The Samsung DeX platform has always been an intriguing concept: turning your smartphone into a desktop-like experience with an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It holds the dream of a world where you can ditch your laptop and still produce professional-grade work. How well does DeX work on the new Z Flip 7? Does it finally live up to the hype of being a real laptop replacement or is it a letdown? Li Wei is a blockchain content strategist with a passion for emerging technologies. Then, goes beyond the hype to provide a more grounded opinion after going deep into the DeX experience on the Z Flip 7.

DeX on the Z Flip 7: A Mixed Bag

Given the lack of specific information about DeX support for the Z Flip 7 in official materials, it's important to approach this review with a degree of speculation based on past trends and the phone's capabilities. In terms of history, DeX support hasn’t really been a standard for every Samsung device, and the lack of a specific mention is pretty striking. Let's explore what DeX could offer on the Z Flip 7, assuming it's included, and where it might stumble.

One of the largest possible benefits to using DeX on the Z Flip 7 would be its portability. The Z Flip 7 is, despite our disappointments, still a fun and portable little powerhouse. The possibility of carrying a full-fledged “computer” in your pocket was incredibly enticing. You can simply plug it into a bigger screen whenever you want to! The Z Flip 7 provides an experience that’s completely natural with one hand. This ingenious design increases its portability, making the Dynamite Stick a clever and convenient partner to your everyday carry. This means users could hypothetically work from anywhere with a monitor and peripherals, transforming any space into a potential workspace.

In the Galaxy Z Flip 7, these possibilities open up much deeper personalization. This much-needed level of customization should be reflected in the DeX environment. Users will have more power to customize their desktop experience to meet their individual needs and workflows. Picture this—being able to personalize the DeX interface with personalized widgets, layouts and themes. This kind of personalization would help to pretty massively enhance productivity while making the DeX experience really feel like it’s truly your own.

Strengths of DeX on the Z Flip 7 (Potential)

For the sake of argument, let’s assume that the Z Flip 7 does have DeX built in. What would be its strengths?

  • Portability: This is the most obvious advantage. The Z Flip 7 is incredibly pocketable, making it easy to carry your "computer" with you wherever you go.
  • Productivity Boost: With a larger screen, keyboard, and mouse, DeX can significantly improve productivity compared to working solely on the phone's screen. The potential for multi-app usage, a staple of DeX, would allow users to work on multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Familiar Desktop Environment: DeX provides a familiar desktop-like interface, making it easy for users to transition from a traditional computer to their phone-powered setup.
  • Enhanced Personalization: As mentioned earlier, the Z Flip 7's personalization options could extend to DeX, allowing for a tailored and efficient workspace.

Weaknesses and Limitations

Even in its best possible implementation, DeX on the Z Flip 7 no doubt wouldn’t be without significant drawbacks.

  • Lack of Innovation: DeX, as a platform, hasn't seen significant innovation in recent years. It still largely relies on the same basic interface and features it had when it was first introduced.
  • Window Management Limitations: Compared to desktop operating systems like Windows or macOS, DeX's window management capabilities are relatively limited. This can make it difficult to manage multiple applications and windows efficiently.
  • App Compatibility: Not all Android apps are optimized for DeX, which can lead to a subpar experience with some applications. Some apps may not scale properly to the larger screen, or they may not support keyboard and mouse input.
  • Processing Power Limitations: While the Z Flip 7 is a powerful phone, it's still not as powerful as a dedicated laptop. Demanding tasks like video editing or gaming may not perform as well on DeX as they would on a laptop.

DeX vs. the Competition: Motorola's Ready For

Samsung isn’t the only company attempting to make the phone-desktop hybrid work. Other OEMs parallel this work too – take Motorola’s “Ready For” as another example. Just like Google’s own Ready For Asks, Motorola’s software allows you to connect your Motorola phone to an external display. You can use it as a desktop computer, gaming console or video conferencing hub!

While both DeX and Ready For aim to achieve the same goal, there are some key differences:

  • Interface: DeX offers a more traditional desktop-like interface, while Ready For provides a more streamlined and simplified experience.
  • Features: DeX generally offers a wider range of features and customization options compared to Ready For.
  • Compatibility: DeX is only available on Samsung devices, while Ready For is available on select Motorola phones.

To summarize, the ideal solution for you will come down to your use case needs and what features are most important to you. If you want the most traditional desktop experience, DeX has the most depth to its features. It could still be the right option for you. Ready For If you want to have a more streamlined, simpler experience, then Ready For would probably be the better choice.

A DeX Wishlist for the Future

If Samsung wants to make DeX a truly compelling laptop replacement, there are several features they should consider adding:

  • Snap Layouts: Similar to Windows 11, snap layouts would allow users to quickly and easily arrange windows on the screen. This would significantly improve window management and multitasking.
  • Improved App Compatibility: Samsung should work with developers to ensure that more Android apps are optimized for DeX. This would improve the overall experience and make DeX a more viable platform for productivity.
  • Cloud Integration: Tighter integration with cloud services like Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive would make it easier to access and manage files on DeX.
  • More Powerful Hardware: While the Z Flip 7 is a capable device, future Samsung phones should prioritize even more powerful processors and graphics cards to handle demanding tasks on DeX.

The Verdict: Is DeX on the Z Flip 7 a Laptop Killer?

The limited information so far makes me think that DeX on the Z Flip 7 will not be a real “laptop killer” for most users. This conclusion is drawn after spending time with past iterations of DeX. It provides real opportunity to improve portability and productivity. Even then, it is still hampered by app compatibility, window management feature set, and raw processing power.

For users who primarily need to browse the web, check email, and create basic documents, DeX on the Z Flip 7 could be a viable laptop replacement. If you want to run resource-intensive programs, a laptop is still your best option. It provides legacy consumers with the more desktop-centered business model they want.

The Z Flip 7's FlexWindow, while innovative, appears more geared towards enhancing the phone's core functionality rather than directly boosting DeX capabilities. Curated wallpaper suggestions, curated wallpaper recommendations, and emoji customization are both super attractive features. They don’t really address the lack of core functionality that makes DeX a very poor desktop environment.

How well DeX works on the new Z Flip 7 will largely be up to what improvements Samsung brings to its platform. It depends on how well developers have adapted their apps for the new, larger screen and keyboard/mouse input. We’re hoping to get a more practical walk-through of DeX on the Z Flip 7. Until then, we can’t recommend it with confidence as a replacement for your laptop. Taking into account the past disappointments and current state of the proposal, it is better to get excited about the concept than the reality. We’ll see soon enough whether the Z Flip 7 can truly bridge the gap between smartphone convenience and desktop productivity. Otherwise, it will simply continue to be a niche value-added feature for a small number of users.