Android 16 is finally here, but unfortunately, some of the best features are still on the horizon. One upcoming tool that I’ve been keeping a particularly close eye on is Android 16’s Desktop Mode, currently available in the QPR1 Beta 2. It’s been a while since I gave Samsung’s equivalent Dex setup a go, so I’m very keen to see what’s different, what’s new, and how far things have come.
Eager to try it out, I grabbed my Pixel 9 Pro XL, installed the latest beta, and decided to try working on my phone for a few hours (including writing this article) to see how it goes.
Will you use Android's Desktop Mode when it launches? 334 votes Yes 78 % No 4 % Not sure 15 % I'm already using the beta 3 %
If you’re tempted to dip your toes in, you’ll need a few things first: QPR1 Beta 2 installed on a Pixel with DisplayPort capabilities, Developer Mode enabled with the “Enable desktop experience features” toggle checked, and a USB-C cable connected to a DisplayPort-compatible display. That’s it for the basics, so let’s dive in.
Peripherals galore
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
If you’re planning to use a phone as a PC, peripherals better darn well work easily. Thankfully, I had no trouble pairing my wireless keyboard and mouse to the Pixel 9 Pro XL via Bluetooth. As you’d expect, a couple of quick taps was all it took — if anything, the trickiest part was remembering how to pair my keyboard with a second device.
For the rest of my setup, I used the same USB-C dock/hub that’s usually paired with my laptop; it connects everything over a single cable, including my HDMI monitor, USB audio interface hooked up to speakers, 1 Gbps Ethernet, various USB-A/C ports, and a microSD card reader for photo work.
The good news? The Pixel connected instantly to my display, looked crisp on my 1080p panel, and didn’t require any tweaking for icon sizing (though that option exists). It also automatically routed audio through the USB interface, meaning I could use my regular speakers with no extra setup. Hallelujah—this actually feels like the real deal. Just plug and play.
I feared that Android's Desktop Mode would fail at this first peripheral hurdle, but it nails it.
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