Samsung DeX transforms the Galaxy S8 into a desktop

Samsung’s new flagship phones, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, don’t just stay on your hands as handsets, but also double as a portable desktop experience when you require it. Called the Samsung DeX, the setup offers an Android-based desktop-like experience that allows seamless access to apps, documents, web browsing, online content, and more — right from the phone to a larger display.

Samsung DeX, as good as the name, is basically a station you place the Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus on, provided that you’ve a screen, mouse and keyboard connected, to witness a unique desktop experience, with multiple resizable windows, contextual menus, and a desktop version web browser.

The South Korean electronics maker has key collaborations with Microsoft and Adobe for Samsung DeX, upbringing DeX-compatible Microsoft Office and Adobe Mobile Apps, including Adobe Acrobat Reader and Lightroom Mobile. Surprisingly enough, the DeX also supports virtual desktops through partner solutions including Citrix, VMware and Amazon Web Services. Everything is running on Galaxy S8’s 10nm processor and 4GB of RAM, as far as processing is concerned.

“The smartphone has become the central point for the modern mobile professional, and when giving a presentation or editing documents remotely, it means they can work effectively using just their smartphone. We developed Samsung DeX with the highly mobile worker in mind, giving them a convenient and flexible desktop experience,” said Injong Rhee, CTO of the Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics.

“Our collaboration with key partners such as Adobe and Microsoft was essential in the development of Samsung DeX, as they share our vision for building excellence in mobile productivity. With Samsung DeX, enterprise users can also be assured their smartphone and data are protected by the Samsung Knox security platform built into the smartphone. Samsung DeX redefines what a smartphone can do to keep mobile professionals productive.”

The DeX station is equipped with two USB 2.0, Ethernet, USB Type-C power-in and a cooling fan, of course. Moreover, the station can charge the phone quickly while connected, thanks to Adaptive Fast Charging (AFC). The company is yet to provide us with exact pricing and availability information, but it does mention that the DeX Station will be offered in select Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus bundles, depending upon the region.