The amount these flagships charge for phones, they probably should all have this capability. It is not going to be perfect but as an Apple user, Samsung has a hit with Dex.
Dex has so much potential to be so much more powerful, especially for applications such as Samsung, Adobe, and Microsoft products. Adobe Rush is having a glitch that force closes, in my opinion (I might get some slack here), which is not cool. I might be nitpicking, but the developers should have anticipated that users would use apps like Sheets, Rush Mix, etc. I hope Dex continues to thrive and these issues get fixed. Thank you for another informative video, CNET.
I used dex on note 8 and s 22 ultra both with a dell usb hub monitor. It was great when it worked but many times, it detects the cable but still tries to ask you to find wireless monitors. So, 8/10 times it didn’t work. Hopefully that has been fixed.
Dex has been around for a while. Android's biggest flaw is they don't make commercials highlighting features. Apple is king of focusing on one thing while giving users a minor upgrade on the next gen device.
Yeah I've been using multiple users feature on Android and it's working great for me but not many people know that this feature exists so there are less enhancements over the last few years 😢
Apple is also really good at marketing stuff. They would market it in a way that the one who has hated it all along when android and others had it, they would start to love it and use it and brag because it's now on apple.
They lack focus, commitment, and attention to detail on the software side. It seems like they have this throw anything on the wall and see what sticks corporate culture. For the record, I'm not an Apple fanboy. I've never even owned an iPhone.
Samsung is doing what it can. It's Google that should improve its capability, because honestly it's one of the only few things that they have a leg up against Apple. And I've also used an Android as my main phone for the past 12 years. The only Apple device I have right now is my MacBook Air with the excellent Apple silicon. Else I've always chosen Android for my tablets and phones.
At least Dex is there as a feature if you ever need it. I agree with @diwaalejandrogalvez796 though. It's not so much Samsung, but the apps themselves or the lack of on Android. Most of the apps are designed to be used on phones and in some case tablets but not desktop set ups. Until that changes (perhaps with pressure from Google?), the software experience is always going to be below par.
Can't believe a major channel like CNET dedicated a video to Samsung Dex while lots of "reviewers" fail to even mention it in their reviews. CNET we appreciate you ❤
That is why you always watch someone who knows his phones, someone who knows all the things a phone is capable off and someone who is not Apple biased and last, but not least.. someone who buy his own products and can say whatever the fok he wants when reviewing it. Yes you guessed it right, its Flossy Carter!
Dumb comment. iPhones having a feature like Dex is NOTHING like iPads having MacOS which would actually cannibalize their Macbook sales. iPhones with a Dex feature will NOT eat into Macbook sales whatsoever. Pro users know how much power they need. iPhones use PASSIVE cooling. They lack the power needed for heavy work flows that Macbook Pros can provide.
When using Dex, the browser is gonna be your best friend. Using slack, zoom, Google docs, excel etc will all work better and be more familiar in the browser rather than using the app versions
The smart things combination with the S24 Ultra and the galaxy book altogether is just so convenient, plus with dex you can connect to monitors without carrying any laptop around
great review! one thing I'd add is that most used Windows shortcuts work on Dex, like CTRL+C and CTRL+V for copy and paste for example. also, Dex is available on Samsung tablets and you can use it on the tablet screen it self, it doesn't need to be connected to a monitor for it to work.
This further proves that Samsung has a marketing problem. How come ppl still not know about DEX. Samsung has never made a commercial advertising this key feature. They fail to Sponsor any NBA,NFL, or any Pop culture events to connect with the youth. I love android and use to defend Samsung to the end. But I'm tired of being their PR team. Samsung have a marketing issue and has had one for years.
Exactly. I did not know DeX was existed till one day I couldn't find the phone charger and plug my phone to USB C deck of my laptop to charge phone. DeX immediately show up in my both monitors, I was like wow, so pleasantly surprised. I don't remember using my personal laptop ever since that day.
Videos like these are great for not only the consumer, but the company as well to improve on Dex! Switched to the s24 ultra from my 13PM and it’s been great, would love to see them improve on Dex even more. Overall great video!
