Why Samsung's DeX Should Be 'Accepted More Than Ever' With Galaxy Note10 Launch
Galaxy Note10 users will be able to more easily access the DeX Android desktop by plugging into a Windows PC or Mac over USB-C.
The latest updates to Samsung's DeX Android desktop feature show a greater maturity for the technology and should help adoption, an analyst told CRN.
The updates are first debuting with the launch of the Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ devices this month.
[Related: Samsung’s Galaxy Note10 Gets Improved DeX, 2 Screen Sizes, 5G Model]
DeX is Samsung's feature that lets users pull up an Android desktop on an external screen by plugging in a Galaxy device. Samsung has been continually updating and simplifying DeX since introducing it—originally using a separate dock—with the Galaxy S8 in 2017.
With the Note10, users can access their DeX desktop on a PC (Windows 10 or 7) or a Mac, just by plugging the Note10 into the computer using a USB-C to USB-C cable.
That way, users can get easier access to a keyboard or mouse for use with DeX. So long as users have access to another PC or Mac, they can potentially leave their laptop at home and just use the Note10 as their sole device, Samsung said.
Users have the ability to move files back and forth between the two devices, and can use DeX in full-screen mode on the secondary computer, the company said.
"Modularity is one of the hardest tech aspects to get right. I have to give Samsung credit as the company keeps plugging away at it and improving it generation after generation," said Patrick Moorhead, president and principal analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy, in a message to CRN. "There are already companies successfully using DeX, particularly in law enforcement, banking and transportation. Each generation, DeX gets better and Samsung continues to remove objections, which opens it up to more users."
Ultimately, "I think this version of DeX will be accepted more than ever for a few reasons," Moorhead said. "Every Note10 owner has a PC with a keyboard, trackpad and display and will connect to it. There are no extra cables or docks or displays or keyboards required, so it’s simple."
The latest DeX update is also a key indicator of the expanded partnership between Samsung and Microsoft.
Other upgrades for the Galaxy Note10 include better interoperability between the device and Windows 10 PCs—such as through Microsoft's Your Phone app, which will let users view text messages and notifications from the Note10 on a PC.
"The new announcements from Samsung and Microsoft will bring some great synergy and process flow to corporate Windows 10 users. It will be interesting to see how the partnership continues to grow," said Marco Nielsen, vice president of managed mobility services at Stratix, a Norcross, Ga.-based MSP and partner of Samsung, in an email to CRN. "I think it will spur more usage of mobile devices with your Windows 10 devices. It's a natural progression of how we want our data accessible on any device, at any time."
The 6.3-inch Galaxy Note10 and 6.8-inch Galaxy Note10+ will be available on Aug. 23. Preorders are open, and the Note10 starts at $949.99 with the Note10+ starting at $1,099.99.