Hands-on with the Samsung DeX accessory for the Galaxy S8

Our Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ hands-on at Samsung Netherlands’ headquarters involved some playtime with the new Samsung DeX accessory, which allows Samsung’s new flagships to transform into a desktop computer. Connecting the DeX dock to a monitor will make the Galaxy S8 show up on the display, with the ability to run regular phone apps on the large screen.

This works pretty well, and the fact that you can connect a mouse and keyboard via the USB ports makes for an “Android on steroids” experience. Well, maybe calling it a Chromebook would be closer to the truth, but in any case, Samsung DeX turns your Galaxy S8 into a mini-PC. However, should you get an incoming call, you will need to either disconnect the phone from the dock or take the call on loudspeaker. In addition to HDMI and USB ports, DeX also comes with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, an Ethernet port, and a USB Type-C port that is used to connect the S8 to the DeX dock (and also to charge the device).

We didn’t get too much time to play around with Samsung DeX, but we think it would be a great solution for individuals who are always on-the-go, as long as they can find a monitor to connect to, that is. Check out the pictures below to see the Galaxy S8 and Samsung DeX in action, and let us know what you think about Samsung’s new accessory.