Samsung DeX promises to usher in a new era of mobile computing. Here’s a guide to understanding what DeX is, how it works, how it can replace your other computing devices and what benefits it can bring to your company.
What is Samsung DeX?
Samsung DeX is not hardware — it’s a platform that turns your smartphone into a desktop computing experience. It works with a range of smartphones — our Galaxy S8/S8+, S9/S9+, Note8 and now the all new Galaxy Note9. In the initial iteration of DeX launched in early 2017, users required a specific accessory, the DeX Station, to launch DeX and connect your smartphone to your monitor, keyboard and mouse. In early 2018, the DeX Pad was launched which turns your phone into a touch pad and boasts USB, HDMI and USB-C ports for linking additional peripheral devices. Now, with the launch of the Note9, all you need to use DeX is an HDMI adaptor.
Once docked, users can enter the Samsung DeX desktop environment, allowing them to access a range of apps in traditional desktop mode.
How to Set Up Samsung DeX
Use the following steps to connect your S8/S8+, S9/S9+ or Note8 to the DeX Station or Pad:
Connect the DeX Station or Pad to an external monitor or TV using an HDMI cable. Connect the DeX Station or Pad to a power source using your Samsung Fast Charger. Connect the keyboard and mouse. For Bluetooth devices, make sure you have paired them before going into DeX mode. USB devices can be plugged directly into the DeX Station or Pad. If your mouse or keyboard needs an RF dongle, you can connect that as well — just plug the adapter into the DeX. Connect your smartphone to the DeX Station or Pad by way of your phone’s USB-C port.
To launch DeX on the Galaxy Note9:
Attach the Note9 to your display with the USB-C to HDMI cable. Connect to any Bluetooth accessories such as a keyboard and mouse. Activate DeX mode through the settings on the Note9.
Can DeX Replace Other Devices?
Today’s smartphones offer enough computing power to complete most work tasks, but the limitations of smaller screens can make it difficult to do so efficiently. On the other hand, a traditional desktop or laptop connected to a monitor hogs desk space and inhibits mobile productivity. Using a mobile device along with a full-size monitor and a physical keyboard and mouse takes up less desk space, and makes it easy to get work done at the office or on the move. By using a smartphone as their primary computing device, your employees have access to all the necessary company information and apps — instantly accessible, wherever they are. Rather than having a dedicated PC for each employee, you can deploy flexible workstations using DeX, knowing that users have access to their own accounts the minute they sit down and plug in their smartphones.
It also eliminates the need to carry a laptop around. A DeX Station, DeX Pad or HDMI cable are much lighter options that give mobile workers the ability to simply plug in and start working whether they are in a remote office or a hotel’s business center.
