Sldnug – The latest smartphones offer high computing power for multitasking, but the limitation of a narrower screen makes multitasking difficult. Well, armed with Samsung DeX connected to a monitor, keyboard and mouse, you can forget about your laptop or desktop PC forever.
Samsung DeX ushers in a new era of mobile powered desktop computers, enabling users to turn their smartphones into PCs in an instant. Currently, the Samsung DeX platform is embedded in many of the latest Samsung devices, including the Galaxy Note20 series.
To use Samsung DeX, you need a monitor, HDMI adapter and peripherals. And with the new Galaxy Note20, you can use DeX wirelessly on most Miracast TVs.
If you’re new to DeX, here’s a guide to help you understand how it works and the benefits it can provide.
1. Adjust the screen display settings
The first time you use DeX, you will be prompted to verify that the desktop is properly displayed on your monitor or TV. If the corner of the DeX desktop does not fit the screen, you will need to open the monitor or TV settings menu to adjust the scale. This usually happens on TVs with a picture that can be adjusted to a certain aspect ratio. Choose the “fit to screen” option and you’re done.
2. Screen mirroring versus DeX mode
In the notification menu of the smartphone, you will see several new options after connecting it to a monitor, including the option to switch between screen mirroring and DeX mode.
As the name suggests, screen mirroring only reflects what’s on the smartphone screen on the monitor. Screen mirroring is useful in some scenarios, but DeX mode gives you a completely different desktop computing experience and is fully optimized for productivity work on a larger screen. Tap the notification to enter DeX mode.
3. Use your smartphone as a touch pad
You will also see an option to use the smartphone as a touchpad in the notification menu of the smartphone. After selecting this, you can use your finger or the S Pen to navigate within DeX.
This is useful if you don’t have a mouse and want to open applications, PowerPoint, or video, especially if you’re using DeX in presentation settings. When using DeX on a tablet, you can also use the screen as a graphics card for sketching and drawing.
4. Start and maximize the mobile application
All of Samsung’s core apps are optimized for DeX, which means you can resize and maximize apps. You can also right click and use keyboard shortcuts. There are dozens of third-party applications fully optimized for DeX, including the Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Photoshop Lightroom, Photoshop Sketch, Gmail, Chrome, BlueJeans, GoToMeeting and all the leading VDI clients, and many more.
5. Activate DeX Labs
DeX Labs provides access to “experimental” features that are not officially supported. Two features currently include the ability to allow DeX to force the size of applications and to automatically open recently used applications.
To activate, click on the DeX logo at the bottom right of your screen, open DeX Labs and activate the feature. Now when you open an app that is not optimized for DeX, you will be given the option to forcibly resize it. This allows you to view it in a larger window or even in its fully maximized view.
Which screens work with DeX?
Wired DeX works on most monitors or TVs with an HDMI port, but the resolutions and aspect ratios supported vary depending on the mobile device and adapter used. After connecting to a monitor or TV, open your settings and click the DeX menu.
There you will see the supported screen resolutions for your installation. You may also need to adjust the settings on the monitor or TV to ensure that the content does not overlap the edges of the screen.
For wireless DeX, most Smart TVs will work with Miracast, but the Samsung Smart TVs released from 2019 will provide the best experience.