completely back – but it’s very close.
Of course, desktop mode is not the only way to communicate with your phone through the PC. Windows now has a dedicated phone link panel, and brands like Honor will allow you to open apps on a compatible laptop. But they are quite limited: they mostly handle messaging, photo access and notification forwarding. It will be a lot for most people who just need accessories sync, but desktop mode goes far ahead, in which you offer experience like a real laptop like a pocket.
Despite my positive experience, I have reservations about the whole concept. Not everyone will have a USB-C dock, so adding essential paradoxes and so will not always be so easy. You will also want a mouse and a keyboard setup to support the quick connection exchange, which I have, but I am very aware that not everyone will have.
In any case, Android 16’s desktop mode seems very worthwhile, even if it is not perfect. I just hope we will not wait for Android 17 to launch it completely. In any way, Android is approaching a true desktop class OS, and it is very interesting.