In the Western world (with many of us having multiple computing gadgets) this might seem as a cool gimmick but in developing countries Dex could be revolutionary.
Thank you very much for really informative presentation. You did a really good job and I know you haven’t been doing this for very long, but you have great poise and you have a great future. 😊
You can enable an option to have dex at a higher resolution to fix the black bars on either sides when using wide monitor. Also, using apps for Samsung from Samsung appstore also helps with some apps not providing desktop features.
If you didn't know, you can use it Wireless on a Samsung M series monitor and use the USB ports to plug in a wireless keyboard and mouse and wireless mode. You're still able to use your phone
Thank you for taking the time to look at Samsung Dex. Those of us who use Samsung phones fully understand that you can do far more on a Samsung phone than on an iPhone.
Great review and test. Umm I noticed you haven't installed Good Luck and enabled the I love Dex mode within MultiStar. This is a must if you are serious about using Dex for laptop replacement. Those black bars on the monitor 😮. I think enabling High Resolution within MultiStar might fix that. Even though Dex is great, I always end up carrying my laptop, table and foldable lol 😅
Someone at CNET should do a deep dive video into USB-C docks for Samsung Dex. The bandwidth from the USB-C port on flagship Samsung phones is different between models. Dex supports 4K resolution on the S24 Ultra. If I connect a USB-C dock to it, I can run it at 4K 60Hz but if I connect a flash drive or an external hard drive or SSD to the dock then the display output will drop to 4K 30Hz. Someone needs to educate people on the limitations of these USB-C docks. It has compromises.
I’ve try using dex several tones every time I get a new ultra device. Just like you, I love it for certain things for a few days but I ultimately I end up going back to my windows or MacBook machine mainly due to access to my work tasks and sso limitations. But Dex is great for anyone on the go.
You can get rid of those black bars on an Ultrawide monitor if you install Good Lock on your Samsung phone and then within Good Lock you have to install Multistar and enable the I Love Samsung Dex setting.
Nicely Done! DEX should get more attention and developers to maximise the platform! I use it more than my laptops and I am a Management consultant! It is not supposed to replace your laptop, but useful in a pinch. Consider it like a Leatherman Multitool, it does not replace your toolbox but useful in pinch or away from home 😊
Even my firm has the ability to use VDI and they say it is not supposed to replace your work laptop, but is very useful if you are entertaining clients or on business trips and don't want to lug around a laptop that could get lost or stolen. This is also how I use DeX for holidays and trips in hotels using wireless Dex on Samsung TV's with Netflix, spotify and even Xbox Cloud!
For edition of photos and videos I recommend start with the Samsung's Gallery app itself. Surprisingly capable. The collage options, to answer the video at 06:09 , are very easy to use and full of options. The video editing is also competent.
Dex is great! It will never replace a dedicated laptop but I use it from time to time to plug into my work monitor to answer emails and occasionally pull spreadsheet information but as a dedicated work platform it will fall short
I remote view my desktop at home using deX anytime I need a full-fledged computer application. I use Dex almost exclusively every single day from the office. The 3D modeling and printing software I have does not work on phones or tablets so Dex gives me a great ease to remote desktop my home computer and do my 3D work using the full power of the home computer when I need more.
So I have been around computers for a long time... and I have both phones.. an Apple 14 Pro Max and a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. I prefer Samsung because of DEX. I use it a lot. Started with Dex with the Galaxy 8, if I recall.. purchased the cradle for it... And started using it. I like the fact that Office 365 is available for android so nothing to learn... even PowerPoint, excel, outlook user here... so is great. I think that "replacing per se, not yet... but depending on what Samsung pushes developer to invest time and money into the development of DEX. still have a few glitches... with the mouse, the way it reacts, with certain apps with the sizing of the window, etc. I love my Samsung... and I also have 2 Samsung tablets and a Samsung Chromebook. You can see that I am also struggling with my identity. Have an apple watch, want to go to Samsung Watch. LOL
Great video. I feel that the apps not working like they should is due to the app developers, not so much Samsung, but maybe Samsung can put pressure on them to improve. I doubt you'd switch to Android. Apple users have a hard time switching especially with a Samsung device. The Pixel 8 with its class 3 face recognition is probably the best device to get to make that switch as it is not as big of a change since you can still use your face to unlock your phone and all other apps, whereas with Samsung you have to use the fingerprint scanner.
