The Samsung’s new DeX is a step in the best course

The Galaxy Tab S11 sequence is the newest incarnation of Samsung’s flagship pill, and it has some good upgrades over the Tab S10 sequence it replaces. Plenty of the brand new options come from One UI 8, which, amongst different issues, reworks Samsung DeX and bases it on the Android 16 Desktop Mode from Google. A few of these modifications are controversial, however I feel that the brand new imaginative and prescient of Samsung DeX present in One UI 8 is an enormous step ahead total and makes Samsung’s tablets extra productive than ever.

Whenever you open the current apps view, you’ll see the same old grid of open apps. Nevertheless, to the best, a brand new DeX desktop is on the market by swiping in from the best facet of the display screen, as pictured above. When you’re in a DeX desktop for the primary time, you’ll see your property display screen and might start opening apps, which is able to default to opening in pop-up home windows, which you’ll be able to resize, snap to both facet of the show, or open in full display screen.

Not like earlier incarnations of DeX, there’s no ready round for a distinct UI to load, and you’ll swap between them at any time with out dropping your progress. There are advantages to having the 2 experiences stay side-by-side, like having your work apps open in DeX and your Spotify session over within the common interface and swapping between them with none of your apps closing or reloading. You’ll be able to even drag and drop apps between these two modes effortlessly.

This new model of DeX helps as much as 4 desktop environments directly. It really works in the identical manner as Home windows’ digital desktops, so you possibly can organise apps collectively on 4 totally different DeX screens, plus the traditional Android atmosphere, and swap between them as wanted.

On this type, DeX is lastly the seamless multitasking expertise it ought to be, with out the necessity to wait round for issues to load or fear in regards to the apps you’ve got open closing or restarting. It’s an enormous enchancment that may make me extra inclined to make use of DeX extra usually, however there are some downsides.

The most important draw back is that One UI 8 makes use of the usual One UI house display screen whenever you’re utilizing DeX, whereas the previous DeX mode had a separate UI from the remainder of the Android expertise. That previous design featured a Home windows-style taskbar with an app drawer, search shortcut, and navigation buttons on the backside of the display screen. These buttons allowed you to simply carry out duties like going again, going house, and viewing current apps along with your mouse. Likewise, the notifications and fast settings used a UI that was simpler to navigate with a keyboard and mouse.

By ditching that for the usual Android UI, the brand new model of DeX makes the keyboard and mouse really feel like an afterthought, which feels counterintuitive when Samsung sells a keyboard cowl accent for the brand new Tab S11 tablets. Utilizing a mouse to attempt to click on and drag from the sides of the display screen to go house or again feels like a nightmare.

For my part, Samsung ought to’ve left the previous model of DeX the place it was — behind a toggle within the fast settings. Having this new and easier-to-access model for 90% of what we do, whereas having the choice to load up the extra desktop expertise after we want it, seems like an answer that will’ve stored everybody glad. As a substitute, you’ll want to connect with an exterior monitor everytime you need that older expertise.

Drawbacks apart, I do assume this new course for Samsung DeX is an efficient one. The friction that existed within the earlier model is gone, and the touch-friendly interface is healthier for 90% of what I do with my pill. I’d even go so far as to say that the brand new model of DeX is healthier than another multitasking mode I’ve seen on a pill, Apple’s efforts in iPad OS 26 included. Time will inform if the older desktop expertise is reintroduced in future updates, however whether or not it’s or not, I’ve by no means felt extra optimistic about Samsung DeX than I do right now.

Do you see the modifications to Samsung DeX as a great factor, or are you going to overlook the previous model? Tell us.