Samsung and Microsoft removed DeX‑for‑Windows support with One UI 7, and ever since then Phone Link has been a pretty weak replacement. But Microsoft finally rolled out a major improvement: phone apps can now run in full‑screen, resizable windows on the desktop. The image quality still gets a bit soft when stretched, so it is not as sharp as native DeX was, but it is a clear improvement and a big usability boost.
I know this is technically not part of the One UI 8.5 beta, but a lot of us follow these cross‑device features closely, so I wanted to share it here. Google and Samsung are actively working together on new multi‑device APIs and cross‑device services, which is why the ecosystem is starting to feel more connected again. I have not seen a confirmed plan to bring back DeX‑on‑Windows, but the direction of these integrations gives me hope.
For now, at least Phone Link finally feels like it is moving forward.
