One UI 8 brings a change to tablets that Classic DeX lovers will hate

Samsung introduced a new version of DeX on tablets with One UI 6.0. It offered a common ground between the regular One UI interface and the full-fledged DeX interface to take advantage of the tablet's touchscreen. However, the company still keep the old DeX around for those who didn't like the new UI. But that is changing with One UI 8.0.

While Samsung hasn't released any beta versions of One UI 8.0 for Galaxy Tab devices yet, an internal beta version of One UI 8.0 has been leaked for the Galaxy Tab S9+. And it appears that Samsung has completely removed the old DeX experience with the new One UI version. So, users will have to use the new DeX experience on the tablet's screen. This is something that will make Classic DeX lovers angry.

Tipster DalgleishGX revealed that the old DeX has been removed from One UI 8.0 for the Galaxy Tab S9+. And it appears that this could be the case with other One UI 8.0-compatible tablets as well. The old DeX UI will still be accessible when the tablet is connected to an external monitor/screen.

The old DeX UI has an app launcher and navigation buttons at the bottom left corner of the screen, a Quick Panel shortcut on the bottom right corner of the screen, and app icons for the open apps in the middle of the task bar. In comparison, the app launcher in the new DeX is shifted towards the center of the taskbar, while the Quick Panel can be accessed by swiping down from the top right corner of the screen.

The old DeX UI on the tablets' screen is better to use with a mouse and a keyboard, as it closely resembles the desktop UI found on Windows and other desktop operating systems. It is also easier for managing open windows using keyboard shortcuts. The new DeX experience needs you to use the touchscreen for some of the important actions, like accessing the Quick Panel and the notifications.

But that doesn't mean the new DeX UI has no advantages of its own. It is easier to use when you are operating it just with your fingers. And it has multiple virtual desktops, so you can have separate screens for different use cases.

Samsung helped Google build Desktop Mode for Android 16 and implemented it for the new version of DeX in One UI 8.0. Both firms could bring more features to their respectively desktop modes with future versions of Android.