Google Pixel 9 Pro XL gets tested with desktop mode

Google has introduced DisplayPort Alternate Mode with the Pixel 8 series, and it's present on the newly launched Pixel 9 lineup. While it's mainly there to let you mirror the smartphone display with a connected screen, you can also use it for desktop mode, similar to the Samsung DeX and Motorola Ready For.

However, the desktop mode is currently only available if you change some settings on the phone's developer options. Google didn't even talk about it during the launch of the Pixel 9 series, mostly because it's not as refined as what Motorola and Samsung offer.

Speaking of which, ETA Prime has just tested the desktop mode on Google Pixel 9 Pro. While it's currently not a proper competitor to Samsung DeX, it's decent enough to get things done on a big screen. As the YouTuber notes, without enabling it on the developer options, the phone only mirrors the display when you connect it to a monitor. But after turning it on, enabling screen mirroring opens desktop mode on the bigger connected display.

One of the good aspects of Google Pixel's desktop mode is that it has freeform windows and offers the ability to resize the apps on the big screen. These two allow you to get a proper desktop feel when you connect your phone to an external display (Samsung 34" ViewFinity S50GC curr. $249.99 on Amazon). There isn't a taskbar available at the moment, so ETA Prime recommends installing a third-party app.

Overall, the desktop mode on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL seems to be a work in progress. But it's still workable, and you can do gaming and get productivity work done on the big screen. You can see it in action in the video that's attached below.