Imagine a bustling market in Lagos, Nigeria. And now Thabo, a kid entrepreneur, is hustling to close deals and stock inventory. He doesn’t bat an eye when communicating with suppliers—that’s due to his Z Flip 7. Say goodbye to hauling a big laptop around—his pocket PC is good to go. He plugs it into a borrowed monitor at a friend’s electronics repair shop and bam! Because of DeX, a complete desktop experience comes to life. This is the democratization of productivity—and it’s occurring, in real-time, right in front of our eyes. With DeX finally coming to the Z Flip 7, the clamshell can be a powerful tool in your pocket. This device could change how entrepreneurs, students and creatives work all across Africa.

DeX Unleashes Untapped Computing Power

For most people in Africa, a desktop computer is a luxury. The cost, the power consumption, the sheer impracticality in places that frequently cut electricity… It’s not a small thing. But nearly everyone has a phone. Pair that with DeX capabilities on the Z Flip 7, and overnight you turn that phone into a serious possible option. Think about it: access to Microsoft Office, graphic design tools, video editing software – all running on a device that fits in your pocket. And it isn’t just a matter of convenience – it’s a matter of access. It’s not about picking winners and losers—it’s about creating a more level playing field and providing everyone the tools they need to succeed and prosper.

This is the beauty of DeX, its simplicity. You’ll need to modify, for example, unlocking the phone while it’s still folded. Or, connect it via HDMI to an actual desktop monitor and experience the full desktop feel! Apps launch in floating windows. It’s a rich, fun, familiar, intuitive interface, not a lame, cut-down mobile version.

Touchpad's Absence: A Missed Opportunity

The big "but." Samsung took the decisive action. For whatever reason, they decided not to leverage the Z Flip 7’s cover screen as a touchpad when in DeX mode. Seriously? Why? This seems like omitting a key ingredient from what could be a hugely game-changing recipe.

Consider Thabo again. He’s accustomed to the way his phone operates, where he swipes and taps. Now all of a sudden, he’s having to basically be dependent on a different mouse or keyboard. It breaks up his flow, it makes him have to carry another piece of gear, and just honestly, we feel like that’s going backward. To start, that cover screen is literally staring at you, trackpad pleasingly formatted!

I understand the Razr trade-off: they have the cover screen touchpad, but lack a wired desktop mode on newer models. The Z Flip 7 takes the prize there, hands down. But as an end user, I don’t want to have to choose between the two.

One reason that the missing touchpad isn’t just a minor annoyance is that it severely complicates usability. This concern might seriously tarnish the utility of DeX on Z Flip 7, particularly in African markets, where availability of DeX peripherals are limited by nature. Consider that a research admin might share their crowded bus scenario. Phone, keyboard, mouse, and small screen would be a nightmare especially for something like a spreadsheet navigation. It's not exactly a recipe for productivity.

Samsung, Hear The People's Cry

This isn’t purely a case of lacking features, it’s about recognizing the emotional needs of your users. Understanding the future positive benefits for a cover screen touchpad. This one, albeit simple, addition would really let DeX shine and raise the Z Flip 7 from a cool device to a true revolution.

I urge Samsung: listen to the users. Listen to the voices from Africa who are first in line to adopt this technology. Include an external cover screen touchpad on future Z Flip models. It’s a modest tweak that would create the potential for a huge breakthrough.

Don’t allow this latest missed opportunity to throw us off from what should be a pocket PC revolution. The T&Cs and requirements aside, the Z Flip 7 with DeX can really boost the power of millions. It’s democratizing access to computing power and is unlocking new opportunities. Let's make it happen. Surprisingly, Android’s desktop future is looking very bright. Through innovation and cooperation, we can create tools that truly help communities everywhere reach their fullest potential.