Samsung DeX Station turns the Galaxy S8 into a great productivity tool

by Cosmin Vasile / Mar 29, 2017, 8:55 PM

Samsung DeX Station turns the Galaxy S8 into a great productivity tool

Samsung is trying to make its Galaxy S8 and S8+ flagships as appealing as possible. Despite the Note 7 fiasco, customers continue to trust the Samsung brand, and many have already decided to go for the company's new smartphones.

The one accessory that could make the Galaxy S8 even more enjoyable than it already is, Samsung DeX has been officially unveiled earlier today. The main usability of the accessory is turning your Galaxy S8/S8+ into a portable workstation.

Just like Microsoft's Continuum, Samsung DeX allows users to connect their smartphones to a desktop and enjoy productivity on a much larger screen. You'll be able to access apps, edit documents, browse the web, watch videos, as well as reply messages, directly from the smartphone on a bigger screen, keyboard and mouse.

According to Samsung, DeX has been specially designed to feature a unique Android UI that's been optimized for use with a keyboard and mouse. To help build DeX, Samsung teamed up with Microsoft and Adobe, hence the compatibility with Office and Adobe mobile apps like Acrobat Reader and Lightroom Mobile.

But there's more, as DeX enables users to remotely (and securely) access virtual desktops via solutions such as Citrix, VMware and Amazon Web Services.

The new accessory connects to a monitor through an HDMI port, but it can also be attached to any Bluetooth compatible, USB or RF-type keyboard and mouse.

Samsung DeX Station comes with two USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, USB Type-C port and a cooling fan. It also features fast charging technology that will allow your Galaxy S8 to charge faster while connected.

Surprisingly, Samsung announced that the DeX Station might be offered as a packaged bundle in some regions. Otherwise, it will be available for purchase globally for €150.

Samsung DeX Station

source: Samsung

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User Rating:

9.1

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Display 5.8" 1440 x 2960 pixels

Camera 12 MP / 8 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Octa-core, 2350 MHz

Storage 64 GB + microSDXC

Battery 3000 mAh(30h talk time)

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PhoneArena Rating:

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9.4

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Display 6.2" 1440 x 2960 pixels

Camera 12 MP / 8 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Octa-core, 2450 MHz

Storage 64 GB + microSDXC

Battery 3500 mAh(24h 3G talk time)

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25 Comments

1. ph00ny

Posts: 2052; Member since: May 26, 2011

I'm sold. I saw the video demo of someone using office with this and it looked pretty damn good without lag

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 9:10 PM 7

2. Subie

Posts: 2383; Member since: Aug 01, 2015

Awesome! And it sounds like Microsoft and Adobe are getting something out of this as well.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 9:24 PM 3

3. cnour

Posts: 2305; Member since: Sep 11, 2014

The others will not follow. Useless idea from Samsung as usual.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 9:30 PM 4

5. alexkim92

Posts: 21; Member since: Mar 29, 2017

You know that Apple filed a patent similar to this idea but in a laptop form factor, right?

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 9:41 PM 6

7. SleeperOne

Posts: 370; Member since: Feb 25, 2017

As usual cnour gets batmite/mxy to upvote his comments.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 9:51 PM 7

19. sissy246

Posts: 7124; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

Probably all the same.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 10:55 PM 2

16. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3147; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

Nothing to follow, Microsoft has had Continuum for well over a year and it has more enabled apps. Sorry to burst your Samsung-hating bubble but this wasn't their idea.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 10:36 PM 1

25. ph00ny

Posts: 2052; Member since: May 26, 2011

And Motorola had atrix with "laptop" dock that did the exact same just not enough hardware at the time

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 12:19 AM 1

32. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3147; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

Actually, the Palm Foleo was the first to try this but webOS was on the horizon and the program was scrapped. As always, Palm was first with an innovation but poor hardware and even poorer management allowed someone else to develop it further.

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 9:44 AM 0

18. sissy246

Posts: 7124; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

Bet it would be the best ever if you favorite phone company had done it.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 10:55 PM 4

34. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

First off the Galaxy Note has been able do something similar since the very first since all Android phones have both keyboard and mouse support. But you are an ignorant stupid psychopath who never has any facst to back up any claims. First off Microsoft has now nearly perfected Windows on ARM the way it should have been. Convergence is the next evolution of mobile devices. When the Surface Phone appears, it will be a device running full x86 Windows from a phone using ARM processors. As Samsung stated, they worked with Microsoft to get DEX to work properly. Which means they license MS tools and patents that allow for things like "windowing" applications and more. And since Android devices also have MS Office already, they are basically desktop computers in you hand. Just because Apple is slow, and stupid and is only interested in raping its customers and giving them nothing, doesn't mean everyone ios. The fact you think this is a bad idea is stupid. The Moto Atrix had this concept first. But it was to early. Now its more feasible. Just liek MS WebTV was a good idea, but the Internet simply could not handle the traffic and bandwidth as most peopel had dialup so it failed. Failure could and usually is to to timing. You are an idiot fool. WTF do you come here for? You are a 2-bit loser dude. Why don't you STFU and stop coming here if you can never bring anything useful to the table. People claim I'm annoying? When panzie @$$ trolls like you come here every day and bring nothing but insults and ignorance. STFU dude and go back under your rock.

