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Desktop mode pioneer Motorola is finally bringing the mode to modern phones

Motorola was a desktop mode pioneer back in 2011, and it's bringing the feature back to its modern devices.
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Published onDecember 2, 2020

Motorola Edge Plus on window sill
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
TL;DR
  • Motorola has revealed that it’s working on a desktop mode.
  • This mode gives users a computer-like experience when connected to a monitor.
  • Motorola first dabbled with the feature back in 2011.

Samsung and HUAWEI were the first brands to offer the new generation of desktop mode, allowing users to get a PC-like experience when their phone was connected to an external display. But Motorola was arguably the first manufacturer to dabble with the tech in the early 2010s.

Now, PC Mag (via XDA-Developers) has spotted an official video on Qualcomm’s website, showing off Motorola’s new desktop mode while connected to an external monitor. Check out the screenshot below.

“Take multitasking to the next level in a desktop mode, allowing you to take a closer look at things like videos, artwork, and documents, on a larger display,” the narrator notes during the video. The video then shows off the mode, featuring a taskbar, resizeable windows, a start menu of sorts, and various apps.

“2021 will mark the 10th generation of Moto G, and nothing would make us prouder than bringing 800-series experiences to this family,” Motorola mobile chief Sergio Bunac added at the end of the video.

More reading: Using Samsung Dex as a PC for a week

It’s worth noting that the phone seen in the video has two punch-hole cutouts, suggesting it could be the Moto G 5G Plus or the Moto One 5G if it’s a recently released Moto device. But XDA-Developers also reports that the upcoming Motorola “nio” flagship offers a similar dual selfie camera design, while speculating that this flagship could actually launch under the Moto G line. 

We wouldn’t be surprised if a Moto G flagship is indeed coming based on Bunac’s comment. But his remarks could also mean that the firm is only bringing features associated with the Snapdragon 800-series chips to the Moto G family, rather than an actual flagship processor. Nevertheless, we’ll be keeping an eye out for a potentially beefed up device to mark the 10th anniversary of the range.

Either way, a desktop mode would be a welcome addition to Motorola’s portfolio, having first touted this feature with the Motorola Atrix 4G and a “lapdock” back in 2011. Smartphones have gained a ton of power since then, so it’ll undoubtedly be a smoother experience than this first effort.

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