I tested out Android's new desktop mode, and now I can't wait for a Pixel PC

Google, for its part, has been towing with the idea for years. Going as far back as Android Nougat in 2016, the company has been experimenting with floating and resizable windows, a system taskbar, and other desktop-class UI elements intended for PC-style productivity. More recently, the company has doubled down on its efforts, first by announcing a collaborative effort to bring the Samsung DeX experience to Android at a platform level, and then by outright confirming plans to unify Android and ChromeOS under a single platform umbrella.

With all this in mind, and having convenient access to a Pixel 9 Pro running Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2, I decided to take the new-and-improved desktop mode for a spin, to see just how far it has come, and to see how it compares to the likes of DeX, Windows, macOS, iPadOS, and, of course, Google own ChromeOS.

Android's upgraded desktop mode looks promising

While not as feature-rich as Samsung DeX, Google's desktop mode is coming along well

At its core, Android's desktop environment as of QPR1 Beta 2 has a lot going for it. All the essential components of a proper PC UI environment are here, including a taskbar, floating windows that can be resized, tiled, and snapped, virtual desktops, and app title bars with close, maximize, and minimize buttons.

Android's app drawer translates well onto a bigger screen, and it looks and feels a lot like Microsoft's Windows 11 Start Menu. It's super easy to launch additional instances of supported apps, and most first-party Google apps take advantage of the big screen thanks to Android 12L-era improvements that introduced dual-column landscape mode interfaces.

The biggest hurdle still in place boils down to Android's inadequate Chrome browser.

Of course, there's still a lot of work to be done, especially if the company plans on replacing ChromeOS with Android on laptop PCs. I was surprised to find that there's no option to pin app icons directly onto the desktop, nor is there any way to access notifications or quick settings (on Samsung DeX, these interface elements can be invoked via dedicated taskbar flyouts).

The biggest hurdle still in place boils down to Android's inadequate Chrome browser. Unlike ChromeOS, which ships with the full-fat version of Google's web browser, the current Android version is comparatively neutered, with no access to plugins or web extensions. I expect this to change in the near future, considering Google's public roadmap.

Android and ChromeOS are joining forces

As far as operating systems go, this is the merger to end all mergers

As mentioned, Google has recently outright confirmed its intent to merge together the Android OS (which primarily runs on smartphones and tablets) and ChromeOS (which primarily runs on laptops, and occasionally on tablets).

Some speculate that this decision has been made as a response to anti-trust cases, in which the US government may soon force Google to sell off Chrome as a web browser. By integrating the ChromeOS experience into Android proper, the company is essentially fortifying its position in the operating system space.

While it's certainly possible that Google's moves are motivated by legal and political affairs, I reckon the primary driving force in the company's decision to accelerate the PCifiscation of Android is actually Apple. With iPadOS, and especially with its upcoming 26 release, Apple is firing on all cylinders, porting many desktop-class software elements from the Mac over to the iPad. Android, therefore, is in a position of needing to evolve in order to survive a rapidly changing OS landscape.

How to test out Android's upgraded desktop mode

If you have the right hardware, you can enjoy a sneak preview of what's to come

If you'd like to check out Android's new and improved desktop mode experience right here and right now, you can do so with ease if you have the appropriate hardware. Here's what you'll need:

• An external computer monitor or TV panel
• Connectivity -- depending on setup, a combination of a USB Type-C hub, a USB Type-C to C cable, an HDMI cable,
• A keyboard and a mouse (these can be wired or wireless)
• A compatible Pixel device running Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 or newer, with display output support -- a full list of supported devices can be found on Google's support page.

Once you've gathered all the necessary pieces, follow these steps to get started:

1. Navigate to Settings > About phone > Android version and then tap on the Build number entry seven times in rapid succession.
2. Navigate back to the top-level Settings page, and then head to System > Developer Options > Window Management.
3. From here, you'll want to toggle on all three available entries (Force activities to be resizable, enable non-resizable in multi-window, and Enable desktop experience features).
4. Once you've toggled on the third entry, you'll be prompted to reboot the device.
5. After the reboot has taken place, you can go ahead and plug your device into your monitor or TV to get started with desktop mode.

Android's dedicated desktop mode is still a work in progress. As such, you might encounter bugs, performance issues, or other unintended behaviors while navigating the interface. Be sure to back up any and all important data prior to running Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 on your phone.