The Galaxy S8 is probably the most anticipated Android phone of the first half of the year, and for good reason. Rumors suggest the phone will have a brand new design that includes a larger screen than anything seen before in a similarly-sized Galaxy S phone, and some exciting features. Among those, there’s a new trick that no other flagship will have. Something not even the iPhone can do.
Galaxy S8 owners will be able to connect the phone to an external display and turn the device into an Android desktop. The feature sounds very much like Microsoft’s Continuum, which lets you transform a mobile Windows experience into a desktop-like environment.
Multiple reports have already mentioned this special Galaxy S8 trick, and an in-depth Galaxy S8 preview from The Guardian even gave us a name for the desktop accessories that Samsung is making for the phone: DeX, short for desktop extension.
A fresh report from SamMobile gives us even more details about the DeX system. The site found a new trademark filing that indicates Samsung will sell a dedicated dock that you’ll need to buy to connect the Galaxy S8 to a monitor and other peripherals.
Called DeX Station, the product will be used for “projecting the screen of mobile devices to displays via computer peripheral devices and wireless networks.” SamMobile notes that the dock should make it easy to connect the phone to monitors that aren’t equipped with native USB Type-C connectivity.
