Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro could serve as full-time desktop replacements

The torrent of Pixel 8-related leaks continues to pour out ahead of its tentative July-August launch. Previously, we learned about its display specs, its Tensor G3 SoC and its ability to function as an IR thermometer. Prolific leaker @Za_Raczke (H/T Android Authority) has now shed light on yet another interesting Pixel 8 feature.

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will be the first of their kind with the ability to output display over USB-C via the DisplayPort Alt Mode, allowing users to connect it to an external monitor and use it as a desktop replacement (of sorts). Thanks to existing solutions from Samsung, Motorola and Nokia, plenty of Android apps already work well with large screens, so app support shouldn't be much of an issue.

It also opens the possibility of USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode coming to older devices using USB 3.0 and above. Even the otherwise lacklustre Pixel Tablet could be a contender. On paper, the Pixel 8/Pixel 8 Pro should hold up fine as a standalone computing device. It'll be interesting to see Google's take on a dedicated desktop mode, mainly because it has been in the works for a while.

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