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 11:10 AM 0

4. Klinton

Posts: 1409; Member since: Oct 24, 2016

'Despite the Note 7 fiasco' LOL You can't fool the ppl guys, they know that despite of the overblown, organized ''battery issue'', Note7 was/is the most brilliant phone on the planet. Thanks for bringing it again here, though. LOL

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 9:41 PM 7

6. pixelated

Posts: 108; Member since: May 03, 2015

Stripped down version of Continuum!

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 9:46 PM 3

10. Klinton

Posts: 1409; Member since: Oct 24, 2016

Actually much better. See the tests.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 9:59 PM 4

17. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3147; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

DeX has far fewer apps than Continuum. This is more like a stripped down version of ChromeOS or a slightly more capable version of Andromium.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 10:37 PM 1

29. Macready

Posts: 1824; Member since: Dec 08, 2014

You're not going to win that with the number of available apps when Dex works with over 2 million apps.... Now had you said "apps optimized for desktop use".....

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 3:30 AM 3

33. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3147; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

DeX without desktop optimization is no more useful than simple screen sharing. To even have to mention means you don't belong in the conversation. I use Continuum daily and have been for about a year. There are presently more apps that run Continuum than can run DeX. Take away Microsoft and DeX is as barren as the Sahara.

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 9:48 AM 0

35. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Well it just came out. DUH. You're comparing a concept that had time to be around and get support vs a new option that isnt even release?

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 11:11 AM 0

20. xtriker360

Posts: 16; Member since: Nov 21, 2016

I wonder if that will let mirror the pbone? So that I can play games on my tv.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 11:16 PM 0

24. Gandalfdenvite

Posts: 18; Member since: Dec 15, 2016

I want this DeX Android UI on my old outdated laptop!

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 12:03 AM 1

28. omnitech

Posts: 1131; Member since: Sep 28, 2016

Not sure why Samsung doesn't just triple boot touchwiz, windows phone/rt, and stock pixel Android. They over two voice assistants and 5 different security unlock features, might as well go 3 operating systems too. Windows when you use this dock. Done!

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 3:14 AM 0

30. ibend

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

"Not sure why Samsung doesn't just triple boot touchwiz, windows phone/rt, and stock pixel Android" 1. waste of space 2. windows isn't free 3. most S8 owner won't even care about this feature

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 4:16 AM 0

36. omnitech

Posts: 1131; Member since: Sep 28, 2016

Microsoft would light up like a Christmas tree if Samsung offered to salvage Windows Phone and RT for them. Heck MS would probably offer no mire royalty fees if Samsung did this, Yes, most S8 owners probably won't care about windows or this dock, but they would love a stock Android boot option built in. Yes, the space is an issue but just throw in 128gb standard instead of 64gb.

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 12:03 PM 0

31. Jeradiah3

Posts: 1149; Member since: Feb 11, 2010

I like this idea. I wonder if this phone would be one of many to be used this way like the Note 8 and so on

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 8:33 AM 1

37. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

If Samsung embraces Windows 10 on ARM whenever it becomes available and provides it as an update on their Smartphones (or perhaps on the Note 8), the only reason I'll have left to ever consider a Windows Phone is if it can literally replace my Surface Pro 2 with a Laptop/Tablet dock. Other than that, the potential for Windows Phones would be literally dead as something like that would be bringing the best of a Smartphone OS (Android) and the best of a Tablet/Laptop/Desktop OS (Windows) in 1 device... Better hurry it up Panos Panay, I thought I could wait forever for the Surface Phone while I use Android, as Android is nothing but a joke on any screen bigger than a Smartphone. But if Samsung merges the best of Android with the best of Windows in 1 device, a Surface Phone like even this my dream phone ( http://sck.pm/5L ) would be DOA IMO, unless it brings a whole new level of performance in a Smartphone form-factor...which is very unlikely unless Microsoft starts making their own custom chipsets.

posted on Apr 01, 2017, 2:40 AM 0

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