Samsung Dex Station - Review of the workstation for your Galaxy S8. The best docking stations for Samsung smartphones Big overview of the dex docking station
The era of smartphones began more than ten years ago, but even then many users realized that they had not just a phone in their pocket, but a full-fledged computer. It is not surprising that manufacturers began to produce various versions of devices for using a smartphone as a desktop PC.
Microsoft can boast of the first truly successful solution, which in 2015 introduced its flagship Lumia 950 with support for the Continuum function. You can read more about this in our . However, it was difficult to call Microsoft's solution ideal. The engineers continued to conjure in their closets. Another proposal on how to turn a smartphone into a full-fledged working tool was made by Samsung, and today we will see what the Korean minds have come up with in our review.
Design and layout of Samsung DeX elements
The first thing worth noting is that not only Samsung engineers, but also designers worked on the creation of DeX. The device itself is round and made of practical black plastic. It will not take up much space on your desk and will not spoil appearance workspace.
All the ports are located on the back of the docking station: two USB 2.0, HDMI, USB Type-C and a full Ethernet connector.
Using regular USB 2.0, you can connect various peripherals to work with DeX. HDMI is needed to connect a monitor, and Ethernet is needed for a wired connection to the Internet (if required). USB Type-C powers DeX and charges your smartphone.
In this case, the question arises: “Where should I connect the smartphone, since all the ports are occupied?” And everything is very simple. With a slight movement of the hand “pants turn“... the top cover moves to a vertical position (a slider mechanism is used here) and a platform for a smartphone with a USB Type-C plug opens, through which you connect your phone to DeX.
But there were some problems, and it couldn’t be otherwise. DeX does not have a 3.5mm audio output. Therefore, sound output occurs directly through the speakers of the smartphone itself or through external wireless sound sources - Bluetooth speakers or headphones. I tested DeX in conjunction with and it’s worth noting that the smartphone’s dynamics were sufficient for comfortable use. The volume was enough for both listening to music and watching movies in a noisy company.
DeX: what is it and what is it eaten with?
Even a child can connect Samsung DeX; there’s nothing complicated about it. The speed is also pleasing. From the moment you insert your smartphone into DeX until the system fully boots up, it takes about 10 seconds.
Samsung did a great job when adapting the system to work on large displays. Externally, the DeX work environment resembles that of Windows. You have a desktop with shortcuts, the bottom panel where the open source software, an analogue of the “start” button with a list of installed applications. Let me note, in case anyone doesn’t understand, DeX is not a separate operating system, it’s just an add-on to Android. To put it bluntly, this is a launcher. And this is a plus, not a minus. After all, in this case, most Android applications installed on your smartphone work with DeX.
But there is a second side to the coin - application developers must adapt them to work in DeX, but there are not very many such applications. And again Samsung engineers come to the forefront, making it possible to scale applications for comfortable work on the big screen. You can stretch application windows to the size you need, as is done in Windows and MacOS.
But not everything is so good - after all, there are applications that cannot be scaled. In them you can only choose in which orientation to run the program: portrait or landscape. But this is a criticism of the developers of specific software, and not a complaint against Samsung.
Although I will also throw a pebble into the Koreans’ garden so that they don’t relax: not all branded applications can even be scaled, not to mention fully functional. In a week of use, I found only one application that flatly refused to launch on DeX - the UFC game. But for a game this is forgivable; after all, DeX is not a gaming console.
What can you do with Samsung DeX? Yes, almost everything is the same as what the average PC and smartphone user does now. Browsing, watching movies, YouTube videos, listening to music, manipulating files and folders, working with text editors, photo processing, communicating via in social networks– this is my standard set of tasks when working on a laptop, and DeX handled them easily.
Let's go in order. The Chrome browser is perfectly adapted to work with DeX, and the appearance is practically no different from the usual one Chrome browser for Windows or MacOS. You can watch movies directly from the browser or using your favorite application. Samsung's standard My Files application is great for working with files and folders.
By default, all Samsung smartphones have a pre-installed package Microsoft Office. It is perfectly adapted to work with DeX, but not everything is so simple. To run Microsoft applications on DeX, you will need a subscription to Office 365 services. But the light did not fall on the solution from the “small-soft” ones; you can download any text editor convenient for you from Google Play. for example, the Google Docs set completely satisfies my needs.
