After Samsung popularized DeX on its high-end phones, Google pushed to offer a seamless desktop experience on many Android phones. For example, with the March 2026 update, Pixel phones got a full desktop mode, and while that may seem pretty bare-bones, it can do a lot with the right accessories.
As for the desktop mode in iOS, Apple is still keeping it even though it was talked about before the release of iOS 19. However, Apple’s latest iPhone hardware is more than capable of handling a full-fledged desktop environment, and the newly released MacBook Neo with A18 Pro is living proof of that.
Apple already runs macOS on iPhone hardware
MacBook Neo proves the performance ceiling
One of the strongest arguments for a proper desktop mode in iOS is one of Apple’s recent releases. MacBook Neo. As mentioned earlier, the Apple A18 Pro powers the laptop with the same SoC found in the iPhone 16 Pro series.
In fact, the iPhone 16 Pro series runs on a better stacked version of the SoC that comes with a 6-core GPU instead of the 5-core found in the MacBook Neo. This chip inside the laptop has the same architecture as the phone.
Of course, the MacBook Neo, thanks to its larger case iPhone 16 Pro modelsbetter tuned for sustained performance, but core computing power is still comparable. This is what makes the lack of a desktop mode on iOS so noticeable.
iPhones already support external displays
USB-C output brings them closer to desktop use
Another reason why desktop mode is pointless in iOS is that most modern iPhones already support external displays via the Type-C interface. Specifically, this feature is available on the first iPhone 15 series to have USB-C ports.
Screening compatible phones is an easy task. All you need to do is connect them to a USB-C cable that connects to an external display via HDMI, DisplayPort, or a Type-C display interface. A USB-C hub also works.
Once connected, the iPhone screen will start mirroring the larger connected screen. When a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse are connected and a few settings are changed, the phone can start to behave like a modified, lightweight computer. Browsing the web, writing documents, and managing files in such a setup may be easier for those who remain productive, but the lack of a desktop user interface makes it a less viable option.
AAA games now run natively on iPhone
Modern iPhones can handle demanding games
Over the years, iPhones have become quite adept at playing games and have a good level of developer support. Apple is constantly working with developers to bring popular AAA titles to the platform and games like Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Death Strandingand Resident Evil Village now works with console-like quality on modern iPhone hardware.
When paired with an external display, these games can also be played on a larger screen, and a Bluetooth controller can further enhance the experience. Of course, performance will vary depending on the iPhone model the game is running on, but most will offer a somewhat playable experience.
Most iPhones can now handle the basics of the desktop without any effort
In addition to gaming, modern iPhone models are more than capable of handling daily desktop workloads. Tasks like document editing, video streaming, searching, and file management often don’t make full use of the SoC inside phones.
High-quality media playback is also not a problem. A modern iPhone can offer smooth 4K HDR video output on external displays. Although there is no official support for Stage Manager on iOS yet, running multiple apps side-by-side is within the capabilities of modern iPhones.
The hardware is ready, but iOS is holding iPhones back
Apple has yet to launch a true desktop experience
Apple has already shown that the A-series chips inside modern iPhones are more than capable of offering a proper desktop environment. The launch of the MacBook Neo further strengthens this argument, as it runs macOS on a low-end iPhone SoC, making the lack of a desktop mode all the more noticeable.
Most of the basics are there too, as modern iPhones don’t struggle with an external display attached to them. So what’s missing isn’t really the hardware. Instead, it’s the software layer that should bring it all together.
