Google's experimentation with a desktop mode feature for Android has been no secret. The company has been working at it for the last few versions. Having used Samsung Dex, it's been something I've been looking forward to, especially now that I've switched to Pixel hardware. And more so, because it's a feature that could potentially completely change my travel computing setup. It's a straightforward idea, really. Instead of juggling a phone and a laptop, you let your phone be the core computing device, something that is more feasible today than it was a few years ago, and expand it with accessories like a large screen display, keyboard and mouse when you need more space.

Now that the feature is out, I decided to give it a proper shot, and it ended up fitting into my routine far better than I expected. Not just that. It turns out, it is much more capable than I was expecting, and I can see myself incorporating it into my productivity routine.

Real multitasking with proper window management

No setup needed, just your phone scaled up

The entire system is pretty straightforward to get started with and all you really need to do is plug your phone to an external monitor or display with a USB-C to HDMI cable. The phone will give you an option to drop into a desktop-style environment complete with a taskbar, multiple windows, and spatial organization that you're used to from a laptop, not a smartphone. Trust me, it catches you off guard the first time you try it and changes how you approach simple tasks.

My usual workflow is pretty web-forward and involves opening a few things at once. There's usually a browser window or two for research, a messaging app, usually WhatsApp, for conversations and a notes app for quick drafts. If I'm making edits on the go using my phone, this obviously means switching between apps at a time. But plugged, all these individual apps expand to a desktop-scale environment and can be moved around as standard windows.

You see, the biggest beauty of the set-up is that Google finally figured out a proper windowing system which is crucial towards making this setup usable. Apps open in floating windows that you can resize, stack or even snap side by side. There are occasional inconsistencies, but it works well enough that you don't fret too much over rare occurrences. Of course, many apps remain blown-up mobile versions, but the essentials work just fine.

The big advantage to that is that all your data, your entire file system, is right there on your phone. All your apps are already logged in, files are where you expect them to be instead of having to synchronize things across cloud storage lockers or juggling multiple devices. There's no setup, no syncing, and no managing multiple environments, which goes a long way towards easing everyday use and making this system work.

In my case, this has replaced a lot of casual laptop use, especially while traveling. If I just need to check my emails, make a quick edit, put down some notes, or even view my images, I no longer need to pull out my laptop. I just plug in my phone with a tiny adapter and continue.

It's not a full desktop replacement, and that's fine

Continuity is the real advantage here

While we're on the topic, it's worth noting that this setup won't be a flat-out desktop replacement and that's what I like about it. Desktop mode on Android is, understandably, meant for more straightforward, simpler use cases. There are still clear limits here.

You're definitely not going to run heavy creative software like Photoshop, or do anything that depends on desktop-specific tools. Sure, you could pull up Termix and manage your remote server, but it's not an ideal experience. But here's the thing, that's not what I do all day either. A lot of what I do is easy on resources, and designed to work through a web-based CMS or interface for a self-hosted app.

The real advantage is the continuity. Right now, if I'm editing a photo in Lightroom on my monitor, I have to transfer it over to my phone to post it on Instagram. Or if I download a file, once again I need to move it over to my phone. When I'm working off one device, all that data is right there. And having that singular device be your smartphone has a massive benefit in terms of availability on-the-go. It's something laptops cannot match. And that's before we get to the fact that calls and notifications are just as integrated.

Now, before you ask, performance hasn't been a concern at all. Modern phones have more than enough power for the kind of tasks you'd hope to do via desktop mode. Remember, you're not going to be editing RAW images or rendering animations here. The mode is designed purely for everyday tasks, and phones can keep up perfectly fine.

A simple way to turn your phone into a real computer

Look, on the face of it, there isn't all that much to talk about desktop mode. That's a good thing because of how straightforward it is. It really is just a desktop-style environment with all the same features and functions that you are used to. The benefit is what this environment enables. And that's a bona fide way to turn your smartphone into a portable mini PC. And for most day-to-day tasks, it simply works.