Today's smartphones are more powerful than ever -- and more expensive. With high-end models like the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max starting at $1,200 and Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra going for $1,300, opting for a next-generation mobile phone is a major commitment. As the costs of these devices rise, it gets more difficult to rationalize buying them, especially when there are more affordable cell phones that give these premium gadgets a run for their money.

But what if your top-of-the-line smartphone could double as your computer? Read more : Best Cheap Phone of 2024: Most Value for the Money With Samsung DeX , you can transform a Galaxy phone or tablet into a computer by simply plugging it into a monitor. You can also wirelessly connect Galaxy phones or tablets to certain TVs to use DeX. My monitor looks like its plugged into a laptop, but it's all coming from the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Since I use an iPhone, I had no idea this feature even existed until recently. The first time I tried it, my mind was blown. My monitor looked like it was plugged into a laptop, but it was all coming from the S24 Ultra.

Still, I wasn't sure if it could do everything my laptop could do, and I was determined to find out. So I ditched my MacBook for the day to see if the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Samsung DeX could replace it. DeX just makes sense Typing on my wireless Apple keyboard in DeX mode.

It felt weird to go to the office without my laptop. But it ended up being so nice to only carry the (roughly half-poun.