To edit the photos, I used the Snapseed app, which I use on my smartphone. I had enough of it. If you need higher-quality and professional processing, then applications from Adobe are available on Google Play, the capabilities of which are almost the same as those of the desktop versions.
The most important thing is that by connecting your smartphone to DeX, you do not lose it completely. Messages, calls, notifications - you can continue to interact with all of this while simultaneously working with applications on the big screen.
Koreans have not forgotten about data security. If your smartphone has any authorization method installed when unlocking the screen, then no one will be able to get into Samsung DeX just like that. You can unlock your device using a password, a fingerprint scanner, or an iris scan. The latter is present more for show, since to scan the phone you need to bring it to your face at a distance of 10-15 centimeters, and when it is connected to DeX, this is problematic. But unlocking using a fingerprint scanner is very convenient.
When you start actively working with Samsung DeX, simultaneously opening a bunch of links in the browser, playing a video in the background and working with documents, the smartphone starts to heat up. But even here, the smart Koreans have provided for everything - a small cooler is built into the docking station that cools your smartphone.
conclusions
What can we say in the end? Such technologies are the future. Yes, it’s still too early to say that a smartphone combined with DeX can fully replace a desktop PC. The main problem with Samsung's solution is the lack of software and its incomplete adaptation to work on a larger screen. But even in this state, there are already large companies that have purchased Samsung DeX for their employees for office work. Knowing Samsung’s capabilities, I am sure that the company will not abandon this idea and will improve it every year, releasing more and more applications adapted for the DeX platform.
The Samsung DeX docking station allows you to turn your Galaxy S8 or S8+ into almost a full-fledged PC. All that remains is to add a keyboard and mouse with Bluetooth or USB interfaces. This device is definitely worthy of a separate review.
Externally, DeX looks like a small black cylinder. It weighs only 230 g and easily fits, for example, in a backpack and can be taken on a trip. There is a built-in fan to cool the Galaxy S8.
Separately, Samsung DeX will cost about $150, but the manufacturer and its partners have not yet announced the official cost of the device. Sales of the accessory in Russia are expected from April 21; pre-orders cannot yet be made.
Myself Samsung Galaxy The S8 connects via USB Type-C and can be charged during operation (the docking station is powered by the standard charger included with the smartphone). Adaptive Fast Charging (AFC) is supported.
Samsung DeX interfaces
- USB Type-C In - for connecting a smartphone
- USB Type-C Out - for connecting power
- 2 x USB 2.0 - for mouse, keyboard and other supported devices, such as flash drives
- HDMI Out - for connecting a monitor and TV
- Ethernet 1 Gbit - for connecting to a wired network
System interface
The Samsung Galaxy S8 firmware includes a deeply customized shell, which is activated only when connected to DeX and simulates a desktop quite well - there is a windowed interface.
Some “essential” applications are also adapted to run in PC mode:
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- OneNote
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Skype
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
- Adobe Photoshop Express
- Adobe Photoshop Mix
- Behance
- Hancom Office
- Amazon WorkSpaces
- Citrix Receiver
- VMware Horizon Client
- YouTube
- Gmail
- Google Drive
- Chrome Browser - Google
- Google Play Movies & TV
- Google Play Music
- Google Photos
- Play Store
- AutoCAD Mobile
- Naver
- KakaoTalk
- Lineage 2 Revolution
- The Tribez
Some of them are paid. Holders of special Galaxy versions S8 Microsoft Edition also features a customized version of Outlook. The rest of the apps run with Samsung DeX as standard Android apps.
In general, the Galaxy S8 is not the first smartphone from the Korean company that has the ability to “turn” into a PC using a docking station. This was also present in the Galaxy Note 2 and later laptops, but the shell differed little from the standard TouchWiz.
The evolution of the Android interface when running in PC mode is interesting. If Microsoft makes a desktop Windows version increasingly mobile-like, Samsung went in the opposite direction and introduced support for windowed mode as the main one when working with DeX.
The system interface in PC mode on the Galaxy S8 is reminiscent of “light” graphical shells for Linux like XFCE: icons on the desktop, a compact notification panel at the bottom right and the Start menu on the left.
