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We geeks like plugging tech into other tech. This is one of the best things about desktop computers. Here’s the thing—there’s more tech than you might think out there that you can now plug into a modern phone.
8Lapdock
A lapdock is a laptop with the brains stripped out. It’s a screen, a keyboard and a touchpad without a processor or RAM. Instead, your phone does the thinking. Premium phones like the Samsung Galaxy S and Z Fold series, as well as certain high-end Motorola devices, display a full Android-based desktopwhen connected to a lapdock.
Google is working onintegrating a desktop mode directly into Androidwhich may expand the number of phones that provide this feature. At a minimum, we can expect Pixels to get the functionality within the next few years.
7Portable Monitor
Portable monitors are just what they sound like—these are monitors that you can take with you on the go, even if that’s just from room to room. Depending on your phone, the monitor draws power directly from your handset and can be set up anywhere. With others, you may need to plug the monitor into the wall or a small battery bank. In my house,we keep portable battery banks in multiple rooms, which are handy for powering things like this.
When paired with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, a portable monitor is a lightweight desktop PC you can set up anywhere. On phones without a desktop mode, as long as they support video out over a USB 3.0 port, a portable monitor is still a good way to mirror your phone screen and watch a video or play a game on a larger display.
6AR glasses
AR glasses supply a virtual screen that only you may see. For a while,this was my favorite way to game. I would plug my XREAL Air 2 Pro glasses into my Galaxy Z Fold 5 and stream games usingNVIDIA GeForce Now. AR glasses are also a way to gain access to an Android desktop when a portable monitor might not be accessible or convenient. If you don’t want people on a plane to know what you’re watching, you can sit back with your virtual spectacles and enjoy your movie in private.
5A Game Controller
It’s easy to grab a Bluetooth controller and pair it to your phone, but if you only have a wired one lying around, or you’re looking to save some money, connecting to your phone via a cable is also viable. You willneed a USB-C hubto convert the USB-A connection to USB-C. After that, though, the controller works as you would expect. There are also a growing number of telescopic game controllers that plug directly into your phone’s USB-C port to reduce latency and battery drain. Theyturn your phone into something akin to a Nintendo Switch.
4An External SSD
USB-C flash drives that plug directly into a phone are pretty easy to find now, and they’ve lost a little bit of their novelty. But what you might not know is that you can also plug in an external SSD directly into your phone as well. These come with faster transfer speeds and are less likely to get burning hot when dealing with large numbers of files. With the right app, you can evenautomatically sync backups from your phone to an external SSD.
3Audio Speakers
There’s nothing novel about Bluetooth speakers. They’re ubiquitous and everywhere, but they’re not the only kind of speaker you can plug your phone into. With the USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, you can plug your phone into any speaker you want. You can plug a phone into an amplifier attached to two tower speakers. You can plug the phone into the soundbar you have underneath your TV. Speaking of which…
2TV
If youinvest in a phone dock for your TV, a phone may just be the only media streaming box you need. Just dock your phone and connect to the TV using a desktop mode like Samsung DeX or Motorola Smart Connect. Then launch your favorite streaming apps. Sure, your phone’s no longer accessible while you’re watching video, but some might consider that a perk. This can also be a way to turn your phone into a game console as well.
1A router
To configure many routers, you need a computer connected via an Ethernet cable. In the absence of a computer, a phone can work just fine. You need a USB-C hub with an Ethernet port, which you’re able to find onour list of the best USB-C hubs. After that, the experience is largely the same. Open a browser on your phone, navigate to the correct address, and configure away.
I’ve plugged more devices into my phone than most. I have to. Since replacing my PC with a foldable phone last year, I don’t have any other computer to fall back on. When something could benefit from more screen than my phone’s 7.6-inch internal display can provide, I connect my phone to an external monitor. When I need to configure the network, I just use my phone. With the right hubs and accessories,my phone can replace all the things.
