Google Is Developing Android Desktop Mode To Compete With DeX

It's not uncommon for companies to adopt or iterate on popular features from rivals, to bring their products up to feature parity or to keep users in their ecosystem. Google's development of the “inactivity robot,” mirrors a feature already found on Apple's iOS 18.01. Meta is also mirroring some features from TikTok on Instagram. Now, it seems Google is taking a leaf out of Samsung's playbook by developing Android Desktop Mode to rival Samsung's desktop experience, also known as DeX.

DeX allows Samsung Galaxy users to enjoy a Windows desktop-like environment when a phone is connected to an external monitor, keyboard and mouse. Google is now making its desktop mode feature, which aims to offer similar functions, to users of Google Pixel devices as a developer option.

The upcoming desktop mode will reportedly have a familiar desktop interface with a taskbar and a status ...