- Full multitasking with the ability to open a potentially unlimited number of windows (it all depends on system performance).
- "Hot keys" for greater ease of control.
- Drag & Drop most elements.
- Context menu when clicking the right mouse button.
Official video presentation of Samsung DeX
The idea of turning a smartphone into an analogue of a PC arose several years ago. Then the company created the Windows Continuum project, which meant working operating system on the big screen.
The idea was that, using a multimedia station, the user could display all actions related to the smartphone on the computer monitor. But due to shortcomings and shortcomings, the project never received recognition.
The smartphone overheated, most applications were not available, and the system performance was too low, that was all over, and the project was closed.
But the idea, nevertheless, remained alive, and this time the company picked it up and released the device Samsung Dex Station.
It is not compatible with all phone models, even from the company itself, but happy owners of flagship Samsung smartphones Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus can already test the docking station in operation and experience all the privileges.
To be able to work with smartphone applications and functions on a large screen, you must firstly have the same large screen, which can be a computer monitor or even a TV. Secondly, the regime Dex has its own interface, which is controlled using a keyboard and mouse. Therefore, it is worth first studying the entire mechanism of the station’s operation and figuring out whether the purchase would be superfluous. All the intricacies of using the accessory are further in the review.
Equipment and design
Device Sold in black cardboard packaging with a picture of the device itself.
Apart from the multimedia station, there are no additional accessories included in the package.
Multimedia station Samsung Dex Station made of plastic, has a round shape, and when folded looks like a washer. The standard color is black. The device dimensions are 105.2x105.2x47.5mm and weighs only 230 grams.
The sliding back serves as a support for the smartphone and at the same time it is a cooler. During long hours of operation, the hardware of any smartphone heats up in one way or another, and the cooler saves it from overheating. Inside the device there is a connector for pairing with a smartphone and transferring data. There are 5 different connectors on the outside.
In Fig. 4, arrows 1 indicate USB type “A” connectors.
USB type "A":
They are necessary to connect a mouse, keyboard or external flash memory drive.
You can also connect wireless and wireless headphones to these connectors, because there is no special 3.5 mm connector here.
HDMI:
Using this connection, the picture from the phone is displayed on the monitor screen.
To connect an HDMI cable, you need to connect one end of the cable to the corresponding connector of the station, and the other to a TV or computer monitor.
The cable is not included and must be purchased separately.
LAN:
To access the Internet, the device allows you to use either a network mobile operator to which the smartphone is connected.
If there are no such available networks, you can use the Internet cable directly.
To do this, you need to connect the LAN cable to the LAN connector on the device.
The external USB-C connector is designed to connect a charger of the same type.
To connect your smartphone to DexStation, you need to press the lid and push it up with a light movement. It will open and create a bowl shape - a phone stand.
A connector will appear inside to which a mobile device with a USB-C connector is connected. The cover-stand has ventilation holes.
- The cover-stand can injure your fingers when changing the angle.
- It is necessary to protect the cooler and, in general, the entire gadget from getting liquid and dirt.
- The connection to the smartphone may be disrupted if it is in a protective case.
- For charging, you can only connect devices with a Type - C output, otherwise the docking station may fail.
- Only chargers with a power of 9 V/1.67 A can be used; 9 V/2 A; 12V/2.1A.
- The multimedia station only works while charging. To save energy, it is recommended to turn off Charger from power supply, if DexStation not used.
Price
You can use the touch display of a connected smartphone for control.
If the phone rang?
If during work an incoming call is received, then the calling contact with a nickname and even a photo (if installed) is also displayed on the monitor, everything is as signed in the smartphone.
You can receive a call using or on the phone itself, without needing to remove it from the station.
Sound is not transmitted to speakers or screen speakers. You can make an outgoing call in the same way.
Speed
In general, there is enough power to work with Internet mail and watch videos.
But if you run heavier programs, and at the same moment start using a browser with several open tabs, the interface begins to “think” and freeze.
The software definitely needs improvement and updates.
Safety
When connected, the accessory does not request or require passwords or keys for authorization.
After all, the whole purpose of the Samsung Dex Station is to optimize images on the big screen.
Information from the phone is not copied or saved anywhere, so even if you use someone else’s docking station, it is safe.