On one side I'm happy to see people are realising how good DeX is and sad that it took this many years for her to know DeX exist! Seems like Samsung prioritised marketing their camera only and not these super useful features!
Since Dex, my tablet has replaced my windows laptop for almost everything. The only time I use my windows laptop is if I need a windows specific application. I think the last time was to do my taxes.
You just need to create a use a google account and sync your bookmarks. That way when you use chrome all you need to do is log in on whatever device in chrome your bookmarks will be available so long as you have logged in.
Maybe the reason why Samsung didnt advertise DeX more often is because of the existence of Samsung laptops. I tried using DeX as my main computer too and it can function like one, given you dont use specific programs.
Dex can be a daily driver it just depends on what kind of work you do. Office 365, or cloud-based applications should work normally it's just the app developer needs to optimise these apps. Modern mobile devices are pretty cable with the hardware we are at almost laptop-level RAM and storage. They just need to optimise these more and most people will forget laptops
Interesting video and DEX looks really great to allow me to carry just my phone and plug into a workstation. My main question is about battery life; did your phone's battery last the whole day? Thanks for the video.
@@thedjogdoggNo it doesn't. HDMI doesn't charge your phone. You need some sort of USB-C dock if you want to charge your phone while it's connected to an external monitor. Very few people have a monitor with a USB-C port that can charge your device while passing video data with a single cable.
I've used DeX specially between 2019 to 2022 as my unique computer and never degraded the battery. After hours of usage, in a wired connection, my battery was always 100% (using the Samsung's Dexpad - but I use a third part hub USB and it's the same thing). Wireless obviously you won't necessarily have the charging feature (but I always connect to a charger when I use that way to maximize my time. PS: uses very little power to operate.
I'm glad DEX still exists even though it's not placed at the forefront of their product features. The problem with these solutions (DEX or Tablet OSes) is that they can never cover that last 10% of the use cases that full PCs/MACs can.
Motorola also offers similar "Smart Connect" which has desktop mode, wireless and wired, and various other features such as phone on your laptop. Cast multiple individual apps to you PC, drag and drop and copy and paste, extend off screen like an monitor. Also connects phone storage as a drive on PC and cameras work as webcams with tracking snd background effects etc. like Dex phone still works while other things are running on monitor . When Apple announces can mirror on same brand laptop and have it in night stand mode and people be like wow. Videos like this are good, sticking to just one brand awareness of what may work for you is lost.
The Dex feature was first tried by Motorola way back with the Atrix. Phones just simply wasn’t powerful enough back then. Now they are. With that said, Apple would never allow this because it would kill their low end Mac sales and even iPad sales in some regard. This is also the reason why they haven’t put full Mac OS on an iPad!
I wish Apple would allow us to use their stage manager feature (which is Apples Implementation of Dex) on iPhones. But sadly its only on iPad Air and Pro without jailbreaks…
I'm pretty sure a team like CNET will have users at different points of DeX spectrum. Some who are DeX masters, and some like her who learns about DeX in 2024.
The 90% is right, and thats probably the case for most people. That 10% is why we all still have a laptop or desktop. This is where a good desktop with decent internet at home and a great remote desktop app on ur phone could bridge that gap.
im more impressed that a daily apple user was even WILLING to try an android product. most apple users i know are diehard users that REFUSE to even keep an open mind.
I think you are confusing Android users with iPhone users here. Android users have so much hatred towards anything Apple, including the users of apple products. Look at the comment section of any comparison… you won’t see an Apple user (hardly) attacking users of other systems with such hatred and animosity as an Android user, mostly Samsung, does. Apple users generally could care less about what phone you use, maybe it’s because the majority use iPhones (and that is a fact) I don’t know but Android/samsung people are toxic… you’ll probably see that in response to this comment so I’ll just sit back and watch them prove what I just stated.
