Samsung has completely rebuilt DeX on top of Google's Desktop Mode. For now, the update felt like a downgrade in the short term with huge potential for the long term. Samsung is now addressing the most common complaints with the experience and adding new features that weren't available in the classic version of the tech.
The software update rolled out in South Korea last week and is now available in the U.S. There's now Google Finance integration for the Now Bar on these devices and home screen widget support for Samsung Dex.
With the Finance integration in Now Bar, you can see stock alerts for major price changes at the end of the trading day without unlocking your phone.
As for Dex, you can now add widgets to your Home screen when using Dex on a connected display. On top of that, you can control settings for the mouse and on-screen keyboard.
Meanwhile, with this One UI 8 update, you can also add any app to the taskbar in Dex, and there are new keyboard settings for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 (the ability to control where and when the on-screen keyboard appears).
There's also now a full-screen button in the app header that offers a quick way to maximize a window. It was previously hidden in a menu and was added to the Galaxy S25 series in a beta update.
Dex still needs a few features to close the gap
There are still some tweaks that need to happen so that the new Dex can be on par with the classic version, but it seems this is very likely to happen quite soon. Samsung is no longer the only company working on improving the experience. Google can also make changes to the Android Desktop Mode, and they should also appear on Dex.
What do you think about Samsung Dex after this update?
It finally looks worth using every day
28.57%
Still feels too limited compared to a real PC
28.57%
Exciting direction, but needs more upgrades
14.29%
I don’t use DeX at all
28.57%
Right now, for example, Dex cannot disable mouse continuity between displays. But Google is adding this feature to Android, so it should soon come with a future One UI release.
Samsung is finally making Dex exciting again
I really like where Samsung is going with DeX. Yes, it still has gaps compared to the old version, but you can feel that this rebuild has bigger plans in mind.
Recommended Stories
Adding widgets, keyboard controls, and quick window tools makes DeX feel less like a half-finished idea and more like something you'd actually want to use every day. The fact that Google is now improving Desktop Mode too means things should only get better from here. It feels like Samsung is setting up DeX for the future, and that's exciting.
Rediscover some of the most unique and memorable phones of the last two decades! "Iconic Phones" is a beautifully illustrated book that we've been working on for over a year - and it's coming out in just a couple short month!
"Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips" is a must-have coffee table book for every phone lover out there. Covering the stories of more than 20 fan-favorite phones, it takes you on a memorable journey through the technological revolution that shaped our lives. Sign up now to secure an early discount price!
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: