Samsung DeX Price And Release Confirmed: Galaxy S8 Docking Station Up For Preorder Now

Alexandra Burlacu, Tech Times 31 March 2017, 10:03 am

Samsung has officially confirmed the pricing and release date of its new DeX docking station, as the gadget is now up for preorder.

The Samsung DeX allows users to turn their Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones into a desktop computer and attach peripherals for a full PC experience, just as rumors hinted.

The new Galaxy S8 series smartphones are powerful enough to fire up a PC-like experience and the DeX makes it happen. Price and spec details for the DeX leaked last week ahead of the big unveiling, but otherwise there was not much information available regarding the docking station at that point.

Samsung offered more details when it unveiled the new Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, noting that the DeX station will maximize their potential and unlock a great PC experience.

"Leveraging the processing power of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ for enhanced productivity, Samsung DeX is a unique solution that transforms these Android-based smartphones into secure desktops," Samsung touts. "With DeX, users can easily display and edit data from their phone, making working from a smartphone on the go faster and smarter."

Samsung DeX Price And Release

Samsung has now officially listed the DeX docking station on its website and the gadget is now available for preorder at $149.99, ready to ship in "late April."

The company doesn't list a specific release date, but the Samsung DeX will most likely ship at the same time as the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 smartphones, which will hit store shelves globally on April 28. In the United States, the two smartphones will go on sale a week earlier, on April 21, so the DeX station could also be available earlier for U.S. customers.

The Samsung DeX docking station is particularly exciting because it brings a new custom interface based on Android, with a look similar to Windows. The user interface is specifically designed to play nice with peripherals such as a keyboard and mouse, and Samsun also teamed up with Adobe and Microsoft to ensure DeX compatibility with the Office suite and Adobe mobile apps, including Lightroom Mobile and Acrobat Reader.

Galaxy S8 PC Experience

"The Samsung DeX Station enables you to turn your Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ into a true desktop PC experience," notes the description on the official Samsung DeX product page. "By docking the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ into the DeX Station, your phone will launch a special DeX mode on the connected external monitor and applications can be opened in multiple separate windows. Connect a mouse, keyboard, and Ethernet cable for added productivity."

The Samsung DeX docking station is currently compatible only with the latest Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 smartphones, but future Galaxy flagships should support it as well.

The docking station is available separately at $149.99 for now, but Samsung could also offer it as a packaged bundle at least in some markets when it's ready to launch in late April.

Would you spend $149.99 on the Samsung DeX docking station, or do you find the price a bit steep for what it has to offer? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.