@@robhughes8516 That's because in the real world, Apple users equate Android users to being less wealthy and people of poor taste. Also, Apple phones and tablets, regardless of their enhanced chipsets, the software/ firmware is overly simplified in the name of being easy. Which ironically, most Apple users in the real world (from my experiences) don't even know how to use Airdrop and have a hard time just adding a new contact. Also, despite being impressed of how similar the users experience is across platforms, won't even consider Android in fear of being exiled from their peer group just for being a "green bubble", which is pretty hostile and petty.... that could be a reason why. Or how some people would say, a person who judges by not being an Applyte is an automatic "red flag". 😅
@@wensonchang6077No, he’s right. I’m an Apple user and thinking of switching to the Ultra 24 because I’ve gotten bored of the iPhone. But some Android users are the worst. I know android users that can go on hours long tirades about Apple and Apple products. They are obsessed!
@@mr.mysterious7940 you're an idiot if you think this is exclusive to android users. iphone users are the same, SOME will hate on android just cause it's not an iphone.
i was a total Apple fan boy from 2003 til 2020 when i discovered DEX and havent looked back since. My S21 Ultra replaced my iPhone, MacBook Pro, iPad and iMac. i sold them all last year and dont miss them at all. Thinking of upgrading to the S24 soon but i definately wont be going back to Apple unless they enable DEX like functionality on iPhones. Period.
I think this should be the future of mobile computing instead of tablets transformed into laptops. Every laptop company is transitioning to arm when we already have those processors on our phones.
hahaha, welcome to 2021... I was having teams meetings, playing COD mobile on DEX to a 50" TV with an xbox controller with the audio output at the same time while` doing home "office".
I’m really feeling ready to switch back to android after trying iPhone again for the last 4 years. I got frustrated with using my phone with a windows computer but now may go Samsung with MacBook or iPad. When I had the note 9 I rarely used my laptop but did want the apple ecosystem like features with windows at the time. A lot has changed now and I’m interested to see if I could work with some android and apple hybrid.
I also tried the same experiment for a previous job I had, but found there were still too many quirks with programs, and not to mention the 'lack of' familiar 'productivity' software I required. Until the software experience is more familiar with that of a desktop system, it's never going to work sadly.
The CNET offices are most likely unique but in some offices that are Microsoft centric MFA is required and I wonder if MFA with pop ups would work on a phone.
It does Samsung has a partnership with Microsoft so alot of these features are compatible for enterprise workflows. For example I work at a big 4 consulting firm and I often use samsung dex, citrix and VDI to access my Windows 10 desktop for work, my team do not notice the difference when I am using Dex or my firm issued laptop in many situations. It is not supposed to replace your laptop, but ueful at apinch. Consider it like a Leatherman Multitool, it does not replace your toolbox but ueful in pinch or away from home 😊
Dex can still be pretty glitchy with tablets but it does come in super handy. Apple would be insane to add a feature like this. Apple is here to make money why would they make an iPad/iPhone work like a laptop when they could sell both. Samsung laptops are still pretty disappointing, good thing dex around.
The only problem I see with solely using Dex or something similar is that, how often are you going to be in a situation when traveling to hook up a monitor? Even if you find one, you will still need to carry a keyboard and mouse. Just get a MacBook Air and call it a day!
No, it's not meant for travel. It's for "office" or "home-office" use, clearly. Not even Samsung is pretending to replace your real, usual workstation. They're just adding a very convenient and useful feature for whenever it makes sense.
When it first came out, I know a few RU-vidrs who plugged their phone into their hotel room's HD television, and use that as a monitor. Over the last few years, though, many hotels have made it nearly impossible to access the HDMI ports on the TVs (from my experience).
@@ronaldbardalez6318and when would that be? I keep seeing people say that but can never really give an example. I can maybe see kids using that but in the adult workforce this has no use.
@@ronaldbardalez6318 False. Dex is also meant for traveling. You can carry a portable monitor and a foldable keyboard and compact mouse. It's not hard to do.
