Google launches new Android desktop mode with multi window, inspired by Samsung DeX

Google has recently announced a new official desktop mode for Android devices, starting with Pixel 8 phones and newer models as well as supported Pixel tablets. These devices can now connect to an external monitor via USB C and launch a desktop style multi window interface, bringing Android closer to a more traditional productivity focused desktop experience, and inevitably recalling what Samsung DeX has offered on other devices for years

Users can connect Pixel devices to USB C monitors or to HDMI displays with a compatible hub. The desktop mode supports a mouse and keyboard, and it also works on foldables. The Pixel Tablet is getting similar improvements, including overlapping and resizable windows for desktop style multitasking. Several apps can run at once, usually around five to seven, and two windows can be placed side by side, though the system still lacks advanced snap tools like those on Windows and does not offer the virtual trackpad style controls available in Samsung DeX.

Google’s desktop mode also supports up to four workspaces, multi user profiles, touchscreen monitors, and AR or XR glasses, while letting users adjust settings such as resolution and orientation. For now, the stable release is only available on Pixel devices, but broader support is expected as other manufacturers adopt Android 16 QPR3. Compatible Pixel users can now access it without needing to enable Developer Options.