Advantages and disadvantages
Some actions are easier to perform while working on a computer. But why do you need a computer if now your smart phone can easily handle these tasks...
Turn your smartphone into a computer!
Can a smartphone replace a laptop and classic desktop? - Yes, if it is a Galaxy S8 / S8+ or Galaxy Note8 connected to a monitor or TV using the Samsung DeX portable docking station. Now any place can become a workplace!
Your smartphone now has all the benefits...
Turn your smartphone into a computer!
Can a smartphone replace a laptop and classic desktop? - Yes, if it is a Galaxy S8 / S8+ or Galaxy Note8 connected to a monitor or TV using the Samsung DeX portable docking station. Now any place can become a workplace!
Your smartphone now has all the benefits of a laptop.
Samsung DeX gives you everything you value from a classic PC: big-screen experience, full-size keyboard with hotkey support, mouse control. Connect a monitor via an HDMI cable, as well as the necessary peripherals, and enjoy the usual PC functionality: launch applications, view documents, check notifications - DeX will provide a PC interface and support for multitasking.
Minimum devices - maximum productivity.
Some actions are easier to perform while working on a computer. But why do you need a computer if now your smartphone can easily handle these tasks? Connect your Galaxy S8/S8+ or Note8 to the DeX dock and you're good to go! Edit texts, edit videos, make purchases online with one click of the mouse or pressing a key on the keyboard.
- Actual product specifications may vary slightly.
- To use Microsoft Office you must purchase a license.
- Microsoft Word and Microsoft Powerpoint applications require downloading to your smartphone.
The dream of turning a smartphone into a full-fledged computer arose a long time ago, but something always stood in the way of its realization. Motorola can rightfully be considered a pioneer in this direction; the engineers of this company tried to turn a smartphone into a computer back in the 90s, but every time something prevented them from creating a product that would be approved by marketers. In 2010, when the ATRIX model was created, they released a docking station for connecting to an external monitor via an HDMI connector, as well as a laptop dock, a kind of brainless laptop in which the memory and brains were in the phone itself.
Marketers won once again, since these devices were in demand only among geeks; the mass consumer did not understand why he needed to buy these accessories if the resulting “computer” was quite weak and did not support the usual programs. Over the past five years, almost a dozen companies have explored the possibility of creating such accessories and each time they came across the fact that customers could not understand what it was and why. The most successful attempt was the introduction of a docking station from Microsoft, with its help a Windows smartphone was connected to a monitor and allowed to work with documents. The success was relative, as a percentage of Windows smartphones sold, of which there were always few, and therefore this experience passed by the mass market, it was simply not noticed.
At the same time, the stars aligned in such a way that Microsoft stopped actively supporting its platform for smartphones and other mobile devices, but felt that they needed a presence on the Android platform with basic programs, for example, MS Office, OneDrive, Skype. Samsung became a key partner for the promotion of these programs; these applications appeared on almost all of the company’s devices. Somehow it turns out that Microsoft wants to turn smartphones into full-fledged computers, Samsung has a similar project, but it is stalling because marketers are defeating engineers, as was the case at Motorola before. According to marketers, the market is not ready yet; there are many restrictions for such devices. But Microsoft believes that the time has come and is ready to adapt MS Office for Android running in computer mode. And Samsung thought that this was enough to give the project the green light and create an accessory that would turn the company’s flagship into a full-fledged computer, albeit with a number of reservations. This is how the DeX docking station was born, which can already be called the most successful product in this category, since it sells like hot cakes and the company simply does not have time to produce them.
The idea of a DeX docking station is simple and straightforward: you connect peripheral devices to the station and can use a large monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, external drive and much more with your phone. Let's figure out together how it works.
Connecting the DeX station to the phone, first setup
The small box contains the docking station and nothing else, and to connect to a monitor or TV you will need a regular HDMI cable, which you will need to buy separately. There will be no problem with this; such cables are sold in most stores.
The docking station is quite large, it has a sliding lid, under which a USB Type C connector is hidden, we install a smartphone here, at the moment only the Galaxy S8/S8+ is supported, a new Note will be added later.
The station is powered through a regular charger that comes with your phone, a USB Type C connector on the case. The docking station has its own cooling, a built-in fan, it’s impossible to call it noisy, even with the most active mode of using the phone you can’t hear it at all . The presence of cooling is important, since in some modes the phone can heat up, but here overheating is excluded.
