Google is expected to launch its next-generation flagship Pixel 8 series later in October this year. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will arrive as the successors to the last year’s Pixel 7 series. Leaks and rumors have started gathering pace about the upcoming Pixel flagships. Now, in a new development, an interesting new feature of the Pixel 8 series has surfaced.
Pixel 8 series to support external displays
Android Authority citing a source inside Google reported that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro may gain the ability to support external displays. This could potentially transform the phones into desktop replacements.
The report reveals that the feature could work through the default USB-C port. The Pixel 8 series will come with support for USB DisplayPort’s Alternate Mode. Basically, it allows devices to connect to displays via USB-C. USB-C plugs are said to have a lot of connector pins and were designed with versatility and extendibility in mind. They are also able to transmit massive amounts of data.
The most common alternate mode standards are ThunderBolt and DisplayPort for sharing a device’s screen onto an external and potential display. While USB-C can also support the DisplayPort alternate mode without ThunderBolt, it is said to be less versatile but still a useful option for devices that don’t offer a way to output high-resolution video to an external display. Smartphones do not have the space to accommodate a dedicated HDMI display port. Hence, the USB-C charging port doubling down on its functionality will be quite interesting.
The publication also dived into Google’s code base stating that Google might have the feature in mind for the Pixel 8. Additionally, as per a spotting by Mishaal Rahman, recent Android 14 betas have support for USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode and introduced improvements to the desktop mode that was present in the launcher code.
The support for external displays is not a new feature. Samsung’s DeX mode has been quite popular allowing a desktop experience via a USB-C cable or HDMI adapter. Motorola also has its ‘Ready For’ feature that is similar to DeX. Microsoft also had a mode in its Lumia series phones.
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