Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro to support external displays over USB-C: Report

Published On: June 30, 2023

Highlights

Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro may come with support for USB-C DisplayPort
Such an offering may make the Pixel phones rival Samsung’s DeX feature
The feature could be delivered through USB-C’s ‘Alt mode’ for DisplayPort

Google is set to launch its latest pair of flagship smartphones, the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, at an upcoming event expected for later this year. Naturally, ahead of its launch, the volume of leaks and teasers about the smartphone have increased, giving us a fairly comprehensive idea of what the devices will come with. One new and very interesting feature, meanwhile, that has been teased is the ability for the Google Pixel 8 series smartphones to support external displays — thereby potentially turning them into desktop replacements on their own accord.

Show Full Article

What the new feature could mean for Google Pixel 8 series

The Android Authority report detailing the feature described it as one that will come courtesy of a default property of USB-C ports — the ability to transmit massive amounts of data through its connectors. As a result, they can be used for a wide range of purposes, the most common of which is the Thunderbolt accessory connectivity standard, and DisplayPort standard for transmitting a device’s screen on to an external (and potentially larger) display.

Android Authority subsequently delved into Google’s code base as well, to state that there is ample suggestion of such a feature — hence suggesting that Google is likely to launch a new feature that will include support for external displays to a future device. Given that the most immediate upcoming device is the Google Pixel 8 series, it is likely that Google could include such a feature in it.

Phones with external display support

Desktop modes are not entirely new, to be sure. Motorola was the first company in the Android smartphone world to add such a mode over a decade ago. Nokia and Microsoft too had a mode in its Windows Phone-powered series of Lumia smartphones that could turn these devices into a full-scale Windows 10 PC. Samsung is the latest notable smartphone brand to have such a feature on its flagship devices, courtesy DeX.

However, it now remains to be seen if the feature sniping ends up being true. Many features are often worked on by tech firms for the long run, and does not necessarily mean an immediate launch.

The Google Pixel 8 series is expected to be powered by Google’s custom Tensor G3 SoC, and feature a 50MP rear camera on the Pixel 8 and a 64MP camera on the Pixel 8 Pro. More details, such as colour variants, have also been reported.