Users of Samsung smartphones are likely familiar with the DeX feature, which allows them to connect their phones to an external monitor and display a desktop-like UI. While Samsung has been doing DeX for a long time, Google’s side has never released a similar feature. Despite Android having a desktop mode feature since Android 10, it has never been made available for the general public.
In the latest update of Android 14, QPR3 Beta 2, Google has finally enabled the DisplayPort Alternate Mode for Pixel 8. This allows users to connect a USB-C cable to an external monitor. Currently, when connected, only a mirror display is shown, which is a replica of the phone screen. However, users can now toggle the force desktop mode to display a desktop screen (which currently doesn’t have much functionality).
Mishaal Rahman, a prominent Android feature digger, predicts that Google will begin testing this feature quietly and may officially launch it in Android 15 and Pixel 9 to be released in the latter half of the year.
Source – Android Authority
TLDR: Google has enabled display output on a Pixel phone for the first time with Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2, allowing users to mirror their screen to an external display using DisplayPort Alternate Mode.
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