The article suggests various ways to repurpose old Samsung phones, such as using Samsung DeX for a desktop experience, turning the device into a media player, a smart home hub, or a portable gaming console through cloud gaming, instead of selling or discarding it.
Samsung's One UI 8 update for Galaxy Tab S10 series introduces the Now Brief feature, part of the Galaxy AI suite, providing personalized information like weather, calendar, news, and media summaries, enhancing user experience on tablets.
Samsung's new DeX on the Galaxy Tab S11, based on Android 16 Desktop Mode and integrated into One UI 8, offers a more seamless multitasking experience with side-by-side app management and up to four desktop environments, though it sacrifices the traditional Windows-style UI for a standard Android interface, which some users may find less keyboard and mouse friendly.
The article discusses the evolution of smartphone and tablet multitasking capabilities, highlighting how Samsung's DeX and Google's Desktop Mode are advancing mobile productivity, while Apple has been slow to adopt similar features, especially for iPhones, which still lack robust multitasking options like split-screen or floating windows. The future of mobile computing is moving towards desktop-like experiences, either through foldable devices or external docks, but Apple remains behind in this trend.
A user tested replacing their laptop with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 using Samsung DeX, connecting it to a monitor and peripherals. While setup was easy, using the phone as a mouse and keyboard was uncomfortable and impractical, and battery life was a major issue. Overall, the phone can function as a PC with accessories, but it’s not a viable full replacement for a laptop due to usability and portability concerns.
Google has released the stable Android 16 update for Pixel phones and tablets, introducing features like Live Updates, desktop mode, HDR screenshots, improved security, and better support for foldable devices, with many features expected to be included in upcoming One UI 8.0 updates for Samsung devices.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, offers a robust gaming experience when paired with Samsung Dex and a gaming monitor or TV. Dex supports native Android gaming, cloud gaming, and emulation with robust performance. The S23 Ultra is also an incredibly powerful gaming emulator, capable of reproducing the performance of past gaming consoles. Dex also allows users to run multiple apps simultaneously, making it a versatile solution for work and productivity.