The case has two full USB connectors (USB 2.0), you can connect any peripherals to them, for example, a keyboard, mouse or flash drive, as well as HDD. As a rule, there is enough power for any portable device, which usually works with a laptop or similar equipment. The HDMI connector is needed to connect the docking station to a monitor or TV, and there is no need for any special settings; the phone automatically detects the type of monitor. Unfortunately, there is one problem here - old monitors with 4:3 geometry will work, but the picture is optimized for widescreen displays and TV, as a result, it does not look very good on older devices.
When you connect for the first time, a picture is displayed on the screen that shows the angles of the image; you can adjust them yourself. On all my TVs and monitors, the picture was initially displayed correctly.
When you place the phone in the docking station, it automatically starts charging, but the picture on the screen turns off and DeX mode starts working. You can also select the operating mode for mirroring the image from the smartphone screen, then the DeX mode, accordingly, will not be available. This is an old, well-known mode, so I will not dwell on it in detail, especially since all Samsung smart TVs support this connection of smartphones via Wi-Fi.
Unfortunately, the connectors on the docking station are arranged in a semicircle, which is convenient for connecting peripherals, but the wires take up a lot of space on the desk.
In practice, you can connect a wireless keyboard to the docking station (you need to install a USB dongle from the keyboard into one of the connectors) or connect the keyboard directly to your phone via Bluetooth. I like the second option much better, since no wires are required and everything works exactly the same.
In terms of accessories that are supported, I will say that these are almost all mice, keyboards, hard disks etc. You can connect the printer directly to the station, but why? It’s easier to set up printing through Android drivers, most modern models support this option, I have everything configured this way.
There is also an Ethernet connector on the case, that is, you can connect the docking station to the network directly, this will be valuable for corporate clients, this option is important for them, but less interesting for home use.
Let's start working with the DeX station - familiar programs on the monitor
The interface design on the monitor or TV in front of you is very reminiscent of Windows, you have a status bar at the bottom, which contains application shortcuts, on the right side there are status icons, for example, battery charge, icon for screenshots, network signal, and more. On the desktop you can create your own icons, which is extremely convenient.
It is necessary to understand that the interface has been redesigned for a computer, but we still have the same well-known Android. For example, you can have an unlimited number of open windows, but only those located on the screen remain active, the rest are recalled from memory, they “freeze” in the state in which they were. So don't be surprised by these multitasking capabilities.
On the screen, you can open multiple applications at the same time and work on them at the same time. It is important that you can drag a file into your mail from the file manager or vice versa, many standard applications support this possibility.
This makes the DeX mode very similar to a regular computer; there is no addiction as such, you will instantly know what to do and how.
In the menu you can see applications that work in DeX mode, that’s almost all Android programs, but there are exceptions. So, you can launch toys, but most likely you won’t be able to play, for example, Clash of Clans didn’t work for me with a mouse, but Infinitode works great. But playing games with a mouse is somehow completely inconvenient, although there was a time when we had no other options and this seemed to be the only option.
All your files are stored in the phone’s memory; for insurance, you can also enable their storage in the cloud. Considering that this is an Android smartphone, and even a flagship, it can do almost everything that ordinary computers are trained to do. Want to watch the video? No question - you can run any file and enjoy it on the big screen. I had the same experience - I played the Expanse series for my children on a TV with a DeX station connected, and I listened to it on wireless headphones podcast from the same phone (outputting two audio streams at the same time is a great thing about S8/S8+). Moreover, during a call, the phone understands that it needs to be sent to the headset, and not to the TV, and this is very captivating.
Oddly enough, what attracts me to DeX is the ability to quickly search through SMS, instant messenger messages, mail and other sections that I consider originally telephone, the same list of calls. Everything is in front of you in a convenient form, any information can be copied, by the way, all keyboard combinations work perfectly in this mode (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V and others).
You can use MS Office to work if you are committed to this program, but you need a subscription to Ms Office 365. The entire package is adapted for this mode of operation, these are full-fledged programs, they are better than the regular Android version. I couldn’t find any difference from a Windows laptop, everything is exactly the same. The same files are opened, saved in the cloud from MS, in a word, work - I don’t want to. And this is not only reading, but also editing, for example, presentations.