Foldable keyboards exist. Rollable keyboards exist. Compact mice exist. They each can fit in a jacket pocket for example and you can all bring a small portable monitor with you in a bookbag. It's not hard to do.
@@nickthaskater My comment was towards the video indicated that DEX is a laptop replacement. It's not. The a great tool from expand your phones productivity but not a laptop replacement.
@@carlostavaresjr958 the video says it can do most of what a PC can do, but that there are key functions which it can't do as well. The video also goes through a number of ways in which it comes up short on the things that it can do. I used DeX as my daily PC for three years. It's absolutely capable of doing the day to day stuff an average person uses a PC for. Suggesting that it's only good to serve as a thin client shows a) you probably haven't actually used DeX, and b) a fundamental misunderstanding of both DeX and remote desktop applications on Android. Your comment is nothing short of misinformation.
I’m an Apple fanboy and this feature has been on Samsung since Galaxy S8 and Microsoft did it earlier with Windows Continuum. How does this information evade someone who works in tech journalism for so long? I’m just a geek, I would assume even Apple users who work in tech journalism know the basics of what Android features are out there. Like Dex. I would be more forgiving to if you said as an Apple user I haven’t given it a full chance, but to outright only learn about it recently… a little strange.
Setup xfce desktop in termux with a debian proot if you really want to use your phone as a laptop replacement. Been using it this way since my Galaxy Note 9. Services like Shadow PC or what I use, GeForce Now help a ton for my gaming needs. Other things I rely on is dosbox in termux/xfce desktop for some of my older games I grew up with and openmw in android since I still love playing morrowind. Although I wish the openmw team would allow multiplayer version on android like they do on pc!
Try Smart Connect on Motorola Edge phones. In my opinion Smart Connect is more capable than Samsung Dex and, as a bonus, the similarly specc'd Motorola Edge phones are usually cheaper than the equivalent Samsung Dex capable phones.
@1:06 - your desk set up and posture is screaming for an adjustment. That poor Veridesk is taking up so much desktop space. Your single monitor is so close to you. It should be at least an arms length away when seated properly. This will benefit your neck, back and eyes. Please ask for an ergo assessment! Your body will thank you later. Be careful! You might not feel discomfort now but soon enough your shoulders, neck and wrists are going to be paying the price. Good luck! 🖥
I have a Chrome tablet that works well as a desktop with keyboard/mouse attached and works like an Android tablet including Google apps with keyboard detached. Desktop mode works great because Chrome OS is inherently a desktop OS, then sandboxes for Android is added. I wish someone would come up with a phone with Chrome OS. It would work better than DeX.
Weird that you can't do collages in Express, meaning you'd have to go back and forth between it and Samsung Gallery to do what you'd normally do in one application. Patching Rush could fix that issue, so other than that, ig not too bad of an experience for you. Great to know!, as I was considering purchasing a monitor and using DeX instead of purchasing a laptop. I currently have a Book Go, but Windows is getting weird and there are certain mobile experiences for my work that are superior or just non-existent on PC.
Samsung should build some ultra thin foldable screen+keyboard (similar to laptop, but without processor, graphic card, etc) to compliment dax. At the moment you still need external monitor, keyboard, mouse.
Samsung and Android has a marketing problem. Features like this shoud be highlighted when it comes to phones. I'm thinking about switching from my Iphone 13 Pro Max to thr S24 Ultra.
DEX is one of the best features available on some Galaxy phones that seems to be kept a secret and not advertised or many people know about it. Samsung needs to improve some of the DEX features (although it does almost everything most want already) and make it available on more phones.🤳 Who knows, maybe Apple will offer something like DEX for iPhone someday and call it the most revolutionary feature no mankind has seen before. 😂😂
much as apple is a much more polished system but they restrictions they are downright unnecessary...I mean its only now i realize iphone users couldn't configure the lockscreen flash/camera shortcuts...again a giagantic device like the Max doesn't have even a basic mutiwindow feature is strictly embarrassing.
My most annoying setting is the mouse scroll wheel direction. I'm used to scroll in reverse on macOS. I wish there was a setting to revert that on Dex. Mouse use is confusing because of it.
