Over a year ago, I started using my phone as my PC, relying on Android desktop modes in conjunction with a lapdock or external monitor. I no longer own a conventional computer. Here’s what I miss most.
If I Broke My Phone, It Didn’t Matter as Much
The first thing that stood out to me, after making the transition, were the stakes. Suddenly, I only had one device that stored all of my files. This is one of the main blessings of replacing a computer with a phone. My files are always on me. So are my apps. I never have to say, “I’ll get that to you when I get back to my computer at home.” My computer is in my pocket.
This is also the biggest curse. If I lose my phone, I’m not just without my phone, I’m also without my PC. As someone who works remotely, I’m suddenly without the ability to do my job.
Fortunately, my Galaxy Z Fold 6 is actually in some ways less vulnerable than a conventional phone. If I shatter the outer screen, I still have the inner one. If I break both, as long as the USB port works, I can probably still fire up Samsung DeX.
Backups Are Easier From a PC
Having a single point of failure makes it more vital to keep regular backups. Unfortunately, backing up a phone isn’t as easy as backing up a PC.
Sure, phones have cloud storage apps. Thing is, most of them only provide automatic backups for photos. All other files have to be uploaded manually. They don’t sync automatically like the desktop clients do. You have to turn to third-party apps for that, sometimes at a noticeable hit to battery life.
I’ve long preferred offline backups instead. They don’t come with the same privacy concerns and don’t depend on your internet connection. Yet while it’s possible to back up a phone directly to a flash drive or external hard drive, there aren’t nearly as many options for doing so, especially if you want to encrypt your files.
Related
How to Back Up and Sync Your Android Phone Directly to an External Hard Drive
You don’t need to plug your phone into a PC to make a copy of your data.
I Can No Longer Upgrade Parts
My current phone is more powerful than almost any PC I’ve ever owned. Hardly ever do I experience lag or slow-down from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 12GB of RAM powering my Galaxy Z Fold 6. It’s only when connected to a 4K monitor that I run up against the limits of the phone’s performance. Connected to my 1080p lapdock, this thing absolutely flies.
Yet if I encounter more limitations in the future, I don’t have the option to upgrade parts individually. I can’t just pop in another 12GB of RAM. I can’t replace the internal 512GB of storage. Like MacBook owners, I’m using a machine where all the parts are soldered down, and I need to replace the entire machine when I reach the limits of this one.
I No Longer Have More Than One OS
Having multiple devices comes with multiple software experiences. I once had Linux on my PC, carried around a Light Phone 2, and had Android on my tablet. Each device behaved differently.
Now I still experience different form factors. My phone unfolds into a tablet (or, in my case, more often a tablet-style eReader). I have a lapdock for when I need a laptop. I have a dock and external monitor for the desktop PC feel. I have an expandable Bluetooth controller for when I want gaming on my phone to feel like a Steam Deck. But as for the software, it’s now Samsung One UI all the time.
Again, this is a blessing and a curse. I like having the same apps and controls available no matter what I’m doing, but I do miss the novelty.
Those Beautiful Offline PC Games
I have never been much of a PC gamer, since I have rarely owned a machine powerful enough for most games. Still, when I did play games, they ran locally on my own machine.
Now I play more mobile games—and no, this isn’t a bad thing. I’ve found plenty of great cross-platform ports and original mobile titles. But when I want that PC gaming experience, I rely on cloud gaming instead. It’s a better experience than I expected, but I would prefer being able to play these games on my own machine.
There’s Always That One Desktop Program
This might surprise you, but the lack of desktop software hasn’t been as big an issue as you might expect. I’m actually a big fan of simple software. Android apps aren’t that different, stylistically, from my favorite Linux apps. Since there’s a mobile app for just about everything, I have access to an abundance of software.
But there are times when I miss the more complex functionality of a desktop app. There are things I can do from a desktop email client like Thunderbird that I can’t through the mobile ProtonMail app. I can edit photos well enough from my phone, but sometimes I wish I had a full desktop program to work with. MobiOffice satisfies all of my office suite needs, but it isn’t quite as easy to use as a desktop version since many design choices were designed for phones.
Does all of this make me wish I were back on a conventional PC? Sometimes. But I’ve gained so much freedom by using my phone as my PC that I still feel locked into using Android, the one operating system that makes this all possible. It’s hard for me to give up this flexibility by switching to Windows, macOS, or even Linux.