For those who do not want to buy a subscription to MS Office, you can print texts in the native application from Samsung, it has text formatting, minimal capabilities text editor. It is convenient for small texts, but it is unlikely to be suitable for the same work of creating a book. It is quite suitable for writing this text, there is no problem here.
I put off getting acquainted with the DeX station for a long time, since at the presentation everything worked leisurely, if not slowly. I don’t know what was the reason for this, but in real life everything happens very, very quickly. Moreover, you will not notice any slowdowns even when working with heavy, large documents. And this is surprising if you remember that document processing is done by the phone, not the computer.
And another amazing discovery for me was that the first two hours with DeX were spent trying to work in different applications in the hope that they will not work at all. But this did not happen.
You can set your own wallpaper for the desktop (specifically for DeX mode). There aren't many phone settings, it's the mouse speed, that's all.
Use scenarios – who needs a DeX station
The fact that a modern flagship can run most programs and adapts them to a large screen is not surprising. It is important to think about what previously unavailable scenarios such a combination can implement. For me, this is the scenario of a workplace in a second apartment, where I don’t want to drag a computer with me. I came, connected my phone, and everything is ready - you start working with your files, especially since most of my work files are in the cloud. I am sure that for some this scenario will look attractive, and here the DeX station is fighting with Chromebooks, which can be bought for $100-300 in the USA. Why with Chromebooks? Yes, because they are quite weak, have little memory, but they work with the cloud and have a large screen. They have a comfortable keyboard and there is no need to buy an external monitor. But for DeX you need such a monitor; another thing is that your TV can become it.
For corporate users, a DeX station is simply a godsend, especially in companies where they buy Samsung flagships for their employees. You can create a workspace anywhere, and given that a virtual desktop for Windows is supported, you can also work with all the usual documents in another place (you can also run all your Windows programs from the desktop that are on your regular PC, you only need a connection to the network). In Europe, several large companies have already appreciated this accessory, as it saves them money and time that is spent on maintaining conventional networks. But here we must understand that these are still pioneers, and it is too early to talk about the mass implementation of such solutions.
My experience using a DeX station suggests that it has a couple of disadvantages. For example, if at some point you forget that you have a phone in front of you, and you are guaranteed to forget, then you start keeping a movie player, large documents and 30-40 bookmarks in Chrome open in your memory. There is no slowdown in the operation of the interface, but the battery does not have time to charge, the charge freezes at the same point. Therefore, if you want the phone to charge, minimize all applications from the desktop, then their system “freezes”, they do not waste energy.
Unfortunately, it’s inconvenient to take such a station with you on trips, because in addition to DeX, you will need an HDMI cable, keyboard, mouse, and this all takes up a lot of space; it’s easier to take a laptop with you.
For example, with the S8+ I use a wireless keyboard from Samsung when traveling, but it’s a compromise for me because it’s inconvenient due to its size. And with DeX you want something big, the right size. This leads to the conclusion: DeX is inconvenient when traveling; it is, after all, a stationary solution.
Issue price and conclusions
A dozen similar docking stations have passed through my hands, but it was always a compromise, it is also present here, after all, this is not a full-fledged computer, and the same 1C can only be run on a virtual desktop, and not in a regular program (although the client quite working for Android). Unlike other devices, this has an undoubted advantage: the interface is fast, responsive, and the adaptation of a number of programs, including MS Office, makes DeX unique in many ways, there are no analogues (not counting Microsoft’s own docking station and the de facto dead Windows platform Phone).
The price of DeX in Russia is 9,990 rubles (in the US $150 plus taxes, in Europe it can be found for 125 euros). Expensive? Perhaps. But for those who need exactly this functionality and have already come up with a use case for the docking station, there are simply no analogues. What sincerely surprised me is that many people buy DeX simply as a docking station for charging a smartphone, they say it’s beautiful and they’ve been waiting for one for a long time. Why not buy wireless charging and save money? The appearance is similar, the charging issue has been resolved.
The fact that such devices are the future, I am sure, the only question is when this future will become widespread. Sales of DeX prove that it is just around the corner. They are producing much more of this accessory than planned, the plant is at 100% capacity, and this is amazing. Can someone explain why Europeans liked this accessory so much?
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