I replaced my computer with a Galaxy S26 and DeX, and it was great

I’ve always liked the idea of ​​Samsung DeX more than the idea of ​​its actual use. Turning a phone into a desktop computer sounds incredibly cool, but to me, it’s always felt like one of those features designed to impress people during demos, rather than something you can actually rely on every day.

So naturally, I decided to do the stupid thing and use the Samsung DeX as my only computer for a week. I left my laptop and worked with nothing but my Galaxy S26, a monitor, and a few accessories. I expected disappointment and maybe even a little regret. Instead, I had a lot more fun than I expected.

After spending a week with the Samsung DeX, I can tell you that the experience isn’t all that different from using a regular PC. There’s a taskbar for switching between apps and managing quick settings, a launcher menu for opening apps, and a desktop that can be customized with widgets. DeX also supports window snapping, letting you snap apps to the left or right side of the screen – something I do all the time on my Windows laptop when multitasking.

However, what I liked most about DeX is that I don’t have to deal with the usual syncing headaches that come with switching between devices. Since this is essentially the same phone that operates everything, when I switch to work mode all my apps, files, photos, accounts, and even browser tabs are already there.

Being a writer, most of my work happens inside the browser, so I rarely feel limited with Samsung Dex. Writing, researching, editing documents, managing tabs, and even switching between Slack and email all worked quite well. At times, I almost forgot I was using my phone instead of a traditional PC. The only thing I consistently missed were my browser extensions. My favorite browser – Brave – doesn’t support extensions on Android, so I’ve lost Grammarly, Bitwarden, and a few other add-ons I usually rely on. This was one of those things that reminded me that it’s still down to Android.

But other than that, DeX handled almost everything I typically did on my laptop. For writing, browser-based work, and other everyday tasks, I didn’t really miss my PC that much. In fact, it was quite pleasant to use my S26’s front camera for work calls instead of the 1080p webcam.

Plus, since the Samsung DeX is essentially an extension of my phone, I can still make and receive calls, reply to text messages, see notifications, and use all my apps on the big screen. And honestly, that seamless continuity was the best part of the whole experience.

When I first tried DeX, I did it without any accessories to see how useful it was. To be honest, I expected it to sound weird, but Samsung deserves some credit for making the phone-as-touchpad feature much better than it looks on paper.

DeX supports many of the same gestures I’m already using on my Windows laptop, including a two-finger tap for a right-click, pinch-to-zoom, a three-finger swipe down to minimize apps, and a three-finger swipe left or right to switch between apps. Sadly, using the phone as a touchpad wasn’t practical for me, as I planned to use DeX for a long time. But yes, for quick sessions when you don’t want to connect a keyboard and mouse, it works great.

Speaking of keyboard, DeX also supports many familiar Windows keyboard shortcuts. Alt + Tab switches between apps, Alt + F4 closes the current app, Win + N opens the notification panel, and Win + L locks DeX. Between the recognizable One UI design, desktop-style multitasking, touchpad gestures, and proper keyboard shortcut support, the learning curve was almost negligible.

However, what impressed me most about the experience was the flexibility. I can run DeX wired or wirelessly, connect it to a monitor or TV, and use it with or without dedicated peripherals, depending on where I’m working and what I want to do.

The biggest issue, I would say, was the occasional slowdown while multitasking. On my PC, I’m accustomed to leaving dozens of browser tabs and apps open without even thinking about it. But with Samsung DeX, I have to be a little more careful. Once I started accumulating a lot of tabs and switching between apps, I started to notice occasional stutters and slowdowns.

Another thing that bothered me was the app experience. Inside DeX, you’re essentially using scaled-up versions of Android apps that are designed for touch input instead of keyboard and mouse. And that means apps don’t always behave the way you’d expect on a traditional PC. For example, when using Slack on my PC, I would see my channel and DMs on the left while conversations would appear on the right. However, in DeX, Slack is just an extended phone app. Meanwhile, apps like WhatsApp look almost identical to their desktop counterparts. That inconsistency is enough to remind you that you’re not using a real desktop.

Finally, there is the portability aspect. The thing I was most excited about before replacing my laptop with the Samsung DeX was the idea of ​​traveling lightweight. In theory, carrying just a phone instead of a laptop seemed amazing. But realistically, if you really want to work comfortably on the go, you’ll still need a number of accessories like a keyboard, mouse, USB-C hub, and maybe a stand. Of course, none of these are issues when working from home or office, but when traveling, you’re simply replacing the laptop with a bag of accessories.

After a full week of working on the Samsung DeX, I walked away with two completely different ideas in my mind at the same time. The first is that, no, DeX is still not a true laptop replacement for everyone. But the second – and perhaps more surprising – realization is how close it actually comes.

Of course, there are limits. But Samsung DeX is not a gimmick either. In fact, for me, and probably for many people whose work doesn’t involve Adobe apps, programming, massive spreadsheets, or multi-monitor setups, the Samsung DeX is good enough. And honestly, it still feels weird to say.